Ich!! At this point im worried and confused

[To(meany)Tang]

Hey guys so I'm getting ready to move my 20 fish into their new 200 gallon home I just bought them problem is they have been in copper treatment for ich for almost 3 months now. The first 6 weeks I found out my copper levels were never correct so I restarted the clock. Yesterday marked another 4 weeks at the proper levels using hanna checker so I wanted to move them already. I haven't noticed any spots or symptoms the entire 10 weeks even at subtherapeutic levels but 2 days ago I noticed a white spot on my damsel and don't know what's wrong. Coppersafe Levels are in check..nitrates got really high this week..the white spot is now gone...is it maybe the last remaining tomites that hatched and its ending the life cycle? My tank has live rock and sand and can say I've had to work overtime to keep the levels in check. What do you think is happening? I can't keep them in copper another 6 weeks and my water quality is a constant battle with no carbon or protein skimmer. I don't want to give up but I caused them so much stress as it is.

 

[Tired]

Any chance that was a sand grain?

What level of copper have you been maintaining?

Have you calibrated the checker?
(I don't actually know if those can be calibrated, I've never used one, but "are you sure the measuring instrument is accurate" is always a good thing to check.)

 

[To(meany)Tang]

Any chance that was a sand grain?

What level of copper have you been maintaining?

Have you calibrated the checker?
(I don't actually know if those can be calibrated, I've never used one, but "are you sure the measuring instrument is accurate" is always a good thing to check.)

I was questioning sand because my other fish sometimes have sand on them but I couldn't be certain my sand is white ..I am maintaining 2.25- 2.5 never letting it go below. And yes it has calibration packets like 2 or 3 that came with it but like other checkers with packets like hanna salinity I calibrate once and haven't had to recalibrate yet for about 100 readings now

 

[nereefpat]

It sounds like you are using copper in the display tank to treat ich, and you are now at 28 days of therapeutic copper.

Sometimes a spec is just a spec, or sand or lymphocystis or a scrape etc.

Since it's in the display, my opinion would be to go 45 days of 2+ppm Coppersafe/Copper Power. That way you are covering all the cysts in the display. You are almost there, assuming temperature is close to 80.

 

[To(meany)Tang]

It sounds like you are using copper in the display tank to treat ich, and you are now at 28 days of therapeutic copper.

Sometimes a spec is just a spec, or sand or lymphocystis or a scrape etc.

Since it's in the display, my opinion would be to go 45 days of 2+ppm Coppersafe/Copper Power. That way you are covering all the cysts in the display. You are almost there, assuming temperature is close to 80.

Yess at 83. And thank you..so when I remove all the rock at the end of 45 days to catch the fish will I have to worry about tophonts laying in a dead pocket somewhere under a rock or in the sand?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yess at 83. And thank you..so when I remove all the rock at the end of 45 days to catch the fish will I have to worry about tophonts laying in a dead pocket somewhere under a rock or in the sand?

The best treatment cycle with coppersafe is at therapeutic level 2.25-2.5 For a FULL 30 days (do not interrupt this 30 day period) monitored by a reliable Copper Test kit such as Hanna Brand- No API brand. Also monitor Ammonia levels while in quarantine with a reliable test kit and add aeration during treatment using an air stone.
The display tank will have to be kept fishless (FALLOW) for 6-8 weeks to assure the existing parasites go through their life cycle without a host fish and die off

 

[nereefpat]

Yess at 83. And thank you..so when I remove all the rock at the end of 45 days to catch the fish will I have to worry about tophonts laying in a dead pocket somewhere under a rock or in the sand?

Now I'm confused. Are you treating in the display? Why do you need to catch fish?

Personally, I don't believe rumors about ich surviving in anoxic areas for longer than standard life cycle time.

 

[To(meany)Tang]

The best treatment cycle with coppersafe is at therapeutic level 2.25-2.5 For a FULL 30 days (do not interrupt this 30 day period) monitored by a reliable Copper Test kit such as Hanna Brand- No API brand. Also monitor Ammonia levels while in quarantine with a reliable test kit and add aeration during treatment using an air stone.
The display tank will have to be kept fishless (FALLOW) for 6-8 weeks to assure the existing parasites go through their life cycle without a host fish and die off

That's exactly what I have done. 2.25-2.5 for 30 days with hanna checker..but I had them in subtherapeutic levels at 1.75 for 6 weeks prior to finding out I was at the wrong level..then 30 days at correct levels which makes them about 45 consecutive days in copper. My 200 gal is brand new with no ich concern could I move them already? I'm nervous if I remove the rock to catch them that there can be cysts hidden somewhere and catch me off guard. And if the treatment failed another 30 days would be 75 days in copper and feel that may be too stressful

 

[To(meany)Tang]

Now I'm confused. Are you treating in the display? Why do you need to catch fish?

Personally, I don't believe rumors about ich surviving in anoxic areas for longer than standard life cycle time.

Yes I treated my display but now got a bigger display so using the smaller one for the copper treatment.

 

[vetteguy53081]

That's exactly what I have done. 2.25-2.5 for 30 days with hanna checker..but I had them in subtherapeutic levels at 1.75 for 6 weeks prior to finding out I was at the wrong level..then 30 days at correct levels which makes them about 45 consecutive days in copper. My 200 gal is brand new with no ich concern could I move them already? I'm nervous if I remove the rock to catch them that there can be cysts hidden somewhere and catch me off guard. And if the treatment failed another 30 days would be 75 days in copper and feel that may be too stressful

Ha display had fish in it yet ? If not- should be safe to go

 

[vetteguy53081]

That's exactly what I have done. 2.25-2.5 for 30 days with hanna checker..but I had them in subtherapeutic levels at 1.75 for 6 weeks prior to finding out I was at the wrong level..then 30 days at correct levels which makes them about 45 consecutive days in copper. My 200 gal is brand new with no ich concern could I move them already? I'm nervous if I remove the rock to catch them that there can be cysts hidden somewhere and catch me off guard. And if the treatment failed another 30 days would be 75 days in copper and feel that may be too stressful

30 days not 75 sufficient. just acclimate fish to new tank as if you just bought them

 

[nereefpat]

As long as you don't move over any sand, rock, or arguably any water, the fish could be transferred to the new tank after 30 days of therapeutic copper levels.