Put him in or not ?

specialk · Jun 10, 2015

So I have had a powder blue tang in QT now for a month ...

* He is eating algae sheets as well as selcon soaked mysis shrimp since day 1.
* Never had any signs of ich or anything since I have gotten him with the exception of 1, literally 1 white spot which was gone in one day
* He is going into a 6 ft long 125 tank, the only fish that are currently in there are chromis and 2 clowns

I have treated him the last 2 weeks with prazipro and done exactly how I am supposed to treat and water changes, etc. Today would have been the end of the 2nd treatment of prazipro as well as the end of the 30 day month long QT process and I was all set to put him into my main DT .... BUT ..

...I got up this morning and he had some white spots on his fins and a few on his body .. more so then I have seen before. He is still eating like crazy and all is normal. I know these fish are ich magnets but I was going to put him into the main DT today but since I saw that I am know not sure if I should put him in there?

Should I do one more treatment of prazipro and then put him in the main DT (IF everything goes well and he looks good) OR should I just go ahead and put him in the main DT today?

Thanks guys!!!

redfishbluefish · Jun 10, 2015

Prazipro does nothing to ich. If you have ich, you'll need to treat for ich.....either hypo or copper. And NO, I would not put that fish in my DT until treated.

Humblefish · Jun 10, 2015

redfishbluefish said:
Prazipro does nothing to ich. If you have ich, you'll need to treat for ich.....either hypo or copper. And NO, I would not put that fish in my DT until treated.

+1 However, Chloroquine phosphate & tank transfer method are two additional treatment options for ich.

Complete details on all treatment options can be found here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/treatment-options-102.189658/

4FordFamily · Jun 10, 2015

I agree he should be treated as if he has ich (and it sounds like he does based on what you said) because eventually it will catch up to him and you don't want it in your dt.

I learned that lesson at the expense of dozens of Acanthurus tangs and lots of money over the years. Do it right and cover your butt and you'll be much happier in the long run.

I still have one more month until I can release my tang and angel clan back in to my 180 display that had ich. It's hard to be patient...

redfishbluefish · Jun 10, 2015

@Humblefish, great link to treatment options. Thanks.

specialk · Jun 10, 2015

Ok great guys .. @ thanks! I should treat him for the ich for how long then ?

4FordFamily · Jun 10, 2015

specialk said:
Ok great guys .. @ thanks! I should treat him for the ich for how long then ?

I would shoot for 5 weeks. 4 weeks at an absolute minimum. I do it for 5 weeks to account for any swings in cupramine or therapeutic levels of whatever I am using to treat for ich, as it reduces your margin of error. For cupramine, I keep levels at .55, and bring them up slowly over a minimum of 3-4 days. I maintain it there for the duration. Test at least every couple days, test every day for the first week or two so you understand the trends and can add more as absorption occurs.

Humblefish · Jun 10, 2015

3FordFamily said:
I would shoot for 5 weeks. 4 weeks at an absolute minimum. I do it for 5 weeks to account for any swings in cupramine or therapeutic levels of whatever I am using to treat for ich, as it reduces your margin of error. For cupramine, I keep levels at .55, and bring them up slowly over a minimum of 3-4 days. I maintain it there for the duration. Test at least every couple days, test every day for the first week or two so you understand the trends and can add more as absorption occurs.

^^This. Or since you've already observed this fish for 1 month, plus treated with Prazipro, you could do TTM and have him in your DT in just 13 days: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tank-transfer-method.192655/

4FordFamily · Jun 10, 2015

Humblefish said:
^^This. Or since you've already observed this fish for 1 month, plus treated with Prazipro, you could do TTM and have him in your DT in just 13 days: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tank-transfer-method.192655/

Good point.