Ich outbreak

Torq21 · Dec 28, 2011

As I was getting ready for work this morning, I stopped to feed my fish and noticed that the powder blue and hippo tangs were both covered with white spots. I don't guess anyone has a large tank they aren't using and would be interested in loaning out for 2 months, do they? I've been scouring craigslist today looking for one too. My QT isn't big enough to put all of the tank inhabitants in. :sad:

Engloid · Dec 28, 2011

I know there's been some debate about cleaner wrasses, but if I were you, I'd try putting one in with them and see if it eats it. I know I haven't had any problems out of my tangs since I got one...and when I did get it, it was because I had some "marine velvet" which I heard is a form of ich.

EpicWin · Dec 29, 2011

Get a uv, some metronitozole and some focus factor. In my experience this will turn the tide and u will be ich free in a week or 2. Setting up a qt is sooooooo much work.

cee · Dec 29, 2011

I've always just used garlic-soaked food and reduced the stress level on the fish and never lost one to ich. I think catching them and transferring them, and the associated stress, does more harm than good.

Steve W · Dec 29, 2011

How big do you need? I have a thirty gallon long and a seventy five with stand I can loan or sell either very reasonable

Steve W

Dowtish · Dec 29, 2011

You might want to figure out what caused the stress in the first place. Have you had a recent temp swing? and you should check the tank for stray voltage.

cungdien · Dec 29, 2011

kick ick work very good for me

EvilMel · Dec 29, 2011

cee said:
I've always just used garlic-soaked food and reduced the stress level on the fish and never lost one to ich. I think catching them and transferring them, and the associated stress, does more harm than good.

I agree completely with this. I also have had good success hooking up a UV sterilizer temporarily. I recommend that anyone with a Hippo tang have a UV sterilizer to use only when they've got an ich outbreak because it's not a matter of IF these fish will get ich but rather WHEN they will get ich. I don't like using any of these chemical treatments, personally. Garlic/vitamins in the food, lots of yummy algae, UV and you should be able to beat it. I do agree that it's best to address where the stress came from. I'm not entirely sure that I buy the idea of stray voltage causing ich BUT...for how cheap those little contraptions are to get rid of stray voltage...you may as well do that too. I think they're like $10.

Torq21 · Dec 29, 2011

I'm pretty sure the stress came from the power outage I had late last week. We had a transformer blow down the street. I'll try the garlic and UV first and see if that helps. None of the fish have lost their appetite as far as I can tell.