Post ich outbreak damsel tank?

[AC1211]

So it has been months since I have seen ich in my tank but, I left a yellow coris wrasse in there. That fish is immune. The ich got so bad at a point that I thought wait is this velvet. Turns out it was ich as other tanks that got hit with the same strain only lost a small number of more delicate fish (think firefish and gobies) while even tangs survived in other tanks. So I have debated if I should either try adding a small number of damselfish to the tank or make the attempt to remove the wrasse which honestly might be impossible with the sand and rockwork unless I tear up the tank.

So aside from the ich, in this 60 gallon tank would the wrasse be compatible with 3-5 damsels. If so what species should I look at, I was thinking azure damsels, Yellowtail damsels, or similar could make up the first tester fish. After that point I don't know. Is it even worth considering or should I just pull out the wrasse at this point.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

So it has been months since I have seen ich in my tank but, I left a yellow coris wrasse in there. That fish is immune. The ich got so bad at a point that I thought wait is this velvet. Turns out it was ich as other tanks that got hit with the same strain only lost a small number of more delicate fish (think firefish and gobies) while even tangs survived in other tanks. So I have debated if I should either try adding a small number of damselfish to the tank or make the attempt to remove the wrasse which honestly might be impossible with the sand and rockwork unless I tear up the tank.

So aside from the ich, in this 60 gallon tank would the wrasse be compatible with 3-5 damsels. If so what species should I look at, I was thinking azure damsels, Yellowtail damsels, or similar could make up the first tester fish. After that point I don't know. Is it even worth considering or should I just pull out the wrasse at this point.

Another option might be to “test the waters” so to speak by acclimating some black mollies to the tank, house them in a hanging basket for a few weeks and see if ich breaks on them. Bear in mind though, it can take three days or more to acclimate the mollies over.
Jay

 

[sp1187]

Damsel recommendation
Swallow tail damsel
I’ve got 5 of various sizes in a 150.
They play tag every now and then with each other but never seen them bother with any of the other fish.

 

[JumboShrimp]

(LOL. I accidentally clicked on the web on Swallow Tail ANGEL. $199. Definitely NOT a test-fish. )

 

[AC1211]

Another option might be to “test the waters” so to speak by acclimating some black mollies to the tank, house them in a hanging basket for a few weeks and see if ich breaks on them. Bear in mind though, it can take three days or more to acclimate the mollies over.
Jay

I have 12 or 13 mollies in my freshwater tank right now. These are a new group of 14 and one didn't make it with a smaller male missing as well. I buy large groups when I buy small fish in case of any acclimation issues or genetic weakness. Maybe I will pull a trio of black mollies from the bunch to move over. Thanks for the idea as I have the mollies already. However they are only a buck cheaper than a Damsel around me as Yellowtail and blue devil damsels for example are about $6-7. The black mollies are about $4 to 5. However the orange mollies (the one that died in my freshwater was orange) are about $6... good idea to pull a Molly over since I have them though.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I have 12 or 13 mollies in my freshwater tank right now. These are a new group of 14 and one didn't make it with a smaller male missing as well. I buy large groups when I buy small fish in case of any acclimation issues or genetic weakness. Maybe I will pull a trio of black mollies from the bunch to move over. Thanks for the idea as I have the mollies already. However they are only a buck cheaper than a Damsel around me as Yellowtail and blue devil damsels for example are about $6-7. The black mollies are about $4 to 5. However the orange mollies (the one that died in my freshwater was orange) are about $6... good idea to pull a Molly over since I have them though.

A couple of benefits for using mollies - they won’t have built up any resistance to marine ich, and then, they aren’t going to be a hassle to deal with later on like damsels can be.
Jay

 

[JumboShrimp]

I suppose if you don’t want the mollies in your salt water display tank long-term, you can just have them in an acclamation box and pull the box when the salt water experiment is over. Just a thought.