Copper of Hyposalinity?

[nts9]

Looking for advice.
I am babysitting a freinds tank till sunday and i wanted to treat it.
It is in dire need of TLC.
75gal. ph: 7.8 dkh: 5 Salinity: 1.028 Amm.:.02
Miniatas grouper, Porc. Puffer, & Panther grouper
Panther grouper has flukes all over its body (clear, flat, undulating critters)
Miniatas has some kind of parasitic white bulges on side and near mouth
Puffer has 2 red spots underneath which he scratches
Should I get all the values back to normal before I decide to dose the tank w/ copper?
Or, I was thinking of a f/w dip for the panther and hyposalinity for the tank.
Wait and see what happens over the next couple weeks as I correct other values
and if the flukes are still there after hypo (and stabilization of tank)
Treat with copper
Does this sound alright?
Maybe I should empty the tank and just apologize?

[billsreef]

I would dip the grouper and go with hypo for the tank. Buffer the water and get the pH back up to norm and check over the functioning of the filters to see about the ammonia. The red spots on the puffer could be a bacterial infection which would call for antibiotics, this can be done in conjunction with the hypo.

[FMarini]

Hi:
I'm w/ Bill on this one...I would FW dip the fluked animals, and once you get the PH buffered and in line -start reducing the salinity. Do you have a "good" hydrometer? those little plastic sea test type swinging arm hydrometers are usually innacurate. If you have access to a real floating type hydrometer or a refractormeter then your in buisness, you can lower the salinity over a 3 to 4 day period (to 1.009-1.010), and keep it there for about 1 months you'll be in business.
My other concern is the animals and the filtration. W/ this type of tankload, I suspect heavy meaty feedins you'll have nutrient problems again real soon (whats your nitrate level?), once things are back to normal..which might bring the illness back again.
The red spots w/ scratching is most likely a bacterial infection and once you get the salinity down you can add SW maracyin to start treatment....
I wouldn't give up hope and emptying the tank and apologizing is not an option...IN MY OPINION
good luck
frank

[nts9]

Thanks Very Much for your replies, guys.
I plan to dip the fish tonight and also am going
to start reducing salinity.
I'm going to start working on the dKh w/ the
Seachem Reef Builder before I start adding the buffer.
I understand that I must stabilize dKh before I can
attempt to stabilize ph.
The hydro I have is one of the floating ones that
I make sure I wash before I use to get a more accurate
reading.
The fish are ex-tenants of my "now" reef tank and I
surely dont want anything to happen to them.
I'm not familiar with myracin but a little research
should clear that up.
Once again, Thanks for the wisdom.

"Waddya mean, you left me to watch your iguana, right?" :)

[Terry B]

I pretty much agree with Bill and Frank. The one thing that I would do different is use a formalin dip rather than a FW dip.
Terry B