Ich outbreak in a mixed reef

[jms020999]

So I am new to the hobby this is both my first fish tank I have ever had as well as my first encounter with dealing with parasites for my pets. I have a mixed reef 20 gallon tank I started with 2 clownfish and they were doing fine recently I added a Royal Gramma to my tank and within like 3 days of adding him I noticed he had spots. He began flashing on the sand bed and his coloration became powdery and his scales were dull and unhealthy. On different saltwater groups people told me I need to quarantine my fish to make sure this never comes into my tank. But what I don't understand about people who regard quarantine tanks as the complete eradication of ich that ich can also be on Invertebrates and Coral Frags. And these cant be treated with copper as I have been told so they will die if they are treated with copper. So realistically the only way to make it impossible for my tank to not have a ich outbreak is to let my invertebrates sit in a tank for 78 days as well as coral frags sit in a fishless tank for 78 days as well and then treat my fish with copper for 30 days? Is this even feasible? Do people actually do this seems dang near impossible and not practical. My clownfish I have in my tank seem to be doing fine but now im scared to add more fish in my tank because I know ich will always be in the tank until I let it go fishless. What do you suggest I do? I bought a 10 gallon tank for QT but whats the point of QT fish if I can still introduce ich in my tank with a coral frag and invert. If I add more fish to my tank will they have the same fate as my gramma? What do u suggest I do?

 

[Rickybobby]

This is why I have a very small qt tank for my corals and inverts 2.5g and a 5g qt tank for my fish(baby fish). It’s the only way to stop anything from getting into the display. Pull those fish into qt and make the display go fallow for 76 days min and treat the fish if possible

 

[IKD]

I believe it’s possible for ich to be introduced through coral frags, inverts, or even water (protomont stage) but my understanding is the probability of such transfer is significantly lower than via fish. I guess it depends on how infected the source tank is and the odds of a protomont encycsting on the plug or shell of your chosen purchase.

If you are treating your fish in quarantine, take a look at the Tank Transfer Method. It's more work and cost, but can complete the treatment in less than 3 weeks and avoids chemical treatments. You'll still need to go fallow on your display tank however for the 72 days.

There is also this link which may be a useful read regaring treatment vs. management

Ich eradication vs. Ich management

Ich eradication vs. Ich management The purpose of this article is to discuss the pros & cons of ich eradication and ich management, and present the best methods for implementing each. Ich eradication - Simply put, this method means doing everything possible to keep ich out of your tank. That...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[MetaKnight101]

Well, here's my story. I once thought that QT was a hassle, so I just brushed it aside like it wasno big deal. I had a nice 10 gallon, added some fish, then some coral later. One of the corals carried velvet, and it killed every single fish I owned; not a single fish survived. From then on, I QT my corals and fish. Quarantining coral is not hard just let it sit in a tank for 76 days; that's it! You can watch it grow and stuff. Once 76 days are over, it's going to be more significantly bigger when you bought it, and you can add it to your main DT. Now I QT every fish for 30 days in copper and 76 days for coral. I suggest you do the same and not make the same mistake I made.

 

[Rickybobby]

Here another thing I did. I bought a ton of coral. Put it in the display filled it full of crabs and let the whole display go fallow for 76 days and I bought a small all in one kit from petsmart 50 bux. Had a hob filter. Kid with small led light. Bought some 5 dollar fake plants and a cheap heater. To date all the fish I’ve list from velvet is still more money tha. My two small qt tanks