White Spot On The Reef, And Unhappy Bubble Coral

[rabbut]

Aw, sorry to hear that Miss Wiggle Hope you are getting better again.

 

[Colin_T]

One way of getting rid of whitespot/ Oodinium in a marine tank is to take the fish out and put them in a bucket of clean seawater. Each day you move the fish into a new clean bucket with more clean water. Over the course of a week the whitespot parasites will fall off the fish. By moving the fish into a new bucket each day you are preventing them from becoming reinfected. Once all the spots have gone from the fish they will be free of the disease.
The tank will also be free of the problem if it doesn't have fish in for a week.

 

[rabbut]

That is actually a great idea Colin_T. One potential issue though, ammonia build-up. Obviously if you don't feed them during this they won't produce as much as normal, but they will produce some. How high would you expect the leveles to get with three fish? Is there a guide for fish-per-bucket?

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Colin_T]

I used to collect marine fish and would keep about 20 x 2-3inch damsels in about 30litres of water. I had an airstone bubbling away in it but no filter. Each night I would feed the fish and the following morning I changed all the water. I could keep fish alive like that indefinitely.
You only have 3 small fishes and they would be fine in 10-15litres of water with an airstone. Have a cover on the bucket so they don’t jump out and either wash or change the cover when you move the fish to a clean container.
If you don't bother to feed them, or feed them a little bit and then move them 3-4hours later. There shouldn't be any ammonia problems.
As it is only going to be for a week the fish should be fine without food and chances are they won't eat much anyway due to the whitespot. Certainly they won't eat much for the first few days.

 

[rabbut]

OK, thanks for that Colin_T

All the best
Rabbut

 

[humpy_the_humphead_wrasse]

Hi. unfortunately after a bout of whitespot that has gone on for a while now ive decided something has to be done and i like your idea with the buckets but a few questions arise. first wouldnt you recommend having a heater in each bucket? and do u recommend using freashly made s/w or s/w from the tank? s/w from the tnak would be safer wouldnt it? as the levels are all completely correct and matured and technically in this sense your treating the tank, not really the fish, who are going to loose the whitepot as they jump off anyway? thanks. unfortunately no other way is possible for me as ive got quit alot of corals who are flourishing. oh and also what would you recommend for keeping the tank cycled while the fish are out? i was thinking a cube of mysis shrimp each day should keep the bacteria feeding in a 4ft sump tank?

just one thing, will a queen trigger and large barrier reef clown do ok in a bucket with only 1 water change per day? and am i right in saying the airstone will help them last as long as possible in the bucket like this?

 

[SkiFletch]

Actually freshly mixed saltwater would be better. You would rule out water-borne parasites that way. I'd also slowly bring the salinity down every day for best effect. The airstone is a must to keep the thing oxygenated. I'd throw in some plastic stuff for hiding places if it were me.

As for keeping the bacteria going, a cube of mysis is too much without the fish. Go with a tiny sprinkle of flake food instead.

 

[Colin_T]

You have to use new seawater, either freshly made or from the ocean. If you use water from the tank then you risk introducing the whitespot parasite back into the bucket with the fish.
You should make up a 100litres of seawater before you start this treatment regime. Get the salinity correct and allow the marine salts and water at least 24hours to mix. Then you can just leave it in a bucket/ holding tank until you need it. If it is kept aerated then it will last for months.

If you have a cold house or live in a cool climate then you will need a heater to keep the buckets of water warm. A small 50watt heater would be heaps for a 10-20litre (2.5-5gallon) bucket. Each day when you move the fish you take the heater out and wash it with warm soapy water. Rinse it off really well and then use it in the next clean container.

If the trigger and clown are big then you can either use a bigger container or put them in separate containers. You don't need to feed them while they are in the buckets and that will prevent them from pooing in the buckets and having ammonia problems.

The airstone has to be kept bubbling at all times so the fish don't suffocate. Make sure you change or wash the airstone and airline when you move the fish into the new bucket.

 

[humpy_the_humphead_wrasse]

just wondering also i have a cleaner wrasse who shows no sign of the white spot, should i leave him in or move him to a holding bucket also?

i dont have anything to put over the buckets atm, i was just wondering if a towel would be ok? obviously id have to remove it to check on the fish but would this be an ok cover for the bucket? this could also insulate the tank?

 

[Colin_T]

Shrimp and crabs can stay in the tank but every fish must be moved out for this process to work.

a tea towel or normal bath towel is fine to cover the bucket with. Make sure that no part of the towel can slide into the bucket otherwise it will allow the water to drain out via capillary action.

Also make sure the buckets are not sitting on the floor, especially tiles or concrete because it will cool them down. Put them on a stand, table, shelf, or even just put a couple of books under them.

 

[humpy_the_humphead_wrasse]

yes unfortunetly i found out the hard way about capillary action LOL *thinks back to the 3/4 drained mini freshwater tank once covered lol. thanks, seems my cleaner wrasse is small enough for my mini marine tank so he'll be bunking with true perc nemo and mr. black damsel. as for the ****** trigger, he'll be in the bucket as of tommorrow as soon as i get a heater for the bucket. already got a bucket of mixed saltwater with an air stone going. will this be ok to sit then serve the first day tommorrow when i put the heater in?

 

[Colin_T]

I hope the cleaner wrasse was free of spots otherwise it could transmit the disease to the clownfish

As long as the salt water has been mixing for 24hours it should be fine to use. Just check the salinity & PH before you put the fish in as the levels can change over 24 hours and also with temperature variations.
You should also start making up more water for use the next day and each day after that.