Question about Epsom Salt Treatment for Pop-eye - 10/15/06
Dear WWM Crew,
I have a sebae clown with one bulging eye (other eye is fine).  He's the only fish in a 40 gallon reef tank, 196W CF, deep sand bed, bioballs, AquaC remora, UV sterilizer, and carbon.  Tank has been running 3 years and all tank stats are reading fine.  The bulging eye is not cloudy or otherwise abnormal, except for the fact that it is bulging :)
Based on reading the pop-eye and Epsom FAQs and the chat forums on WWM, I diagnosed the pop-eye as the result of trauma and treated the tank with 8 tablespoons total of Epsom salt on day 0, and then another 4 tablespoons on day 3.  It is now day 8 and the bulging eye is still there.  The fish is eating great, very active, nuzzling in his anemone, etc.
Just wondering how long a response to the Epsom treatment typically takes in your experience? <Weeks... Epsom salts is not a silver arrow remedy, but rather something that will "help" ease the swelling. The underlying trauma that caused the initial swelling needs to heal in its own time.> I read in the FAQs that the Epsom treatment can be repeated, but I couldn't find any advice on how often to repeat (or what the half-life of the Epsom salt already in the tank is). <Would supplement the salts when you change water. Do keep an eye on specific gravity for the tank as you are still adding a salt.> Any advice you have to give would be appreciated.
Thanks so much! And best regards,
Preston
Portland, Oregon
<Cheers, J -- >

Pop-Eye, MgSO4   8/18/06
I have read your conversations about this.  I am currently treating my pink square Anthias for Popeye and was wondering if I can use the Epsom salt in conjunction with the treatment or if I need to do one at a time.
Hollie
<Epsom can be mixed/used simultaneously with all other moda. Bob Fenner>

Epsom Salt in Main display -- safe?  - 3/1/2006
Hi Dear Crew members,
   <Cam>
  I really appreciate your existence and help given to all of us in this fantastic hobby.
   <Welcome>
  I have a Redbar Anthias, measured 3 inch and  2 days ago, it got a pop eye on its left eye. The pop eye got bigger by the day & I am bent on dosing Epsom Salt as suggested by your web sites after goin through the FAQs. Before I do it, I need some clarification. so, please help.
   <Will try, am trying>
  Beside the pop eyed Anthias, the main display houses Emperor angel (6 inch), Regal angel ( 3 inch), Red Shoulder fairy wrasse, Cleaner wrasse ( this baby has been with us for more than 1.5 year, it eats pellets & flakes), Coral beauty Dwarf angel, Firefish goby and one SUN Coral. I suppose Epsom would not affect them negatively?
   <Not in small concentration, no>
  Question is: Is it safe to dose Epsom Salt in Main display? Some FAQs advised to take patient out into QT rather than treating in Main display, but some said OK with main display. Please help me by one more reassurance that it is OK to dose Epsom Salt in "Main display tank"?
   <Is okay>
  The dosage is one table spoon per 5 gallon and repeat every 3 days, if eye is still popped... is this confirmed?
   <... I would cut this dosage by half... a level teaspoon per ten gallons of actual water volume, AND no need to re-treat unless you change water out...>
  Sorry for asking as I have not done it before. so got a bit cold feet. Hope you understand!   
  Cheers!
  Best regards.
<Do. Bob Fenner>

Epsom Salt + Hyposalinity + Kordon's Ich Attack -- OK?    3/2/06
Hi Bob & Crew,
   <Cam>
  Thanks for such prompt response on my earlier query on Epsom salt in Main Display Tank, to treat my red bar Anthias' pop eye. Your response endorsed it. Appreciated!
   Well, thing get rough here. Is it Murphy's Law (bad things happen together...??)?.
<Events do seem clustered... perceptually>
My emperor angel has developed Ich, I suspect. It is certainly not air bubbles but white dirt/dots on head and fins. I think some get onto one eye (looks dusty). Its breathing is OK still. Still happy and eats like pig. I did a 7 min fresh water bath on it today, hoping to relieve it from the parasites attached. I see some dropped off but some still remained.
   I have been doing speed reading on your site & hoped to adopt the following procedure to treat the tank and emperor to tilt the balance of health/disease in our favor.
<Good way of putting this>
I intend to effect hyposalinity (1.018) + Higher temp (mid 80s) + Kordon's Ich attack (hope it works as it claims --) for the tank, which is the main display tank.
   Side note: I have treated emperor angel with copper in the past. It developed HLLE after the treatment and I really hope I don't have to do it to this emperor angel which is still HLLE free. Besides, I have an infection in main display tank. I have to control it in main display tank.
   <Yes>
  Before I take the plunge, I would appreciate further clarification from your vast experience:-
  1. If I have to put Epsom salt to treat my red bar in a hyposalinity tank. Is it alright?
<Should be, yes>
  2. What's your view on Ich Attack.
<The Novalek product?: http://www.novalek.com/korgd20.htm
Only out of blind respect for owner/mgr. Bob Rofen do I give this some chance of actually working... I don't believe he would be part of selling "a pig in a poke".>
You mentioned that its is worth trying in your previous response to one hobbyist who asked similar question. Does the response still hold today?
<Mmm, I would not use this product myself... nor endorse its use in your circumstances>
  3. I have 2 cleaner shrimps in my main display tank. do you think 1,018 SG salinity is OK with them?
<No... will likely cause their demise>
  4. How long a period for a hyposalinity treatment is deemed optimal? 2 weeks or 4 weeks? Trying to seek a balance that most parasites are controlled/weakened and fish/shrimps do not have to suffer for long.
   <... am not, NOT a fan of hyposalinity for actual, advanced (discernible) parasite treatments... As you will find by reading WWM, print works by myself>
  Thanks in advance for your help. I am really grateful that you set up such useful site. I also own your books. Great work!
     Best regards.
<I do wish you well... to cut to the proverbial chase, I would remove all fishes, treat with a chelated copper solution... Bob Fenner>

Bizarre Growth, Epsom Salt, and More - 11/29/2005
Bob,
<Actually, Sabrina with you, in his stead.>
You've helped me before regarding Popeye and Epsom salt. I'm wondering if you can suggest something again. 
<We'll sure try, Paul!>
My Royal Gramma has developed a clear, bulbous tumor inside its mouth over the last two months and while it is still active and eating, the tumor has doubled in size (bigger than a pea and the fish is only 3" long). It now swims with its mouth open at all times and although seems to not be bothered by it, I know if it gets much bigger it won't be able to eat and may even invade its gills. 
<Clear.... you mean, you can see through this? Like a blister? Or is it in/under the skin?>
Will Epsom salt shrink this thing or would something else work? 
<I would try Epsom salt, yes - but I also am concerned that it may possibly be a "goiter", from an iodine deficiency, which can be treated by supplementing iodine/iodide (I believe Bob usually recommends Lugol's solution) for several weeks, a few months....>
Could I possibly suck the tumor away with a syringe? 
<I don't think I would risk this.>
I think that would probably scare the fish to death even if I could hold still long enough to pull that off. 
<You would need to sedate the animal to do such a thing.... really, I advise against it, unless it becomes a life-or-death situation.>
Its color is excellent and as I said, is healthy. 
<Good signs, to be sure.>
I want to try and treat it before it gets to where its energy would make it detrimental to move to a quarantine tank. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
<I would research the iodine issue, were I in your shoes, and try adding Epsom.>
Paul
<Wishing you well, -Sabrina>

- Finding Epsom Salts -
Thanks again. Where can I find epsmo salt and what is it?
<It's Epsom salt and you can find it at any drug store. Cheers, J -- > 

Epsom Salt Use...
Hi,
<Hye there! Scott F. here with you!>
First I just wanted to thank you guys for the great website and
plentiful useful information.  Second, I have a recently added Coral Beauty into my 25 gallon salt-water tank that has developed a
puffy/cloudy eye.  This injury was most likely the result of a fight with the yellow tang who has given the coral beauty a less than welcome introduction into the tank.
<Not fun...BTW- I hope that a larger tank is in the future for these guys...?>
I read in other responses on this site that I could add Epsom Salt (1 tablespoon per 5 gallons) to help reduce the swelling.  I wanted to know what repercussions (if any) would result if
I added this salt directly to the main tank.  Reason being, it is a real pain to try to catch the Coral Beauty in and about the live rock.  Will the addition of the Epsom Salt cause my salinity to be knocked out of whack... will the other fish (a Clownfish, Arc Eye Hawkfish, Velvet Damsel, Magenta Dottyback) suffer any side-effects? Thanks, Craig Donnelly
<Well, good news, Craig- you CAN add the Epsom salt right in to the display. Do monitor basic water parameters (Specific Gravity, pH, alkalinity, etc.) just to make sure that all is well. You should not have too many side effects with the use of Epsom salts if you stay within the recommended dose. Also- please do start shopping for a larger (much larger) tank for this crowd! I hope this alleviates your concerns. Good luck! Regards, Scott F.>

Pop-Eye II
Can I put Epsom salt in the tank directly?
<Yes>
Is it safe with live soft corals, crabs, starfish, snails,...?
<Completely, all can be revealed by reading about this treatment on www.WetWebMedia.com. It has previously been discussed in great detail. -Steven Pro>

Re: quick Epsom Salt question
Hello again, and thanks for all the help!
<our pleasure>
Could you please explain what Epsom salt does and its proper usage in the aquarium setting? ~Jim
<Okey-dokey... Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) is a fundamental and necessary component of sea salt but has numerous benefits to life at large. It is used with people and pets (birds, dogs, cats, etc) as a laxative. In the aquarium, this very property helps stressed and struggling creatures maintain better osmotic balance. Thus, a fish with a bumped and swollen eye can get relief (fluid from swollen eye) from Epsom salt. It is added to most dry fish foods to prevent internal blockage from greedy feeding fishes. It also is used in fresh or salt water to raise hardness and electrolyte levels. Dosed in moderation, there are few disadvantages to it. Most doses are 1 tsp to 1 TBSPN per 10 gallons and can be repeated. There is more information in our archives on this topic. Best regards, Anthony>

Epsom salt
I was just wondering if Epsom salt clouds the tank?
<as long as you don't add too much (and it is not easily abused... 1 TBSPN per 5 gallons is no trouble at all), it certainly will not cloud the tank. If you add a lot and quickly, however, you could cause a crystalline precipitation. However, you really would have to add a scary amount to do this. Epsom salt overall is fine, safe and therapeutic. Anthony>

Will the Epsom salt make my tank cloudy?
<No. In water with a nominal mineral capacity there should be no noticeable appearance.  Craig>

- Pop-eye Medication -
Every article I read on swollen eye in marine fish I am told to use penicillin. <Interesting... this problem is usually due to an insult directly to the eye in question, although sometimes it is bacteria related. I wouldn't bother with penicillin.> I have ordered this medication from several online suppliers and the results have been the same, I am told shortage in the us and this is not available. What can I substitute for penicillin. <Try Epsom salts, one teaspoon per five gallons.> Thanks for any help you can give me.
FRED
<Cheers, J -- >

Printers and Magnesium Sulfate
Sorry about all these questions but I realized it was epson salt not epsmo. 
<Actually neither>
But, how often should I put 1 teaspoon of epson salt per 5 gallons, only after water changes? And will malachite green kill Oodinium, ich, and anemone fish disease? Really afraid to use copper, bad experience with it. Thanks again guys,
You're always there for me
<Then... be there for yourself... put these chemical names in the Google search tool on the WWM homepage and read on... You need to know much more than you're asking here... Read. Bob Fenner> 

Epsom Salt Dosing in Quarantine 1.10.05
Hi,
<Hello, Ryan with you today.>
I'm desiring to add Epsom salt to my 20g quarantine tank for a royal Gramma with a somewhat bulging eye.  As I surveyed the info in the FAQ archives, I've found varying dosage levels...  I've seen WetWebMedia recommend:
  -- 1 tsp per 5 gallons
  -- 1 tbsp per 5 gallons
  -- 1 tsp per gallon
Can you clarify for me an appropriate dosing level?
<I'd start with 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons, and give it 72 hours.  If you don't start to see improvement, slowly increase the amount by adding a cup of RO/DI water with a teaspoon of dissolved Epsom salts.  Just as with all our guidelines, you must use your personal knowledge of the marine life to be treated before starting a medication program.  The fish you're treating is hardy, but it's better to be on the safe side.  Good luck, Ryan>  
Thanks,
John