How would you handle this???

[rob92]

I have ich in my 15 gallon marine tank with live rock and live sand along with 2 clownfish. I would like to get everyone's method for treating ich and how to prevent it in the future.

So far I've heard that a UV light will help kill the virus/disease that's in the water but won't kill ich that's already on the body of the fish.

What would you do and what's your opinion on UV lights for aquariums????

 

[Tahoe61]

Marine ich is a parasite, it requires a host to continue the life cycle, no host and the parasite dies. UV will only treat those parasites within the water column that pass through the UV filter. Not all UV's are created equal and the theories on how effective a UV in the treatment of Cryptocaryans is a hot and heavy discussion. In my opinion it can not hurt and may assist in treating other pathogens that contribute to stress which leaves the fish susceptible to out breaks. UV is not a means of eradication.

 

[rob92]

So what should I do if I don't have a hospital tank set up at this moment?

 

[robbrouse]

Set one up and be ready to do lot of Water changes.

 

[rob92]

So I I set one up as soon as I get home I should be able to put the infected fish in it tonight or should I wait till tomorrow. The only other tank I have that is advailable is a 5 gallon

 

[impur]

Setup a QT tank and treat them in there. Keep the display fish free for 8 weeks. Since you will now have a QT tank any new livestock should go in there and monitored or treated before going into your display. I would get at least a 10 gal. Most LFS have used ones for 5-10 bucks.

 

[Palting]

So what should I do if I don't have a hospital tank set up at this moment?

Just make sure you have an otherwise healthy tank. Good parameters, good flow, make sure the fish are eating well, use garlic in the food as an appetite stimulant and possibly immune booster. This is all I would do if I do not have a hospital tank. You won't eradicate or cure the Ich, but hopefully none of the fish will die. None of the "reef safe" meds will eradicate the Ich. I've tried most if not all of them, and succeeded only in wasting money.

Eventually you will need a hospital tank if you want to eradicate the Ich. Treat all the fish with copper or hyposalinity in the hospital tank, and leave the main tank without fish. I did the hyposalinity treatment 3 years ago, and it works in eradicating Ich. A 5 gallon tank should work if all you have are two small clowns. I wouldn't rush setting up the QT. I would buy a HOB filter and cycle it. A lot of people lose fish in QT/HT by an improperly set up tank. I would keep the fish and tank healthy as in the first paragraph, and properly cycle the QT.

 

[robbrouse]

You will be dealing with an uncycled d tank.. I get them there ASAP and be ready to keep them there for 90 days. I've never had ICK, but her it takes that long to leave the main tank. you need to make sure you have test kits and something to treat them with. If the ammonia get high you will ahev to go water changes and re does copper to keep the correct levels in the tank.

I've also heard of people feeding ICK.. If the fish are eating they don't do anything at all. I'm far from an expert on this.. I have a 20 gallon cycling right now to user as a QT.

IF you move the fish to a new tank get some meds right away and start the process.

 

[rob92]

Ok because I have ich meds for my freshwater tank will that work I haven't been able to get to the store yet do to being at work and they will be close when I get off

 

[Tahoe61]

Go here

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/new-saltwater-reef-aquariums-post-here/135401-help-ich.html

And here

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/fish-discussion/135002-myth-mondays-ich.html

Your most successful interventions will be reading the links in their entirety before deciding on a plan of action. If you do sit up a QT get an ammonia monitor to place in the QT. You will also need a source of flow, heater and cupermine and a test kit for copper. Take your time and read the links.

 

[robbrouse]

I ahve no idea if FRESH and Marine ICK can be treated by same meds.

 

[Tahoe61]

Nope, two different organisms.

 

[rob92]

Ok thank you and I see you were on my other post. Don't know why but I made this one to see what everyone have done in the past lol

 

[rob92]

An thank you everyone for your input I'll get the 5 gallon up and running tonight and I'll try and make it to the pet store tomorrow to try and get ick meds for the fish. Thank you again for your help I may ask a lot of questions but I think I kinda did rush this a little, I thought the 15 gallon was already cycled but that was before I had the API test kit (I was using test strips from some other company and clearly they were wrong)

 

[rob92]

Also I have a heater and a internal filter for the 5 gallon also should I leave it bare bottom or should I add a little gravel

 

[Tahoe61]

Bare bottom, no charcoal or rocks, PVC for hiding areas. Good Luck

 

[rob92]

Thank you I'll post a picture tonight when I get home of the hospital tank so I can get your input on it. And what should I have the salinity at I kno it's lower and I thought someone said it edits I just can't find it I know normal is between 1.022 and 1.026

 

[Tahoe61]

Try to match it to the SG of the tank the clowns are currently in. You can not combine treatments for Cryptocaryans, pick Copper or Hypo and stick with one or the other, I suggest Copper.

 

[Wankell]

Copper only stresses them out more, which in turn causes the ich to progress. I would get the salinity and parameters similar to your DT and then run Hyposalinity. You have to start with the normal salinity and then gradually lower it with water changes.

 

[rob92]

Thank you everyone for their help. I may be asking a lot of questions (different posts) and some of them may be somewhat the same, but I am taking in everyone's answers and replies and learning a lot.