Husbandry and Bacterial Infections

[fishy408]

Hi All, I recently had BJD in my tank and wondering where the heck it came from. I had a few changes in my tank that maybe have caused it. I created a quick poll to see what others thought.

 

[dangalang]

If you had any wild torches/euphyllia, that would be my vote as the source.

 

[fishy408]

If you had any wild torches/euphyllia, that would be my vote as the source.

thanks! added it to the poll choices. In fact, I did received a mariculture torch and it was indeed the first torch to show BJD symptoms.

 

[MarcosDelgado0]

Were you able to get the BJD all cleared up?

 

[fishy408]

Were you able to get the BJD all cleared up?

I think so! /crossing fingers, haven't had another coral show signs of BJD since day 2 or 3 of the in tank Cipro treatment. The torches that were affected and eventually died were the closest in proximity to the first affected torch.

I can't say that BJD has cleared up since I really don't know how long it can stay in the tank.

 

[fishy408]

I would like to add that I am only on Day 6 of the treatment which is supposedly the final day. Other have done it for longer.

BJD is not very visible and once you notice the brown jelly, it may already be too late.

Some signs of BJD that I have noticed in order.

• first sign: Opening and closing that is unusual behavior for the specific torch.
• second sign: flattening of tentacles.
• Third Sign: Small Tips of the tentacles falls off. Only a few.
• Fourth sign - Head is closed up - brown jelly is visible only with close inspection.
• Fifth sign - receding head

 

[PjFish]

Curious on drying socks outside.. Bad chemicals like poisonous plant material or pollen blowing in the air? Ive dried socks/ mesh outside for years so it doesn’t pic up any fabric softer or detergent residue from the dryer..

 

[tribbitt]

Oxolinic acid is supposed to kill gram negative bacteria, and supposedly multiple of the BJD bacteria are vulnerable

Given the prevalence of BJD you would think there would be more people selling this stuff

I’m wondering if there is a cheap way to buy it in bulk, and giveaway in the club. At a dollar a gram while it’s not expensive it definitely isn’t cheap if everyone wants some

 

[fishy408]

Curious on drying socks outside.. Bad chemicals like poisonous plant material or pollen blowing in the air? Ive dried socks/ mesh outside for years so it doesn’t pic up any fabric softer or detergent residue from the dryer..

A possibility and one of the few things I changed recently. I always dried my filter socks in the garage but smell was not the best.

 

[fishy408]

Oxolinic acid is supposed to kill gram negative bacteria, and supposedly multiple of the BJD bacteria are vulnerable

Given the prevalence of BJD you would think there would be more people selling this stuff

I’m wondering if there is a cheap way to buy it in bulk, and giveaway in the club. At a dollar a gram while it’s not expensive it definitely isn’t cheap if everyone wants some

I will probably preorder this instead of Cipro next time, but when BJD hits there really wasn't any time to react. BJD spread fast, I was lucky enough that a fellow reefer had Cipro handy and was willing to share. If not, I would think all the torches may have not survived.

 

[Fish Boss]

Years ago, when I was but a noob (still am lol) I bought a (what I believe to be a wild (indo?) elegance) and my torch got bjd. I think there was an aussie vs (indo?) debate at the time. Both perished. It sucked but I learned my lesson. Sucks to hear that this is still going around

 

[RandyC]

If you are actually dealing with a bacterial infection, it could be from anything wet. Don’t think it’s limited to be passed by other euphyllia only. Any other coral is a potential a source. Fish and inverts as well, though it may not be as likely.

 

[tribbitt]

I will probably preorder this instead of Cipro next time, but when BJD hits there really wasn't any time to react. BJD spread fast, I was lucky enough that a fellow reefer had Cipro handy and was willing to share. If not, I would think all the torches may have not survived.

I don’t blame you for trying to save your livestock the fastest way possible. Just mentioning it as a something I’ve heard is a good option, and was wondering aloud about making it more available

 

[PjFish]

If you are actually dealing with a bacterial infection, it could be from anything wet. Don’t think it’s limited to be passed by other euphyllia only. Any other coral is a potential a source. Fish and inverts as well, though it may not be as likely.

I believe you’ve been successful with Cipro tank bombing in the past..
Uv off and dose at night since cipro degrades in light?
Did you try the H2O2 + iodine dip during cipro treatment?
Years ago I also added a healthy indo elegance which may have triggered some type of chemical warfare which BJD then took foot and wiped out several torch colonies but torches were super cheap back then!! Haven’t had it since doubling my uv wattage and reducing the water flow through them…knocking on wood!!

 

[RandyC]

I believe you’ve been successful with Cipro tank bombing in the past..
Uv off and dose at night since cipro degrades in light?
Did you try the H2O2 + iodine dip during cipro treatment?
Years ago I also added a healthy indo elegance which may have triggered some type of chemical warfare which BJD then took foot and wiped out several torch colonies but torches were super cheap back then!! Haven’t had it since doubling my uv wattage and reducing the water flow through them…knocking on wood!!

I haven’t used hydrogen perioxide or iodine when “carpet bombing” a tank. I called it carpet bombing, because it really should be a last resort.

I did 7 days of cipro, followed by 5 days of erythromycin. Definitely turn off UV. Technically, cipro is degrades in light, but I’m not sure how much actually degrades, so dosing at lights out is recommended. Turn off skimmer and removing carbon are good practices too.

 

[fishy408]

If you are actually dealing with a bacterial infection, it could be from anything wet. Don’t think it’s limited to be passed by other euphyllia only. Any other coral is a potential a source. Fish and inverts as well, though it may not be as likely.

I didn’t know BJD can be passed by other corals. I was planning on giving away some non euphyllia corals from my tank. How long should I wait before giving it away. The last thing I want is for someone else to get BJD.

 

[tribbitt]

Iodine dip? Or other sterilizing dip

 

[derek_SR]

I didn’t know BJD can be passed by other corals. I was planning on giving away some non euphyllia corals from my tank. How long should I wait before giving it away. The last thing I want is for someone else to get BJD.

It's probably worth noting at this point that nobody really knows what BJD is, or if it's even one thing, or consistent ways of curing it.

We don't even really know what you had, in other words - I wouldn't stress about it TOO much. I would just be transparent and disclose it to whomever you might give coral to - the same way people are like "my tank has aiptasia and asterinas" when trading/selling frags.

 

[Turkeysammich]

I agree with Derek. Stop trying to fix something that you think but not 1000% sure. Just move on. Your probably going to do more damage than good.
BJD is new in that past years. I’m sure it’s been around forever but people just didn’t pay attention to it. Not the end of the world.