My coral beauty has developed whitespot

[craftonix]

Just a heads up, my coflake beauty I got a couple of weeks ago has broken out with whitespot. No QT tank here and even if I did, catching the thing would be a nightmare with all the LR. Are there any reef-safe treatments I can try or ways to boost my other fish's chances? Got a UV, so hopefully that'll help slow the spread a bit.

[microvolt]

I'd suggest trying a cleaner wrasse, or maybe a neon goby if you think it's parasites. Could be a viflake too though. Are the white spots all clumped together or separate ones?

[craftonix]

They're just single spots dotted around, I'm pretty sure anyway - I've had a good look, but it's hard to get a proper view with all the rockwork and whatnot.

[microvolt]

Just a heads up, my coflake beauty I got a couple of weeks ago has broken out with whitespot. No QT tank here and even if I did, catching the thing would be a nightmare with all the LR. Are there any reef-safe treatments I can try or ways to boost my other fish's chances? Got a UV, so hopefully that'll help slow the spread a bit.

Sounds like parasites to me, possibly Marine Ich. I came across this website that's got a ton of info on it, check it out - it'll give you a better idea of what you're dealing with. If you catch it early, you'll likely save the tank.

[craftonix]

Thanks for the info. I'm not holding my breath, though - no QT tank, so it's basically down to luck and regular water changes.

What are the chances of my coflake beauty making it through this? Only one fish has it so far, but I'm guessing the others are likely to get it too. Is it a death sentence for the infected one, or can it recover? I've only noticed one out of six with ich, so fingers crossed the rest stay clear. This is really getting me down.

[flynix]

I think every fish has ich, just doesn't show when they're happy and healthy. I'm pretty sure I read that here somewhere. In the wild it's not a problem 'cause they're not stressed. Try feeding it some garlic-enriched brine, that should boost its appetite. Keep the water quality top-notch and make sure it's not getting bullied or stressed out. Good luck, hope it pulls through.

[dreamon7]

I'd advise against removing the infected fish unless it's absolutely necessary and won't stress out the others. However, if you can easily catch it without causing a commotion, it'd be best to separate it. Get a couple of large, food-grade buckets and some air pumps. Fill one bucket with tank water, gently place the infected fish in, and add an air pump. Keep a close eye on it and consider treating it with formalin, malachite green, or your preferred medication - or simply leave it to recover on its own. The next day, if it's still alive, prepare a second bucket with slightly lower salinity water and acclimate the fish to it gradually. Repeat this process about six hours later, and continue doing so for two days, gradually reducing the salinity until you've got the fish in a hypo-saline environment. This method is essentially a gradual osmotic shock.

[craftonix]

Thanks for the advice guys. I appreciate the suggestions, but I really don't think I can catch the coflake beauty without tearing the whole tank apart, and that's just not an option for me. I've already picked up some Garlic Guard at lunch today, so I'll be starting that treatment and doing 10% daily water changes to try and give my fish the best chance.

[foxrun]

I'd strongly recommend looking into getting a small QT tank - they're not too pricey, especially if you're willing to pick up a second-hand one off eBay. It might seem a bit late in the game now, but trust me, it's an investment that'll pay off in the long run. You'll be able to treat your fish separately, without worrying about the rest of your tank. Most treatments aren't reef-safe, as you've probably figured out by now, so having a QT tank on hand will give you peace of mind and help you act fast if you spot any issues.

[dreamon7]

A QT tank is always a smart move, but in a pinch, a large bucket can be a lifesaver. If you do decide to invest in a QT tank, it might be worth breaking down the main tank to catch the other fish if another one starts showing symptoms - quarantine them in hypo salinity for a couple of months, just to be safe.