Disease!

The very word can strike fear into any marine aquarist. Diseases, particularly ‘velvet’ and ‘white spot’ are real threats.

The threat can be minimized of course. Careful selection of fish is the initial way, being careful to ensure the selected ones are as ‘clean’ as they should be. Other intended livestock should also be carefully inspected.

A second line of defence is the quarantine tank where any disease can be treated and cured before it is introduced to the main display aquarium where it creates a threat to other livestock. Strangely, most marine aquarists do not make use of quarantine instead introducing their livestock direct. This is taking a chance as dealing with disease especially in a reef system could be difficult – difficult because copper, the number one treatment for certain diseases, is deadly to corals.

The question of disease and its treatment is wide and quite varied. Most marine books have a section on disease which can be of assistance.

Here are two videos which deal with the subject, they are good quality and actions are clearly explained. A large part of the videos deals with cleaning up the aquarium prior to medication. Obviously the instructions on the medication container must be properly followed relative to the net gallonage of the aquarium. Finally, as already mentioned copper should not be used in a reef system – if there is any doubt check the medication manufacturer’s instructions and suggestions.

---

Related Posts

• The Bubble Coral This coral adds to all the differing shapes and colours of corals that could be added to the reef aquarium. It belongs to the stony...
• There’s Some Interesting Stuff Out There There certainly is and as far as marine aquarists are concerned it ranges from photographs and videos about the wild reefs, information and discussion on...
• Understand The Nitrogen Cycle - Your Livestock Depend On It Modern reef aquariums try to be as natural as possible. The modern day captive reef would make yesterdays marine aquarists eyes water - they are...
• Nitrate And How To Reduce It All salt water aquarists will know about nitrate, or at least I hope so. Nitrate (NO3) is a product of the nitrogen cycle, and follows...
• Linking A ‘Multi-Purpose’ Aquarium Many aquarists no matter what type of system they are running, fish only or reef, use more than the display aquarium. The obvious example is...

Related Websites

• DVD- U.S. Coast Guard License Boating Course Instructional Training Video - Get Your Captains License! This 55 minute DVD video is a concise review of everything that you could ever need to know about getting your Captain's license including rules...
• Improving your Health with Tennis Tennis is by far one of the most popular types of competitive sports that you can play today. This is definitely because tennis is capable...
• 5 Ingredients For An Improved Life With Your Dog - From Fetch to Food to Frontline Flea Medicine by Jessie Wales From special time and exercise, to proper grooming, medical aid and proper treatments, like Frontline flea drugs, dogs have certain wishes that...
• DVD - Fishing Ten Pack This is a five disc box set featuring ten different features with top fishing pros from around the world. This DVD box set has ten...
• Video of the greenest city - Old Town Portland, OR I found the coolest site I have seen in a long time, its called TurnHere, and it features amateur videos that people make about their...

Tags: aquarium disease, aquarium medication, Care, coral disease, fish-disease, Problems