Fish have ich! No QT

SaltySam09 · Jan 20, 2022

I was feeding my fish today when I noticed White spots all over there fins and body! I'm pretty sure its ich, but I'm not sure what to do, I don't have a QT and Im afraid to dose anything into my DT it has corals and anemones. What should I do?

SaltySam09 · Jan 20, 2022

Does anyone know what to do? Can I treat with copper in DT? is there any other medication that would work?

BostonReefer300 · Jan 20, 2022

You can't treat with copper if you have any invertebrates including coral. There are a few "reef safe" options you can try if you absolutely can't catch and quarantine. But first, are they acting ill?

Dbichler · Jan 20, 2022

With corals you have no choice but to live with ich or pull all the fish out and go fallow. There’s no other treatment with corals.

BostonReefer300 · Jan 20, 2022

Here's an R2R link on ich that has lots of helpful info and more links.

Ich eradication vs. Ich management

Ich eradication vs. Ich management The purpose of this article is to discuss the pros & cons of ich eradication and ich management, and present the best methods for implementing each. Ich eradication - Simply put, this method means doing everything possible to keep ich out of your tank. That...

www.reef2reef.com

SaltySam09 · Jan 20, 2022

BostonReefer300 said:
You can't treat with copper if you have any invertebrates including coral. There are a few "reef safe" options you can try if you absolutely can't catch and quarantine. But first, are they acting ill?

I think it's really early stages, they are still acting normal.

Dbichler · Jan 20, 2022

Without photos couldn’t tell you the stage but if there’s a lot of spots it’s not early. You need to treat asap.

SaltySam09 · Jan 20, 2022

Would fresh water dips offer any sort of relief? I know it won't eradicate it.

davidcalgary29 · Jan 20, 2022

SaltySam09 said:
Would fresh water dips offer any sort of relief? I know it won't eradicate it.

Yes, but if they're acting normally, why do it? Dips can certainly place physiological stress on fish through osmotic shock. You've got to try your best to match pH with tank water, and that's not easy to do with fresh water without proper equipment.

Just set up a quarantine in a tote or garbage can; all you need is a heater, airstone, and powerhead. You don't even need a filter, althout that's recommended. There are many threads on this site about dosing copper, but I wouldn't do that at all without a Hanna HR copper checker.

SaltySam09 · Jan 20, 2022

davidcalgary29 said:
Yes, but if they're acting normally, why do it? Dips can certainly place physiological stress on fish through osmotic shock. You've got to try your best to match pH with tank water, and that's not easy to do with fresh water without proper equipment.

Just set up a quarantine in a tote or garbage can; all you need is a heater, airstone, and powerhead. You don't even need a filter, althout that's recommended. There are many threads on this site about dosing copper, but I wouldn't do that at all without a Hanna HR copper checker.

Im already planning on setting up a rubbermaid QT tomorrow. I'm kinda in a tricky spot financially right know so I'm not sure a hanna checker is on the the table. Is there any other test that would work?

davidcalgary29 · Jan 20, 2022

SaltySam09 said:
Im already planning on setting up a rubbermaid QT tomorrow. I'm kinda in a tricky spot financially right know so I'm not sure a hanna checker is on the the table. Is there any other test that would work?

It's really the most economical and accurate method of testing for copper at therapeutic levels. A good deal of accuracy is required for dosing copper, and you must maintain that level for a number of weeks, and you cannot do this with accuracy with test strips.

I'd put out a general call for help in the local community to see if anyone has a spare unit (with reagents).

PeterEde · Jan 20, 2022

If I could get Ruby Rally Pro in Australia I would have tried that. All I have is Copper which I used in a QT. But I feel that stresses the fish more than the ICH
I have since put my fish back in my DT and treating with Polypmedic. So far all my fish look to be ICH free

reefz · Jan 20, 2022

Just feed nutrient enhanced frozen food like rods foods and vitachem if qt is not an option. But I do recommend qt if you can.

davidcalgary29 · Jan 20, 2022

I have to disagree with both of the previous two posts.

First, Rally Pro is not recommended for Ich. The company states that, repeatedly, on their website, and it's even on the bottle. They also do manufacture "Kick Ich", but I've heard it's useless.

Feeding frozen food won't help you eradicate parasites, enhanced with nutrients or not. The only thing that's been proven -- with the scientific method -- to work is starvation (TTM or fallow periods) or medication (copper, a few other treatments). Everything else is a crapshoot with no guarantees of success.