ICH

[gjustinj]

The tank is new, parameters are good. I went over to his house today. The two angels certainly have crypt. They are active and eating and healthy other than that. I was thinking that sticking a brute in a corner with the rock/sand would be much easier than setting up a QT tank. There are 4 chromis, 4 clowns, 2 dwarf angels. I offered a spare tank, but finding a place to put it might be the main concern, at least a tank large enough to house all of them together. I'm thinking if he decides to take the fish all out for treatment that a 55 or 75 would probably be big enough. Certainly moving forward he is going to set-up a small QT tank, but space is a factor in removing all of the fish for treatment.

Hi JaimeAdams,

If we were to wait until after June 3rd we could put a tank in the spare bed room (close the door to keep the cats out) up stairs. We are getting new carpet installed June 3rd upstairs. I think we should probably move the fish out to a QT and treat them (can you help me do this? I have no idea what I am doing). I can't even catch a fish in the main tank in a net so this will be really interesting. I do think disrupting the rock (aquascape too) and sand bed would be much harder to do, it's not easy to aquascape for one, and for two like you said we would lose a lot of good bacteria and it would be best for the inverts and coral to stay in the ich infested tank, since after 76 days it would most likely die off. So if you are willing to help then after June 3rd I believe we try the QT method - you mentioned you could get the tank, will I need to buy anything for this on June 3rd?

P.S. Thank you so much Jaime! I forgot to give you a CD - I'll get you one next time
https://www.facebook.com/AlterTheDesign

 

[gjustinj]

Hi JaimeAdams,

If we were to wait until after June 3rd we could put a tank in the spare bed room (close the door to keep the cats out) up stairs. We are getting new carpet installed June 3rd upstairs. I think we should probably move the fish out to a QT and treat them (can you help me do this? I have no idea what I am doing). I can't even catch a fish in the main tank in a net so this will be really interesting. I do think disrupting the rock (aquascape too) and sand bed would be much harder to do, it's not easy to aquascape for one, and for two like you said we would lose a lot of good bacteria and it would be best for the inverts and coral to stay in the ich infested tank, since after 76 days it would most likely die off. So if you are willing to help then after June 3rd I believe we try the QT method - you mentioned you could get the tank, will I need to buy anything for this on June 3rd?

P.S. Thank you so much Jaime! I forgot to give you a CD - I'll get you one next time
https://www.facebook.com/AlterTheDesign

@JaimeAdams However, perhaps doing the trash can next to the aquarium for only a few weeks would be less stressful on the fish?

 

[JaimeAdams]

I probably have most of the stuff we will need and yes I will help you.

 

[gjustinj]

I probably have most of the stuff we will need and yes I will help you.

Thanks so much Jaime! Do you think it's best to wait til June 3rd and set one up in the upstairs? or go with the brute trash can idea on the side of the tank? What is less stressful for the fish and coral and inverts?

 

[Brew12]

Thanks so much Jaime! Do you think it's best to wait til June 3rd and set one up in the upstairs? or go with the brute trash can idea on the side of the tank? What is less stressful for the fish and coral and inverts?

My opinion is that it is best to wait as long as your fish aren't deteriorating. High quality feed, stable conditions, and hope it stays in check.

 

[gjustinj]

My opinion is that it is best to wait as long as your fish aren't deteriorating. High quality feed, stable conditions, and hope it stays in check.

Really? How long should I wait to see if the fish are being harmed or not? The water is stable, it's always 0/0-0.5/5-10 and 82 degrees (reducing that some soon after parashield). The food is frozen foods such as mysis, and variety packs daily (one feeding a day, a cube for the tank) - it's like Christmas when i drop one of those cubes in there! All the fish have solid appetites they go for the food as soon as it's in the tank, even the coral (duncan) catches some on his tentacle looking things and eats it... although when the shrimp eats I feel like I am feeding a cannibal. =/

There are obviously some new things we want to add to the tank, but we are afraid to add anything (or go too fast), etc.

 

[ngoodermuth]

Really? How long should I wait to see if the fish are being harmed or not? The water is stable, it's always 0/0-0.5/5-10 and 82 degrees (reducing that some soon after parashield). The food is frozen foods such as mysis, and variety packs daily (one feeding a day, a cube for the tank) - it's like Christmas when i drop one of those cubes in there! All the fish have solid appetites they go for the food as soon as it's in the tank, even the coral (duncan) catches some on his tentacle looking things and eats it... although when the shrimp eats I feel like I am feeding a cannibal. =/

There are obviously some new things we want to add to the tank, but we are afraid to add anything (or go too fast), etc.

I wouldn't add any new fish or inverts quite yet. You can "manage" your ich long enough to put together a proper QT. Really, the best way to treat is going to be to bite the bullet and treat the fish/run fallow. Then you know it's gone, and you are more experienced in running a QT for new additions.

It's not ideal, but I have 5 wrasses, a tang, and a 5" regal angel in a 40g QT (with sump, it's an old system converted) I'm keeping a journal here if you're interested:
https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Crypto-wins-the-gamble--QT-Journal.301955/

Setting up a QT actually isn't as bad as it sounds. There's a ton of helpful guides here in the fish disease section.

 

[Brew12]

Really? How long should I wait to see if the fish are being harmed or not? The water is stable, it's always 0/0-0.5/5-10 and 82 degrees (reducing that some soon after parashield). The food is frozen foods such as mysis, and variety packs daily (one feeding a day, a cube for the tank) - it's like Christmas when i drop one of those cubes in there! All the fish have solid appetites they go for the food as soon as it's in the tank, even the coral (duncan) catches some on his tentacle looking things and eats it... although when the shrimp eats I feel like I am feeding a cannibal. =/

There are obviously some new things we want to add to the tank, but we are afraid to add anything (or go too fast), etc.

It's not a question of waiting to see if your fish are being harmed. We know they are. At this point it becomes a question of what is best for them. My preference would be to get them in a proper hospital tank ASAP and begin treating with copper. That doesn't seem like a realistic option for you right now. So instead, we need to consider what will do less harm. Putting them in a much less than ideal container to try and treat them, or try to keep them as healthy as possible until a better treatment tank can be set up.
If you were more experienced I would probably recommend immediate treatment. For someone new to QT systems even an ideal setup can be a challenge. Trying to keep fish in a brute container, maintaining copper, monitoring ammonia all while observing there health would be very high risk imo.

 

[gjustinj]

It's not a question of waiting to see if your fish are being harmed. We know they are. At this point it becomes a question of what is best for them. My preference would be to get them in a proper hospital tank ASAP and begin treating with copper. That doesn't seem like a realistic option for you right now. So instead, we need to consider what will do less harm. Putting them in a much less than ideal container to try and treat them, or try to keep them as healthy as possible until a better treatment tank can be set up.
If you were more experienced I would probably recommend immediate treatment. For someone new to QT systems even an ideal setup can be a challenge. Trying to keep fish in a brute container, maintaining copper, monitoring ammonia all while observing there health would be very high risk imo.

This all sound so scary - i really screwed up by not adding a QT first (i had no idea)

 

[Brew12]

This all sound so scary - i really screwed up by not adding a QT first (i had no idea)

If you have patience, everything will be fine. I have yet to see a LFS post a sign saying you need to QT all their fish because they are carrying disease. The majority of people getting into this hobby don't QT their fish. The 150+ pages of threads that have been started on R2R in the fish disease section attest to that fact.

At least you are learning your lesson early. This forum has a large amount of information on it about how to set up a QT and treat fish. You also have a great local resource.

If you want to feel better about your situation give this this thread a read.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/quarantine-40-50-fish-from-existing-500-gallon-reef.276494/