Ich in a reef system what do I do?

[ReefGuy1234]

One of my tangs got ich and it spread to the others. What do I do? I got metroPlex and it doesn’t seem to be working as it is only spreading.

I CAN NOT take all the fish out of the tank to quarantine/treat because I don’t have another tank and if in did it wouldn’t be big enough for all of them probably. Also there are fish that I cannot catch like ymg and an engineer goby and my small fish.

I already said this but I am in a reef system with corals and inverts so this process is obviously harder to treat.

 

[fishguy242]

@Jay Hemdal @vetteguy53081

 

[vetteguy53081]

One of my tangs got ich and it spread to the others. What do I do? I got metroPlex and it doesn’t seem to be working as it is only spreading.

I CAN NOT take all the fish out of the tank to quarantine/treat because I don’t have another tank and if in did it wouldn’t be big enough for all of them probably. Also there are fish that I cannot catch like ymg and an engineer goby and my small fish.

I already said this but I am in a reef system with corals and inverts so this process is obviously harder to treat.

i KNOW THIS STATEMENT WILL BECOME OLD but for about $50, you can set up a quarantine system (walmart 10 gal kit Plus meds)
There is one gamble you can take that worked for me on velvet), but it is a chance you take and do I credit the medication or the Rally reef? )
There is a reef safe treatment called Polyp lab MEDIC. It is merely peroxide salts and a couple other compounds. I used it in conjunction with Ruby Rally pro and in 9 days severe issue was gone.
The problem here is, by the time you spend the $55-60 on meds, you can use 22" of space and set up a quarantine tank for the same money and will last indefinitely and also serve you for future livestock.
Metro in combination with focus to bind it to food should work but takes a few days to start working and you must be precise with treatment recommendation and raise tank to 80 degrees
You also risk infection to other occupants when treating in the display tank

 

[vtecintegra]

If you aren't going to properly quarantine and risk wiping out all of your fish, then I would install the biggest UV I could afford and hope it keeps the parasite population in check enough for the fish to survive.

 

[ReefGuy1234]

i KNOW THIS STATEMENT WILL BECOME OLD but for about $50, you can set up a quarantine system (walmart 10 gal kit Plus meds)
There is one gamble you can take that worked for me on velvet), but it is a chance you take and do I credit the medication or the Rally reef? )
There is a reef safe treatment called Polyp lab MEDIC. It is merely peroxide salts and a couple other compounds. I used it in conjunction with Ruby Rally pro and in 9 days severe issue was gone.
The problem here is, by the time you spend the $55-60 on meds, you can use 22" of space and set up a quarantine tank for the same money and will last indefinitely and also serve you for future livestock.
Metro in combination with focus to bind it to food should work but takes a few days to start working and you must be precise with treatment recommendation and raise to to 80 degrees
You also risk infection to other occupants when treating in the display tank

Thank you so much. I do think the quarantine would be a great option right now because like I said there is other fish that I can’t not catch that are in the tank and those fish are still susceptible to getting ich.

 

[Woodyman]

Thank you so much. I do think the quarantine would be a great option right now because like I said there is other fish that I can’t not catch that are in the tank and those fish are still susceptible to getting ich.

If you go the quarantine route remember you will need to follow the display, so all fish will need to be caught and moved. At the moment you need to treat all the fish as if they have it.

Otherwise when you move them back in the ich will reappear.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thank you so much. I do think the quarantine would be a great option right now because like I said there is other fish that I can’t not catch that are in the tank and those fish are still susceptible to getting ich.

If you go this route, you want coppersafe at therapuetic level 2.25-2.5ppm and you will need a reliable test kit to monitor this level- Do Not get API kit either. Hanna or Salifert good
Best to keep display tank fishless for at least 6 weeks at 80.5 degrees to assure no trophants from parasites left

 

[ReefGuy1234]

If you go the quarantine route remember you will need to follow the display, so all fish will need to be caught and moved. At the moment you need to treat all the fish as if they have it.

Otherwise when you move them back in the ich will reappear.

If you go this route, you want coppersafe at therapuetic level 2.25-2.5ppm and you will need a reliable test kit to monitor this level- Do Not get API kit either. Hanna or Salifert good
Best to keep display tank fishless for at least 6 weeks at 80.5 degrees to assure no trophants from parasites left

I made a typo. I meant I thought it would NOT be the best option for those reasons.

 

[blaxsun]

If you can't move the fish, then there are limited options available. @vetteguy53081 has a good suggestion with Polyp Lab Medic, but you need to start treatment immediately. A good sized UV is also recommended.

 

[Woodyman]

I made a typo. I meant I thought it would NOT be the best option for those reasons.

It may not be the easiest route that's for sure, but it will give you the best results going forward.

 

[ReefGuy1234]

i KNOW THIS STATEMENT WILL BECOME OLD but for about $50, you can set up a quarantine system (walmart 10 gal kit Plus meds)
There is one gamble you can take that worked for me on velvet), but it is a chance you take and do I credit the medication or the Rally reef? )
There is a reef safe treatment called Polyp lab MEDIC. It is merely peroxide salts and a couple other compounds. I used it in conjunction with Ruby Rally pro and in 9 days severe issue was gone.
The problem here is, by the time you spend the $55-60 on meds, you can use 22" of space and set up a quarantine tank for the same money and will last indefinitely and also serve you for future livestock.
Metro in combination with focus to bind it to food should work but takes a few days to start working and you must be precise with treatment recommendation and raise tank to 80 degrees
You also risk infection to other occupants when treating in the display tank

I picked up a quarantine system after I said I wasn't. What do I do now other than putting the fish in there. What treatments do you recommend? Also one of my fish already died to the ich I don't know if that's relevant.

 

[vetteguy53081]

G

I picked up a quarantine system after I said I wasn't. What do I do now other than putting the fish in there. What treatments do you recommend? Also one of my fish already died to the ich I don't know if that's relevant.

You will want coppersafe treatment and a reliable copper test kit- you don’t want API brand.
You will want to reach copper level of 2.25-2.5 at 80 degrees and keeping an eye on ammonia level during treatment
Leave tank fishless for 6 weeks at 80.5 degrees
At end of 3rd week siphon surface to remove any dead tromonts