Do you have an ich-less aquarium?

[JustAnotherNanoTank]

Do you truly have an ich-less system?

I mean idk if I truly do. Idk if it’s there and I can’t see it. I just don’t know. I just know none of my 3 fish have white spots and haven’t ever since I’ve had them. Happy reefing!

 

[JustAnotherNanoTank]

I have no Idea, but I pay extra to get non quarantined fish.

Non? I’m confused lol

 

[phatduckk]

Yes, with reservations. I've had my current fish from 3 - 4 years, have never had any issues, but I did add an un quarantined brittle star 5 months ago. I guess it would have shown up by now ?

per @Humblefish the starfish just needs to be rinsed as parasites aren't able to encyst upon them. Only risk would be a "free swimmer" just kinda hanging out on it & those would wash away easily https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/coral-invert-quarantine-time-frames.334584/

 

[WVNed]

I don't know. I have never seen it. I don't do anything to prevent it. I dont even think about it except when these threads pop up.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

I medicate QT all my fish, haven't seen any signs of a parasitic infection after QT. 80% of ornamental fish have internal parasites, and without treatment that will always be present in a system. I take fish disease very seriously. I didn't use to and .... paid dearly for it.

I do not QT my inverts and corals which has worked for me in the last 3.5 years. I do give them a few different dips and baths before being introduced to my DT. My thinking is any cyst laying on the coral or invert should be removed with the different baths and flow. It is a risk, but I feel comfortable with the precautions I have taken.

 

[ca1ore]

My Achilles is how I know that one particular tank is ich free.

Yup, no better canary.

 

[Paul B]

Non? I’m confused lol

Nothing to be confused about. I try to get the fish right out of the box before the LFS puts them in his tank. Or, if they sell quarantined, or "observed" fish, I will pay extra if they keep them for me out of quarantine or any medications until I get them.

 

[4FordFamily]

My 500 gallon reef is completely 100% parasite free, so happy to be able to say that. All of my fish and inverts go through a long qt period in my 180 gallon qt tank that’s always up and going. No chances. I do have ick sensitive fish in my 500 gallon also like an Achilles tang who never show any signs of any parasite.

Ditto on all counts.

I won't say 100% parasite free, but devoid of uronema, ich, velvet, brook, and Hopefully flukes (I see no sign of them).

 

[Javamahn]

Learned my lesson 3 years ago. A 20 gallon with a sponge filter is not expensive. A Display tank full of Fish and corals is.

 

[Badilac]

Yeah, ich chez moi also .... have had since 2013. I do wonder how many of the folks who believe their tank to be ich free would get a nasty surprise if they added a highly ich sensitive fish. I have no overt symptoms in my system, unless I try to add an Achilles tang. Spot city!!!

I'm Ich free and have Achilles, Sohal, Purple, Yellow belly regal, etc. That's why you QT everything wet!

 

[serwobow]

Seems like most evidence indicates that if the fish are spot-free, then the tank is ich-free. The parasite has a relatively short lifespan (from days to a couple months), and fish become immune if they survive their initial exposure, so then the parasites have no potential host, and will die.

 

[AcroNem]

Since Ichthyopthirius is a freshwater parasite, no one has Ich in their system (; had to say it.

But yes, my system is free of Cryptocaryon and other parasites. I quarantine everything. Fish, coral, other invertebrates, rock, for the appropriate amount of time with prophylactic treatment, no cross contamination, and check fish via microscope before addition.

 

[AcroNem]

Seems like most evidence indicates that if the fish are spot-free, then the tank is ich-free. The parasite has a relatively short lifespan (from days to a couple months), and fish become immune if they survive their initial exposure, so then the parasites have no potential host, and will die.

This would be true, if Cryptocaryon couldn't survive very long periods of time in cysts in anaerobic zones in your system if it was there previously. And all it takes is it being exposed again, and a fish to be just a wee bit stressed to be compromised. Also Crypto could just as easily live in the gills and not be visible on the outside of the fish at that time.

 

[CenlaReefer]

I keep a black molly to ensure my tank is free of ich and velvet. I only get QT’d fish and inverts.

 

[Squidward]

Yes after 2 years out of the hobby. I got in and was determined to be ich free. Learned all about TTM and did it for all of my fish in my 300g. I have 10 tangs including Powder Blue, Blue Hippo, and Achilles which are ich free. I do have a coral quarantine tank but I don't keep too many corals or inverts.

 

[Viking_Reefing]

Yeah, I have ich in my system but I don’t worry about it. It won’t take out an otherwise healthy fish in a stable system imo.

 

[ca1ore]

I'm Ich free and have Achilles, Sohal, Purple, Yellow belly regal, etc. That's why you QT everything wet!

If you have the commitment to do that then, yes, it is the best way to increase the chances of 100%. It is possible, however, to have a successful system with ich as the video shows …. it just limits the fish selection by a few.

 

[Fishko]

I ocassionaly see a white speck on my lawn mower blenny and freak out thats its ick, seems to be flecks of sand. My cleaner shrimp really cleans the non captive bred fish almost daily

 

[sawdonkey]

I have ich and am OK with that. It only shows up from time to time on my hippo tang. When I set this tank up, we had just had a baby, so QT was not an option. I crossed my fingers. I have no reason to try to eradicate it.

 

[ca1ore]

Seems like most evidence indicates that if the fish are spot-free, then the tank is ich-free. The parasite has a relatively short lifespan (from days to a couple months), and fish become immune if they survive their initial exposure, so then the parasites have no potential host, and will die.

Sorry to say that this is probably not true. Sustainance ich can 'hide' in places that may not be apparent. My fish are spot free and behave as if they are ich free, yet it persists in my system and has for many years. I felt that my system was likely ich free when I attempted to add an Achilles last year. Using water from the DT, it quickly developed spots in QT. I was able to cure him, but had to resell ….