How long to wait to add fish after ick

fredjr · Jun 4, 2017

Hi, My Reef tank is just getting out of a bout of ick lost a few of my fish but Foxface, Yellow watchman goby, Fire fish Goby and Purple Tang made it. What should I do before adding any new fish?

SashimiTurtle · Jun 4, 2017

Leave the fish in QT and keep the DT fishless for 72 days.

fredjr · Jun 4, 2017

I would but no way to catch the fishes without removing live rocks and corals.

ngoodermuth · Jun 4, 2017

There's no way to rid the tank of ich with the fish still in it.

Read this

Ich eradication vs. Ich management

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Ich-eradication-vs.-Ich-management.188775/

fredjr · Jun 4, 2017

ngoodermuth said:
There's no way to rid the tank of ich with the fish still in it.

Read this

Ich eradication vs. Ich management

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Ich-eradication-vs.-Ich-management.188775/

Yea guess I'm looking for a good way to manage it for now. Don't want to add new fish to soon.

melypr1985 · Jun 4, 2017

Agreed. without removing the fish, you can't get the ich out of the tank. Sorry

4FordFamily · Jun 4, 2017

melypr1985 said:
Agreed. without removing the fish, you can't get the ich out of the tank. Sorry

X3

fredjr · Jun 5, 2017

What do you guys think about a UV Sterilizers? will I benefit from having one? Just want to keep my tank health.

melypr1985 · Jun 5, 2017

fredjr said:
What do you guys think about a UV Sterilizers? will I benefit from having one? Just want to keep my tank health.

They don't usually hurt anything, but they won't cure an active infestation. It is a tool for ich management tanks. If you dont' want to (or simply can't) QT, then it's a good thing to have on your tank to help keep ich populations down some.

fredjr · Jun 6, 2017

melypr1985 said:
They don't usually hurt anything, but they won't cure an active infestation. It is a tool for ich management tanks. If you dont' want to (or simply can't) QT, then it's a good thing to have on your tank to help keep ich populations down some.

It's looking like my only option. The only other way I can see to do this is to buy a bigger tank to move my fish into, Don't think a 10gal tank for 4 fish will work.

ngoodermuth · Jun 6, 2017

With your fish list, I think something a little bigger would be needed. A 20g would even be pushing it,30-55g would be best.

fredjr · Jun 6, 2017

ngoodermuth said:
With your fish list, I think something a little bigger would be needed. A 20g would even be pushing it,30-55g would be best.

I have a 3 1/2in purple tang, 4in foxface, 2in yellow watchman goby and a 2in fire fish. I really don't have room for another tank.

ngoodermuth · Jun 6, 2017

fredjr said:
I have a 3 1/2in purple tang, 4in foxface, 2in yellow watchman goby and a 2in fire fish. I really don't have room for another tank.

Oh, I hear you. I have a 1200 sq ft house with 4 QTs going right now [emoji15][emoji15] tanks everywhere, and so much salt. But, I don't want to lose $$$ in fish later so I'm ripping off the bandaid now...

fredjr · Jun 6, 2017

ngoodermuth said:
Oh, I hear you. I have a 1200 sq ft house with 4 QTs going right now [emoji15][emoji15] tanks everywhere, and so much salt. But, I don't want to lose $$$ in fish later so I'm ripping off the bandaid now...

Lol you must have a tank in every room.

ngoodermuth · Jun 6, 2017

fredjr said:
Lol you must have a tank in every room.

Pretty much [emoji23]

fredjr · Jul 21, 2017

Ok people I now have all my fish in quarantine and I was wonder if it's necessary to treat the fish with something? Will the ick parasite die on it's on? no sand or live rock in the QT, so the ick shouldn't reproduce right?

SashimiTurtle · Jul 21, 2017

You'll need to treat the fish in Coppersafe at 2.0ppm for 30 days or the ich will never go away. After 30 days you can remove the fish to another QT tank or use carbon to remove the copper. Your display tank will need to remain fishless for 76 days.

Robink · Jul 21, 2017

No, it won't die on its own if it has a host. You can use copper or tank transfer method to get rid of the ick.

Charles Weller · Jul 21, 2017

Ich will still reproduce even without the sand or rock.

aykwm · Jul 21, 2017

fredjr said:
Ok people I now have all my fish in quarantine and I was wonder if it's necessary to treat the fish with something? Will the ick parasite die on it's on? no sand or live rock in the QT, so the ick shouldn't reproduce right?

Unfortunately they just dont go away, or else you can keep them in DT and they will go away on their own. You need to treat with appropriate medication like copper or CP depending on your fish. Ich doesnt need sand or LR to reproduce, basically any hard surface is good enough.