Hard lesson learned (Request for help!)

[mooner]

All,

I am in a bit of a bind here. Here's the rundown:

I made the mistake of using Ruby Reef's Kcik Ich in my 44 gallon. Big mistake. I followed the directions 100%, shut off the skimmer and did the 15 day treatment.

The fish with Ich only worsened during the process and died on day 14. The other fish are fine and never did get the ich symptoms. Anyway, on to the serious issues.

I have an Open Brain, a Red Favia, some shrooms and set of brown/green polyps that are looking like hell now. The favia and open brain are bleaching (brain is almost pure white) and the favia keeps getting this nasty film (looks like spider webs) all over it which I clean off daily. The polyps are half closed most of the time and the shrooms no longer open.

I have a colt and some other polyps which seem OK.

I have looked at params and all are fine (0,0,0 8.2) and calc is 370.

I have been doing 10% water changes every other day for 6 days now and all is about the same.

Since I turned the skimmer back on it has produced next to nothing. This worries me.

Please help if you have any info and think twice or three times before contemplating using this product! I should have listened.

Thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

Was you skimmer off for the 15 days? What type is it? You may need to clean the injector/venturi and riser. Give it a day or so to kick in. I would keep up the water changes for a few more days. Does the ick treatmen have copper in it, I am not familure with that particular one?

 

[Anonymous]

I would do a 50% water change if you have that much water available, take extra care to match salinity and temp first as it will be a big shock if those are off with such a large change.

Also, start running carbon. It will work fastest if you can force water through it as in a canister filter or some other type of filter cartridge, but failing that, just put some in a mesh bag in a high flow area.

Just curious, how soon after dosing did you start to see a decline in tank inhabitants??

 

[liquid]

I'd agree w/ mulberry on what to do. Do larger waterchanges matching salinity and temp and run carbon. 10% waterchanges aren't removing much at all. The solution to pollution is dilution.

Shane

 

[mooner]

Thanks all. I'll field them one at a time:

The general decline began right after the treatment was complete (day 15 or 16) and it peaked at about day 20. I am now on day 28.

The skimmer is an Aqua C Urchin which I have cleaned. Still little production.

There is no copper in this stuff and it is "supposed to be reef safe" but it is not it seems. It's 5-nitroimidazoles only. It appears to be an FDA approved drug for human cancer?

I did start carbon right after the symptoms were seen. I use TLF Hydrocarbon 2.

I will begin the big water change today.