How many micron is ick?

[Cabinetman]

Anybody know how many micron ick is in it’s free swimming stage after they hatch and go looking for a host?

 

[Crabs McJones]

I believe they are between 25-60 microns from what I've read.

 

[Jose Mayo]

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Here is a research article from the University of Florida on Marine Ich, it lists sizes for all of the observed life cycles of marine ich: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa164

 

[Cabinetman]

Sweet. So I’ve been battling with ick forever. The curse of having a big powder blue, Achilles and powder brown in the same tank... plus about 10 other big tangs. So I thought about adding monster sized uv sterilizer but after reading I don’t think it will do much because of the low flow rate. So my next plan is to filter those little suckers out. But hey you would need a huge fine filter right. Well guess what. I’ve been running a pool sand filter on my tank for some time with a 1/3 hp motor on it with regular sand...which is able to filter out 20-40 micron. The 1/3 hp motor moved a fair bit of water but nothing like what I added tonight. A 1 hp Hayward pool pump that came with the sand filter. Now that sucker moves some water lol. I ran it for a few days prior to today but it was to loud with my stand wide open. So I added panels to the tank stand and it’s not that loud now. Bearable ... the other big change I made is too add a better filter media. It’s called Dr. Drydens glass media. He invented it for water parks like sea land to use in their exhibits. Filters Down to 4 micron. Presto!!! So let the experiment begin. I’ve been running low copper for a week or so to control the ick but I’m going to add carbon tonight. I’ve also got a good sized pool diatom filter coming which I plan on running too. The joys of a 560 gallon tank lol

 

[Jose Mayo]

The problem is that mature trophonts abandon the fish at night, when it is sleeping and from there it goes to the next substrate, where it installs and becomes tomont. The water circulation is slow in the local where the fish sleeps, so hardly the filter will have resulted in that phase. For theronts it should work.

Best regards

 

[Humblefish]

The problem with filtering out theronts is you almost never get them all. A few will always make their way onto a fish before being siphoned out. So, while this strategy maintains the theront population at a level far below sublethal, it is usually a forever thing that never reaches a conclusion.

 

[Maritimer]

Still sounds like an interesting experiment . . .

Would it be possible, by drastically reducing the population of Cryptocaryon (and granted, this filter isn't for every hobbyist ... copper or CP QT will surely work better for most!) duplicate more natural population dynamics, allowing the fish to attain and maintain the "immunity" that PaulB has been touting?

~Bruce, listening and learning . . .

 

[Cabinetman]

~Bruce, listening and learning . . .[/QUOTE
That is my exact hope. I’ve long given up trying to totally kill them off. I’ve tried extended periods of hypo and copper and it still comes back. My problem is to many big ...huge fish. My sohal is 12”+. So a fallow tank is just not happening. So my new strategy is dilution. I’m ok with seeing a few spots... just not covered. I know she’s sure filtering lol. Just stirred up the substrate good and in under 10 mins tank is clear. I’m guessing this pump is moving somewhere between 6000-8000 gph. And one I add my dc18000 Jecod running the diatom filter.. well my fish even think about crapping it’s gone and hopefully the same for ick.[/QUOTE]

Still sounds like an interesting experiment . . .

Would it be possible, by drastically reducing the population of Cryptocaryon (and granted, this filter isn't for every hobbyist ... copper or CP QT will surely work better for most!) duplicate more natural population dynamics, allowing the fish to attain and maintain the "immunity" that PaulB has been touting?

~Bruce, listening and learning . . .[/QUOTE

 

[Humblefish]

Would it be possible, by drastically reducing the population of Cryptocaryon (and granted, this filter isn't for every hobbyist ... copper or CP QT will surely work better for most!) duplicate more natural population dynamics, allowing the fish to attain and maintain the "immunity" that PaulB has been touting?

Yes, for Cryptocaryon it is possible this strategy could work.

However, for Amyloodinium (Marine Velvet) the sheer numbers would likely kill most of your fish before the filter could provide much benefit. However, velvet could possibly be managed using a diatom filter once the dinospore population was brought under control. However, I personally wouldn’t sleep well at night knowing velvet was in my tank - even at a sublethal level. Seems like a time bomb just waiting to go off e.g. extended power loss.

 

[Cabinetman]

What micron are velvet?

 

[Humblefish]

What micron are velvet?

They range in size from 10-80 micrometers in diameter. Different strains, how long they remain in the water, etc.

 

[Cabinetman]

I’m uploading a video now showing my setup. I couldn’t be happier!!! Tank is so clear!!! I don’t think any of these parasites stand a chance while that pump is running... but we will see. I have thought so many tines I’ve had them beat only to be proven wrong

 

[JaimeAdams]

I bet that it is excellent at polishing the water as well. The one thing that I must be missing is why not just run copper at the correct levels for the whole duration. It is a parasite, it cannot live it's whole life cycle in the correct copper levels? It just seems like a lot to have to deal with when there is a common treatment option available. What is it that I am missing here?

 

[Cabinetman]

I have tried several times but trying to copper fish in a 560 gallon tank with rock is easier said than done. Then add one coral or invert and I’m screwed again.

 

[JaimeAdams]

I have tried several times but trying to copper fish in a 560 gallon tank with rock is easier said than done. Then add one coral or invert and I’m screwed again.

That is fair. The rock will absorb copper so your level may have never been enough to truly kill it off unless you were constantly adjusting it. Adding corals and inverts should obviously be Quarantined because of what you are speaking, but most times folks want to cut corners.

 

[Cabinetman]

 

[Paul B]

I personally wouldn’t sleep well at night knowing velvet was in my tank - even at a sublethal level. Seems like a time bomb just waiting to go off e.g. extended power loss.

I haven't slept in 40 years waiting for that time bomb to go off. My wife is scared to death and goes to sleep wearing a flack jacket.

Hello my buddy Bobby.

 

[Humblefish]

I haven't slept in 40 years waiting for that time bomb to go off. My wife is scared to death and goes to sleep wearing a flack jacket.

Hello my buddy Bobby.

Wassup Paul? When ya moving?

 

[Cabinetman]

The problem is that mature trophonts abandon the fish at night, when it is sleeping and from there it goes to the next substrate, where it installs and becomes tomont. The water circulation is slow in the local where the fish sleeps, so hardly the filter will have resulted in that phase. For theronts it should work.

Best regards

You are right. Even with 2 monster sized filters Achilles and powder brown get covered. My next strategy is to get rid of the ick prone fish. I give up trying to keep an Achilles in a tank with ick in it.