Do I have Ich, Velvet, or somerthing else?

[JC Cutts]

Have you tested your water?

Yes

If I did not test my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.

Do you do water changes?

Yes

If I do not change my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.

Have a large pair or Redhead cichlids in a 70g that have developed large amount of spots over most of their bodies a couple of days ago- I got sloppy and think I may have cross contaminated a net from one of my other systems where I quarantine new fish... Tank has been up and running for 4+ years and fully cycled. I do 30% water changes every two weeks. No Ammonia or Nitrites. Nitrates runs in the 20 range.

They are huddled in the bottom corner and not swimming. I did a 50% water change yesterday and then added salt to the tank yesterday (1tbsb/ 2 gal ratio) and also did a 10 min dip with Copper Power Green per their instructions (2oz/ 5 gal). So far no improvement... Really hate to lose them, but not sure what else to try or if I even have it diagnosed correctly? Hoping someone can comment on what they think it is and suggested treatment ideas.

I can't post pics yet because of my post count, but it looks almost like powdered sugar sprinkled all over them and not salt if that makes any sense?

Thanks!

 

[Deadeye]

Are the fish breathing fast?
Hard to say for sure without a picture. Velvet will usually progress much faster though.
Copper should treat both ich and velvet, so technically you should be covered.

 

[JC Cutts]

Yes I would say labored breathing , clamped fins, lying on bottom without much activity. The coverage happened pretty much in one day. Should the copper dip reduce the coverage on the fish? It did not seem to have much effect...

 

[Deadeye]

Can copper power green be used as a tank treatment?
That would be more effective than a dip.

 

[JC Cutts]

It says it can at a lower dose. I will give that a try in a hospital tank setup.

Anyone have other treatment tips for velvet. Heat? Salt?

 

[kno4te]

It says it can at a lower dose. I will give that a try in a hospital tank setup.

Anyone have other treatment tips for velvet. Heat? Salt?

Salt, 1 tsp per g, and copper.

 

[JC Cutts]

Thanks for all the help. Ended up losing both of them... Hopefully won't have to deal with it again. Is there a way to treat an empty tank to kill this crap off without having to re-cycle the tank? Or is it safer to break down the whole setup and treat with bleach and start all over???

 

[Deadeye]

Sorry to hear - you can fallow the tank (leave it fishless) for enough time to starve out the disease (6 weeks - 76 days being better - for marine velvet, amyloodinium), I’m not sure what the timeframe is for fw velvet or ich.

 

[Backfromthedead]

Thanks for all the help. Ended up losing both of them... Hopefully won't have to deal with it again. Is there a way to treat an empty tank to kill this crap off without having to re-cycle the tank? Or is it safer to break down the whole setup and treat with bleach and start all over???

Ah damnit. A few years back i lost nearly every fish i had to FW velvet, probably the most contagious and deadly pathogen ive ever dealt with. It spread between all my tanks, did not discriminate and killed quickly. Apologies for your losses.

As for eradicating it completely i cant be of much help though. I think i switched my tanks to saltwater after that outbreak. I would go with something like what Deadeye is suggesting, thorough cleaning and quarantine period. Maybe try some sacrificial tetras or something first when you set it back up.