Ich help asap!!

johnyboy · Jul 2, 2015

Hey guys

Unfortunate for me I have run into ich. I have a sailfin tang a blue jaw trigger and a clown fish. I do have a fire shrimp and some coral frags. What can I do. I'm really upset that I'm going to loose 200$ in fish. Is there anything I can do ? I'm feeding them the dr g parasite rx food cuz it's the only thing I can do cuz of the corals. I don't have the money for a qt tank and I'm really ticked off. Is there anything I can do to treat the tank that won't hurt the corals. And if not how do I get this parasite out of my tank so I can buy new fish down the road. Please help thanks.

Rob.D · Jul 2, 2015

Here's a few links with tons of info, good luck!

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ich-discussion-and-treatment-options.56989/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ich-eradication-vs-ich-management.188775/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-treat-ich.191226/

redfishbluefish · Jul 2, 2015

As far as I'm concerned, there are only two "cures" for ich.....both requiring a hospital tank. One is hyposalinity and the other is copper. While the fish are being treated (all fish) the DT needs to sit fallow for 6 - 8 weeks. Any other method you read about will not rid your tank of the disease.

NeuroticAquatics · Jul 2, 2015

Petco has their dollar a gallon sale going. $20 to save $200 seems like a bargain to me.

johnyboy · Jul 2, 2015

Well if I take my fish out and treat them what do I do to my display tank ? I have corals inside my display tank.

ilovereefing <3 · Jul 2, 2015

johnyboy said:
Well if I take my fish out and treat them what do I do to my display tank ? I have corals inside my display tank.

Your display tank would run as normal. Ich only affects the fish. You'll still have to keep up with maintenance on the display as you normally would, but leave it fallow (fishless) for at least 8 weeks. Without a fish host, the ich will die. Then you can put your healthy, ich free fish back in the tank and enjoy. Good luck!

NeuroticAquatics · Jul 2, 2015

And, if you QT future additions, you should not have this scenario occur again.

4FordFamily · Jul 2, 2015

I'm not needed here the proper advice is given. I will say that I concur 100% for what it's worth

johnyboy · Jul 3, 2015

I decided I want to just have a qt. so what will I need. I don't want to spend too much money. Just what I need. So I'll get a 10 gallon a heater and what else ? Also Will it be ok if I take 10 gallons from my display and fill the tank so I don't go through the cycle ? How would that work ?

acidtablockshifty · Jul 3, 2015

you can use the water from the tank because the copper will be treating the water, you have to do water changes(i would w/new sw), probably every other day, but dont change out to much water and retest for copper levels after changing the water, ten gallons seems to small imho, also make sure the specific fish can tolerate copper before hand some cant, the filter wont do anything but trap derbies so clean it when you change the water (in the old qt water) to try and keep any beneficial bacteria alive, you could add some nitrifyng bacteria that supposedly would help the cycle but if you did, just expect it to help with ammonia not the other parts of the cycle just kinda what i experienced. maybe just dont use any of the bacteria stuff if your going to put the fish in right away, the bigger the tank the better especially when it comes to tank that is un-cycled/also reducing fish stress

acidtablockshifty · Jul 3, 2015

also you would be filling the tank with your old tank water to maybe get some beneficial bacteria in, it wont be cycled at all and wont really cycle to good with copper in it, hence the constant water changes

4FordFamily · Jul 3, 2015

acidtablockshifty said:
you can use the water from the tank because the copper will be treating the water, you have to do water changes(i would w/new sw), probably every other day, but dont change out to much water and retest for copper levels after changing the water, ten gallons seems to small imho, also make sure the specific fish can tolerate copper before hand some cant, the filter wont do anything but trap derbies so clean it when you change the water (in the old qt water) to try and keep any beneficial bacteria alive, you could add some nitrifyng bacteria that supposedly would help the cycle but if you did, just expect it to help with ammonia not the other parts of the cycle just kinda what i experienced. maybe just dont use any of the bacteria stuff if your going to put the fish in right away, the bigger the tank the better especially when it comes to tank that is un-cycled/also reducing fish stress

FYI this may change your mind with regards to intolerance to copper. These fish are all still kicking

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cupramine-and-angels-my-log.200465/

mmarro99 · Jul 3, 2015

@redfishbluefish +1... exactly what he said but keep the display tank at least 9 weeks running with no fish. Anything less there is still a slight chance of the parasite surviving. Even if your fish die and you put anything in your tank before the 9 week period you will still risk an enormous chance of getting ick again. If you do not qt it's a pretty solid chance you willll get ich sooner or later.

mmarro99 · Jul 3, 2015

johnyboy said:
Well if I take my fish out and treat them what do I do to my display tank ? I have corals inside my display tank.

Nothing, just let it sit for at least 9 wks, noo fish

Humblefish · Jul 3, 2015

johnyboy said:
I decided I want to just have a qt. so what will I need. I don't want to spend too much money. Just what I need. So I'll get a 10 gallon a heater and what else ? Also Will it be ok if I take 10 gallons from my display and fill the tank so I don't go through the cycle ? How would that work ?

I would take the time to read this in it's entirety, as it will answer many of your questions: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-quarantine.189815/