I've got ich and need to quarantine fish, need help with how.

dasteve003 · Jul 9, 2014

I have fish with ich in my main tank and I've tried treating them with copper but it seemed to be working a little bit but the ich now seems to be coming back.

I'm gonna get a small 10 gallon tank to put the fish in to quarantine them (and for future new fish) quarantine purposes but what water do I use? Do I have to start with new RODI water and wait weeks before putting them in there for it to cycle or do I use water from the tank they're already in? I assume that water is contaminated but I'm really not sure what to do at this point to try and save my 2 fish (a clown and a coral beauty).

Any input on how to best do this would be greatly apprecaited, and also thoughts on making sure I kill all the ich in the main tank while it's void of fish, thanks.

Waters · Jul 9, 2014

If you have already treated the DT with copper (which it sounds like you have if I am reading your post correctly) than you may as well continue to treat the fish in there rather than use a QT. It will be more stressful to catch the fish and transfer them. I assume it is a fish only tank? If you want or need to use a QT, than you can use water from the DT which is the safest way. With a tank that small, you can just monitor the ammonia levels and do large water changes as needed (with newly mixed salt water). I believe (but I may be wrong) that copper kills the bacteria anyways needed to cycle. The only way to kill the parasite in a reef tank is to just leave it empty (fallow) for a period of 8-10 weeks. Again, if you aren't worried about keeping inverts now or in the future, than just treat the main tank again as you already have.

revhtree · Jul 9, 2014

You don't need to treat in the main display because of what was mentioned above. If you already started in their then you still need to stop. Your substrate will absorb any medication that you use and it will be useless.

Also use your display water and you don't have to wait for it to cycle but you do have to keep up with constant water changes with newly mixed saltwater. Also good to keep an ammonia badge in the QT.

Copper Treatment for Marine Ich - REEFEDITION

Saltgator · Jul 9, 2014

Is there any inverts or coral in the main tank? Removing the clown and angel is what I'd still do no matter what the answer is to the question. If you feel comfortable, I'd personally try hypo salinity. I've done this multiple times and had great success. While your fish are out of the dt, leave it fishless for 8+ weeks. The ich will die off without it's fish hosts provided your main system goes 8+ weeks without fish. As far as the qt tank, use the main tank water. This allows the qt to be used asap. Put pvc cuttings in there to provide cover/shelter. Personally, I keep mine barebottom to allow easy removal of fish waste and uneaten food. Watch your levels (ammonia especially) while you fish are in qt. I changed my water every 5 days just in case and put a seachem ammonia watch in there just for safe/visual reasons. Hypo salinity is where you bring down the salinity to 1.009 and keep it there. Easier on the fish vs chemicals that could harm the fish. Bring the salinity down to 1.009 over the course of 7-9 days, keep it there for 8 weeks, then SLOWLY bring it back up to your main system's salinity. Slowly meaning almost 2 weeks of bringing it up. Bringing the salinity down only takes a bit of a week with little to no harm on the fish but bringing the salinity up too fast will have a drastic impact on the fish, likely death.

ReefMadScientist · Jul 9, 2014

Of course you have to QT because that is what most people on this forum say. SMH.

I've learned taking your fish out and re-locating them will cause more stress and the percentage of death goes up. Do not overreact and do some good research and reading.

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/fish-discussion/155605-so-my-hippo-has-ich-who-cares.html

dasteve003 · Jul 9, 2014

I read through the other forum about the hippo but I can tell you with my clown it is serious, the coral beauty seems to be doing much better even though it initially broke out on her within 36 hours of being added to the tank but the clown is now covered and looks so sad. I'm thinking of going the QT route so I know I am limiting the ich to what is currently on them now not whats reproducing in my sand.

If I do decide to let my tank sit empty do I leave the pumps and everything going or do I just leave everything off?

Can I leave my live rock in there or does it have to come out to?

What about my Nasasurs Snail, does he stay in the DT or go with the fish into the QT and if he goes into the QT would I have to put sand in the QT since he seems to like to stay under the sand most of the time?

I'm just trying to do what's best for my fish so I really appreciate everyones advice and opinions.

scruggyj · Jul 9, 2014

You would only remove the fish from the DT and leave everything else going as normal.

Leave the DT fishless for 8-10 weeks to allow for the ich to die off.

You only treat the fish in the QT.

Saltgator · Jul 9, 2014

scruggyj said:
You would only remove the fish from the DT and leave everything else going as normal.

Leave the DT fishless for 8-10 weeks to allow for the ich to die off.

You only treat the fish in the QT.

Yes. The ich can live on the the sand, rocks, inverts, and equipment. They only host fish though. Pull the fish only, treat them in qt, leave the dt running as it would with fish except it needs to be fishless for 8+ weeks in order for the ich to die off.

dasteve003 · Jul 10, 2014

I'm beginning to think part of my clowns issue is stress form the coral beauty as she seems to be doing fine where as he (the clown) doesnt look so good. I noticed the clowns back fin looks a little raggedy and wouldn't think the ich is causing that to happen. I think I'm gonna just quaratine the clown and if he seems to be getting better I may just get rid of the coral beauty (take it back to LFS) and then in 8 weeks put the clown back into the DT. How do I gurantee I have all the ich out of the QT tank though so when I put the clown in the DT it doens't bring ich back into it. I plan on treating the QT tank with Seachem Cupramine like I had been treating the DT with.

Saltgator · Jul 10, 2014

The dt has to be completely fishless for 8+ weeks. This is the only hope to having no ich residing within it.

dasteve003 · Jul 10, 2014

But won't I be reintroducing ich into the DT when I put my clown back in from the QT? I will leave the DT fishless for 8 weeks I just want to see how much better the clown gets with no coral beuaty in there with him as a temporary test.

scruggyj · Jul 10, 2014

dasteve003 said:
But won't I be reintroducing ich into the DT when I put my clown back in from the QT? I will leave the DT fishless for 8 weeks I just want to see how much better the clown gets with no coral beuaty in there with him as a temporary test.

In the QT you will have to do cupramine or hypo to kill the ich. It will go die off unless treated in the QT. After your cure the fish and let the DT go fallow for 8-10 weeks you should be good to go.

Keep in mind anything wet can bring ich into your DT. If you get rock, corals or clean up crew from a tank that has ich. There is a possibility that you can introduce it into your DT. If you want to ensure an ich free display then you will need to QT everything wet.

dasteve003 · Jul 11, 2014

Well I'm sad to report I didn't get a chance to quaratine Mr. Fins (my clown) as he didn't make it, I'm gonna miss that little guy he was so cute. I believe I'm going to take the coral beauty back to the local fish store and gonna let the DT sit empty for 8 weeks. Do I do normal water changes then on the DT while no fish are in it? I figure I'll start my 10 gallon QT tank up now with all new water as well so it will be ready in 4-6 weeks and I can have fish in it while the main tank finishes up it's 8 week empty period so once that's done I'll have some new fish to add to the DT right away and will be ready for new fish in the QT as well. Just wanna make sure I do whatever is necessary to start the tank over disease free essentially. Would I have to remove the Nasasurs snails as well from the DT if I plan on leaving it empty for 8 weeks?

scruggyj · Jul 11, 2014

You do not need to remove anything but the fish.

I would also get some meds so you are prepared to treat while new fish are in qt.

Dalmatia · Jul 11, 2014

dasteve003 said:
Well I'm sad to report I didn't get a chance to quaratine Mr. Fins (my clown) as he didn't make it, I'm gonna miss that little guy he was so cute. I believe I'm going to take the coral beauty back to the local fish store and gonna let the DT sit empty for 8 weeks. Do I do normal water changes then on the DT while no fish are in it? I figure I'll start my 10 gallon QT tank up now with all new water as well so it will be ready in 4-6 weeks and I can have fish in it while the main tank finishes up it's 8 week empty period so once that's done I'll have some new fish to add to the DT right away and will be ready for new fish in the QT as well. Just wanna make sure I do whatever is necessary to start the tank over disease free essentially. Would I have to remove the Nasasurs snails as well from the DT if I plan on leaving it empty for 8 weeks?

Your still going to have to feed your fishless tank and the ich will die off with no fish (their food) in the tank. Really bad outbreak can last up to 72days, so keep it empty for that amount.
To have a qt, you'll need a sponge filter and maybe some ceramic or plastic bio balls, live rock rubble will work better. But run it in your display and if you need to set up a qt,, take it out of your display tank and put in to your qt.
I always have an extra sponge and rubble LR running in my sump,,,, so if needed, I get an aquaclear hob (hang on back) filter, pop some sponge and rubble in it!!! Done deal, you have a biological and mechanical filter