Ich

Brandonsegula · Jul 4, 2017

I'm stumped. I kept my tank fishless for 9 weeks.

Quarantined my fish with copper for 9 before adding them in the tank. Added my chocolate tang 2 days ago and I see about 6 spots of ich on him. How can this be. So frustrated right now. Started feeding dr. Gs. I refuse to tear apart my reef again.

melypr1985 · Jul 4, 2017

Well, 76 days is the best length of time for a fallow period. 9 weeks isn't long enough to outlast the strain of ich that can stay encysted the longest. You may have ended up with that strain.

Brandonsegula · Jul 4, 2017

melypr1985 said:
Well, 76 days is the best length of time for a fallow period. 9 weeks isn't long enough to outlast the strain of ich that can stay encysted the longest. You may have ended up with that strain.

Everyone told me 9 weeks would be safe. Where were you two days ago lol jk. Well hopefully this fish can pull through the few spots he's got and I'll just continue the dr.gs. I'm just never going to add anymore fish to this tank.

Brandonsegula · Jul 4, 2017

Brandonsegula said:
Everyone told me 9 weeks would be safe. Where were you two days ago lol jk. Well hopefully this fish can pull through the few spots he's got and I'll just continue the dr.gs. I'm just never going to add anymore fish to this tank.

I just don't understand why no other fish shows signs except the tang.

melypr1985 · Jul 4, 2017

Brandonsegula said:
I just don't understand why no other fish shows signs except the tang.

Chocolate Tangs are acanthurus tangs. They have practically no slime coat to protect them from parasites. They are the most susceptible fish and will almost always be the first to show signs of parasites when they are present. I'm sorry, but did people here on R2R tell you 9 weeks?

4FordFamily · Jul 4, 2017

76 days-- also I suspect cross contamination or addition of other things to the tank. In that 9 weeks did you add anything wet? (Coral, rock, etc)

Do you have other tanks? Did you put your arm in your qt and back in your DT? This messed me up. I also shared nets and clips, foolishly.

The last unsuccessful fallow period I had was because a tiny watchman goby I thought had died was sucked in to the sump and very alive the whole time.

Also if you didn't test copper daily or mix copper solution in new water before water changes you may have let copper reduce to subtgerapeutic levels, thus allowing even a single parasite to complete its life cycle.

LuckyPhil · Jul 4, 2017

I think the stickies are pretty clear 76 days.
Might have to consider the distance between your QT and DT, stickies suggest 10ft apart to ensure no aeration transmission

LuckyPhil · Jul 4, 2017

Good point, how confident are you that you reached the correct copper levels?
There are suggestions to test twice a day to make sure that you are at correct levels.

How did you complete water changes on your QT?
Did you make sure that you added copper to the new water and measured it to match to the QT or at correct levels?

Brandonsegula · Jul 4, 2017

I tested copper everyday in quarantine. I would even test it myself and then go to the fish shop to make sure it was at the right level. I also never deal with the same things between the tanks. I have separate stuff for both tanks. The ich isn't bad on him I would say maybe he's got 6 spots. I know it's the improper way of treating but I'm feeding the dr. Gs to see what happens. I also didn't add anything to the DT in those 9 weeks. Believe it or not I believe my fish were in quarantine for 11 weeks. I miss counted the weeks. I just can't bring myself to take everything apart again. I'm to the point of whatever happens, happens. As bad as that sounds.

4FordFamily · Jul 5, 2017

Brandonsegula said:
I tested copper everyday in quarantine. I would even test it myself and then go to the fish shop to make sure it was at the right level. I also never deal with the same things between the tanks. I have separate stuff for both tanks. The ich isn't bad on him I would say maybe he's got 6 spots. I know it's the improper way of treating but I'm feeding the dr. Gs to see what happens. I also didn't add anything to the DT in those 9 weeks. Believe it or not I believe my fish were in quarantine for 11 weeks. I miss counted the weeks. I just can't bring myself to take everything apart again. I'm to the point of whatever happens, happens. As bad as that sounds.

6 spots in a few days is really really bad ich, or velvet...

Empress · Jul 5, 2017

If you can take out any sensitive corals/inverts try hypo at 1.009.

aykwm · Jul 5, 2017

Empress said:
If you can take out any sensitive corals/inverts try hypo at 1.009.

Hypo is not effective treatment for ich and will not work on velvet if its suspected. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hyposalinity-for-treating-cryptocaryon-irritans-marine-ich.313163/

Its better to use copper or CP in QT tank as it has proven itself to cure both.

Brandonsegula · Jul 5, 2017

I know QT will be the best option but after tearing my reef apart three months ago. I can't bring myself to do that again. All I can do is hope for the best and do what I can.

aykwm · Jul 5, 2017

I think then the best option is to do ich management, ensure prestine water condition and add vitamin enriched food and hopefully the immine system will manage it, although if fish are stressed again it will just pop up right back.
Also ruby reef kick ich worked for some but not the others, its considered reef safe and I probably give it a 20% chance of eradicating ich.

You can check these topics

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ich-eradication-vs-ich-management.188775/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/i...ears-of-experience-and-ich-management.206347/

Brandonsegula · Jul 5, 2017

aykwm said:
I think then the best option is to do ich management, ensure prestine water condition and add vitamin enriched food and hopefully the immine system will manage it, although if fish are stressed again it will just pop up right back.
Also ruby reef kick ich worked for some but not the others, its considered reef safe and I probably give it a 20% chance of eradicating ich.

You can check these topics

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ich-eradication-vs-ich-management.188775/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/i...ears-of-experience-and-ich-management.206347/

Thank you. My friend has an Achilles tang. Gets ich here and there. He's had him for 12 years and still will get ich sometimes. He just feeds well and it will go away but always come back.

Humblefish · Jul 5, 2017

Brandonsegula said:
Thank you. My friend has an Achilles tang. Gets ich here and there. He's had him for 12 years and still will get ich sometimes. He just feeds well and it will go away but always come back.

That's an amazing accomplishment for an Achilles. I've never been able to keep one in an ich management system for more than a few years. Something always seems to happen to trigger a major outbreak.

Brandonsegula · Jul 5, 2017

Humblefish said:
That's an amazing accomplishment for an Achilles. I've never been able to keep one in an ich management system for more than a few years. Something always seems to happen to trigger a major outbreak.

Yeah this fish gets about ten spots in him all the time and it will go away on its own but always come back. I'm hoping I can some way accomplish the same thing.

4FordFamily · Jul 5, 2017

Brandonsegula said:
Thank you. My friend has an Achilles tang. Gets ich here and there. He's had him for 12 years and still will get ich sometimes. He just feeds well and it will go away but always come back.

How big is the tank? What equipment?