Ich help!

[SwiftStorm]

Hi, I have a Kole tang who today shows about 5 white spots. 2 on one side and 3 on left pectoral fin. I had this fish in QT for just under 4 weeks with 4 mollys for observance and to make sure the tang ate readily. 2 days ago, I moved all 5 fish into display. Yesterday, everybody ate well, kinda got along with other 3. Not sure if I should put him back in the QT and treat with copper or just make sure he doesn't get worse. I also have a 25 watt aqua UV on this tank.

Please give advise.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Copper treatment is a very effective way to rid and prevent Marine Ich. In a Fish Only system you can dose the display tank with it, but do not expect to ever keep a snail, shrimp, coral, anemone, or anything else BUT fish. This is one good reason a quarantine tank is a must for anyone who wants to have corals and it is not hard at all.
Make sure you have a test kit when dosing any form of copper. Seachem Cupramine seems to do well with tang and surgeonfish.
What is current tank temp and salinity ?

 

[HB AL]

I dont quarantine so with that said i would keep your water as pristine as possible and feed the fish heavily with a good diet and most likely they will develop a strong immune system and like my fish laugh at fish diseases eventually.

 

[SwiftStorm]

Temp is 76.9 and salinity 1.026. I do have some corals and inverts in this tank. I have copper and a hanna tester if things get worse. My problem is my QT is a 20 long. Too small for both wrasses, foxface, tang and 4 mollys.

 

[Spieg]

I'd get a larger QT (40 breeder are pretty cheap) and move all your fish there to let the DT go fallow for 76 days. This will rid your DT of Ich, otherwise your fish will keep getting exposed each time you move them into the DT.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Temp is 76.9 and salinity 1.026. I do have some corals and inverts in this tank. I have copper and a hanna tester if things get worse. My problem is my QT is a 20 long. Too small for both wrasses, foxface, tang and 4 mollys.

Can you post a picture taken under white light? If it is indeed ich, you may have difficulty controlling it in your DT.
Jay

 

[polyppal]

I would at a minimum get the fish showing Ich into the QT and start him on treatment... That sucks that he came down with ich after a long QT already