Oodinium: Tips for removal & a substrate change?

[UncleMike]

So, I had a clownfish that had a parasite on it a few weeks ago. I wasn't sure if it was either Ick, Brooklynella or Oodinum. After describing the symptoms to the people at my LFS, they sold me a treatment for Oodinuim. I preformed the treatment as the instructions directed and preformed a few fresh water dips. The symptoms went away but came back earlier this week.

I went up to my LFS yesterday and told them that although I preformed the treatment they sold me my clown had whatever parasite it was reappear and in addition to that some of my other fish were starting to show early warning signs. (AKA - brushing against the rock & substrate) During my conversation with them, they thought to ask me when the last time I vacuumed the substrate was. I told them I had never vacuumed the substrate. (Beginners mistake I know) They said that was most likely the cause of the resurfacing of said parasite. They told me to go home and vacuum the area and restart the treatment.

When I got home yesterday, both my clownfish and my algae blenny were dead. I vacuumed what I could and replaced the water lost. Currently all I have in the tank is a feather duster, some snails & hermit crabs, 3 chromis and a chalk bass. Obviously, before I add anything else I wanted to make absolutely sure I have gotten rid of whatever parasite is in there.

On a side note, I also have been kicking myself for going with crushed coral as my substrate. For ascetic reasons alone. I'm thinking this is a perfect time to convert from crushed coral to a sand bed.

How do you think I should proceed?
What is the best way to convert from a coral substrate to sand without killing livestock? Thanks as always guys!

 

[marrone]

It doesn't matter whether you had sand, crushed coral or a bare bottom tank, neither of these things is the reason your fish are getting reinfected.

What product did they tell you to use?

 

[UncleMike]

Really? When I say "my LFS" I'm usually referring to Absolutely Fish in Clifton. I have been told by numerous people (here included) they are very reliable.

As far as the name of the product, I can't remember off hand. Pointex or Exodin maybe. I can check when I get home tonight. I can say it was a liquid treatment for Oodinium specifically. Turn off the skimmer & remove the carbon filter. Treat the tank every other day for 7 days. On the 8th day, do a 25% water change.

 

[marrone]

I would say people at Absolutely Fish would be reliable but it doesn't really make that much of a difference whether you have sand, crushed coral or a bare bottom tank. Once the parasites fall off the fish they're going to settle down in the tank, before the process starts over again. Sometimes they'll fall to the bottom of the tank others to rocks or corals, so it doesn't really matter what you have on the bottom of the tank. None of these things are going to make a difference to keep the process from starting over again.

As for the product that you use, well there are a lot of products that don't kill the parasite, just strengthen the fish immune system, which may help the fish fight off the parasite but it doesn't eliminate the problem. If you're going to treat the tank with medication you want to use copper, and if you do, you need to make sure you have a test kit where you can measure the level, otherwise it wouldn't work. General you also need to treat the tank for longer than 7 days, at least 14 days in most cases.

 

[UncleMike]

Thanks! I did buy some garlic enriched pellets as well as a liquid vita-chem to help boost their immune systems. I didn't want to use copper meds to treat the tank because of the risk of killing the inverts. At this point I may end up going that route anyways.

Also, to clarify, my reason for wanting to convert from crushed coral to sand was purely for looks. I just think it looks nicer. They were two separate questions - I probably should have been clearer on that.

 

[marrone]

NP on the sand/crushed coral. Crushed coral can cause a problem, as food and waste can get caught in it, so you have to vacuum it out, otherwise it can result in an increase in nitrates.

I wouldn't put copper in the main tank, especially if you want to keep inverts or corals down the line. I would setup a separate tank and treat the fish in there, either using copper or Hyposaltity. Then leave the main tank without any fish for 6 - 8 weeks, at which point the parasites should be gone. Then in the future you want to Quarantine all your fish, at least 2 - 4 weeks, the longer the better, before placing them into you main tank.

So a search on setting up a quarantine tank, Hypo and treating fish for Ich.

 

[UncleMike]

Hmm...

Sound advise. I appreciate it.