UGH ICH :-(

[msparklym13]

Good Morning!

Please help my fish have Ich :-( Yesterday I thought I saw a white dot on a Clown but was thinking maybe it was my imagination. This morning my firefish is ichy. UGH UGH. I searched the forums but most of the information is from years ago. I do not have a QT and my LFS doesn't open until 10am. I am so bummed and was hoping you have ideas to help!

Thanks so much :-(

[Clown79]

This is a very informative article on ich.

 

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-08/sp/

 

Ich usually presents itself when water quality is an issue, possible over stocking, a sick fish, stress, low immune system. Etc.

 

Some ppl will build a hospital tank and treat the sick fish while others feel that trying to catch a fish and relocating it to a hospital tank further stresses the fish leading to more problems, the medications themselves can add to the problem.

 

In order to completely get rid of ich in a dt, the tank must go fishless for 8 weeks. This ensures the parasite has no host to thrive on, allowing it to die.

 

The parasites cycle is quite lengthy, within a few days you will see no spots on your fish but the parasite is still present, its just in a different stage of its cycle.

[seabass]

I recommend treating your fish in a hospital tank. This could be a 10 gallon tank from Walmart, or even a Rubbermaid Brute container. Like Clown79 stated, you'll need to leave your reef tank fallow for 6 to 8 weeks.

 

In my experience, not treating in another tank led to losing all of my fish (there is no reef safe remedy that is completely effective). It was a sad experience.

[msparklym13]

Thank you both so much :-( super bummed!! The above article is fantastic and I will bookmark it for future!

[Clown79]

Its hard not to get bummed in these situations. I think a lot of us have been there once ir twice.

 

In my 55g my tang had ich but none of my other fish ever showed signs and no one died.

 

In my 10g I introduced a damsel that looked fine but 3 days later it and my firefish showed either ich or velvet...both died before I could set up anything. I left the tank fishless:( for 8+weeks. Its sucked!

[SunWyrm]

Rubbermaids are great imo, seems to be less stress on the fish without the glass sides. Plus they're cheap and light weight, especially if you need to treat larger fish.

I've always found hyposalinity to be the easiest/lowest stress way. Other medications can leave them without appetite, and low energy, causing more stress. With hypo, they'll only be a little upset at the new environment, but should still respond to you and their food just the same.

[msparklym13]

I love the Rubbermaid idea and also a QT - I have a plan in place - My friend who has 20 years of tank experience said it wasn't horrible either ;-)

I only have 2 clowns and a firefish. I purchased a reef safe dosing and am going to try it for 10 days. If this doesn't work then I will work on getting a QT set up! Thank you so much! After this experience I definitely think having a QT up and running is a must have.

[SunWyrm]

Since you're leaving them in (I personally do this as it's the least stressful option), a good quality food like LRS to boost their immune system will go a long way.

If you can find them, check out some of paul b's discussions on the topic of immunity (he has a bunch of threads but I can't find them on nano-reef atm). Ofc we can't all go out to the beach and get fresh pods and worms for our tanks, but LRS is pretty good stuff too.

[mystersyster]

I love the Rubbermaid idea and also a QT - I have a plan in place - My friend who has 20 years of tank experience said it wasn't horrible either ;-)

I only have 2 clowns and a firefish. I purchased a reef safe dosing and am going to try it for 10 days. If this doesn't work then I will work on getting a QT set up! Thank you so much! After this experience I definitely think having a QT up and running is a must have.

Unfortunately you might think they're cured after ten days... but it grows exponentially once it circles back to the life cycle that attacks the fish. Be prepared for them to get even more sick, as a possibility. However, it has been documented that fish can develop an immunity. I'm interested to see what happens. I moved my fish into a HT a few days again and am using Cupramine. It's really safe for fish, as anything you read about copper being safe for fish is probably outdated. Cupramine is "copper" but the chemical makeup of it makes it safe, and they claim it's even safe for invertebrates (but I wouldn't try this). This is the second time my fish have gotten ich and been moved to a HT. The first time was my starry blenny, and this time I think it was a coral frag that had some ich hitchhikers. Anyway, good luck and I'm interested to know if your fish develop an immunity!

[msparklym13]

Unfortunately you might think they're cured after ten days... but it grows exponentially once it circles back to the life cycle that attacks the fish. Be prepared for them to get even more sick, as a possibility. However, it has been documented that fish can develop an immunity. I'm interested to see what happens. I moved my fish into a HT a few days again and am using Cupramine. It's really safe for fish, as anything you read about copper being safe for fish is probably outdated. Cupramine is "copper" but the chemical makeup of it makes it safe, and they claim it's even safe for invertebrates (but I wouldn't try this). This is the second time my fish have gotten ich and been moved to a HT. The first time was my starry blenny, and this time I think it was a coral frag that had some ich hitchhikers. Anyway, good luck and I'm interested to know if your fish develop an immunity!

Thank You! Honestly this is more of a learning curve for me. All traces of ich were gone by next morning. I did a bunch of research and know that white spots gone doesn't mean cured. Two clowns and my firefish are happy and dot free. My coral investment is much higher and I want to make sure I keep them safe. In the meantime I am going to work on a permanent HT to put all corals and fish in ahead of time (I should have done this from the beginning!!). I will keep this thread posted on how it turns out. My expert friend told me if I catch it very early he has heard of success. Others have differing opinions. My hope is this will turn out well but will be setting up a tank if it doesn't.

Since you're leaving them in (I personally do this as it's the least stressful option), a good quality food like LRS to boost their immune system will go a long way.

 

If you can find them, check out some of paul b's discussions on the topic of immunity (he has a bunch of threads but I can't find them on nano-reef atm). Ofc we can't all go out to the beach and get fresh pods and worms for our tanks, but LRS is pretty good stuff too.

So sorry but what is LRS? And I do live by the beach but not sure I can find fresh pods or worms ;-)

[Mariaface]

What reef-safe medicine did you find to fight ich? I wasn't aware that that was a real thing.

[Cencalfishguy56]

Thank You! Honestly this is more of a learning curve for me. All traces of ich were gone by next morning. I did a bunch of research and know that white spots gone doesn't mean cured. Two clowns and my firefish are happy and dot free. My coral investment is much higher and I want to make sure I keep them safe. In the meantime I am going to work on a permanent HT to put all corals and fish in ahead of time (I should have done this from the beginning!!). I will keep this thread posted on how it turns out. My expert friend told me if I catch it very early he has heard of success. Others have differing opinions. My hope is this will turn out well but will be setting up a tank if it doesn't.

 

So sorry but what is LRS? And I do live by the beach but not sure I can find fresh pods or worms ;-)

LRS is a nutrient dense food, like a seafood buffet slurpee if you will lol search up LRS marine food and you'll find it under Larrys reef services "reef frenzy"

What reef-safe medicine did you find to fight ich? I wasn't aware that that was a real thing.

its a hit and miss with all medication, virtually all they do is help build slime coat before the infection starts so if you dose once they're infected it's pretty much worthless IMO

[msparklym13]

What reef-safe medicine did you find to fight ich? I wasn't aware that that was a real thing.

I will update tomorrow! Honestly I don't know if it will work but I figured it was worth a try...I definitely don't want my fish to die but I am ill equipped with an HT. All I know is from this experience my best advice will be to ALWAYS have an HT!! More important I want it to be running full time so I can quarantine every purchase. Lesson learned and something every hobbyist should have.

LRS is a nutrient dense food, like a seafood buffet slurpee if you will lol search up LRS marine food and you'll find it under Larrys reef services "reef frenzy"

its a hit and miss with all medication, virtually all they do is help build slime coat before the infection starts so if you dose once they're infected it's pretty much worthless IMO

oooo slurpee buffet!!! ahaha

[SunWyrm]

Link to their site. They have a map to see what store near you carries it.

Their stuff is just amazing.

[ReefWeeds]

What reef safe dosing did you find?

[Cencalfishguy56]

Link to their site. They have a map to see what store near you carries it.

 

Their stuff is just amazing.

unfortunately for me the nearest store that sells it is like an hour away!!!

[jack1978]

What reef safe dosing did you find?

There isn't one......just a scam.

[msparklym13]

What reef safe dosing did you find?

HI! I am trying Herbtana- I have read of some success by others. So far all signs of ich were completely gone in 24 hours. However I did nab it really quick. I will keep everyone posted on the outcome on both short and long term :-)

[Cencalfishguy56]

There isn't one......just a scam.

there is one I've read on, it was like $80 a bottle tho

HI! I am trying Herbtana- I have read of some success by others. So far all signs of ich were completely gone in 24 hours. However I did nab it really quick. I will keep everyone posted on the outcome on both short and long term :-)

for precautions I would dose it everytime you introduce a fish, just my two cents since you're not running a QT tank, in my last tank I dosed sentry parashield every new fish and never had an outbreak after that

[mystersyster]

HI! I am trying Herbtana- I have read of some success by others. So far all signs of ich were completely gone in 24 hours. However I did nab it really quick. I will keep everyone posted on the outcome on both short and long term :-)

If the claims are true for this product, you'd have to dose around 90 days to make sure ich was dead (similar to leaving your tank fallow for 90 days), since it doesn't actuall kill ich.

[Cencalfishguy56]

If the claims are true for this product, you'd have to dose around 90 days to make sure ich was dead (similar to leaving your tank fallow for 90 days), since it doesn't actuall kill ich.

shes already in a hole so doesn't hurt to try lol

[mystersyster]

shes already in a hole so doesn't hurt to try lol

I'm not saying all is lost and she shouldn't try... lol but that's a fact about it. Ich will survive if its not treated for that period of time. This will be an interesting experiment though. We started treating our fish at the same time. Mine are in a hospital tank. We'll see where everyone is at in 90 days

[seabass]

HI! I am trying Herbtana- I have read of some success by others. So far all signs of ich were completely gone in 24 hours. However I did nab it really quick. I will keep everyone posted on the outcome on both short and long term :-)

Some feedback: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1852814

 

there is one I've read on, it was like $80 a bottle tho

Out of curiosity, what is it?

[jack1978]

For the cost of the "reef safe" junk, you can set up a quality QT that will work.

I tried a few before .....all a big waste....and ultimately lost all fish. QT with copper, never lost a fish.

Good luck either way.

[CronicReefer]

Dr G's anti-parasite caviar is reef safe but the trick is getting fish to eat it. It contains chloroquine phosphate bound in the food and supposedly this has a bitter metallic taste. I would only use this product if you have no way of getting your fish into a QT tank. Chloroquine phosphate will treat ich extremely effectively but is not reef safe at all and can only be dosed in it's pure powder form in QT tanks.