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Lifecycle of Ich in LFS tanks


ninjamyst

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Most LFS run copper in their display tanks to control ich. If a LFS has an outbreak of ich in their display tank, how long before it's "safe" to buy from the LFS again? If they are running copper, how can an outbreak still occur?

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Cencalfishguy56

Most LFS run copper in their display tanks to control ich. If a LFS has an outbreak of ich in their display tank, how long before it's "safe" to buy from the LFS again? If they are running copper, how can an outbreak still occur?

if an outbreak still occurs then they don't run copper lol my LFS runs hyposalinity but their coral tanks are 1.025 and those are usually the tank with ich
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mystersyster

It's never "safe". Fish stores are constantly getting new fish which may be carrying ich. The copper is only effective once the ich is free swimming which isn't that long.

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Most fish stores (around here) that run copper run very small amounts, not enough to knock out ich. Enough to say they run copper so you feel better buying from them :D

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Never 100%. With the constant additions of fish, its pretty much a guarantee that they will get ich again.

 

The only 100% method is a tank going fallow for 8 weeks, which never happens in a store.

 

The other issues that come into play is stores often have multiple tanks running on the same system which allows for disese spread and then the cleaning equipment is also shared tank to tank.

 

Quaranteeibg your fish is the best way to prevent disease spread. Thats not even 100%.

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jedimasterben

Or is ich always in your water and just presents itself when the fish are stressed :wacko:

It's a parasite, not a disease, so it can not wait until later to strike and continue its lifecycle beyond what is currently known.

 

A tank being treated with copper needs to be measured and dosed daily or else I can guarantee that copper will not be near treatment level (which is about 0.4-0.5ppm). Copper binds with anything and everything that goes into the tank, food included, so even just feeding can lower the copper level.

 

Tell your LFS they're better off using chloroquine except for wrasses.

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Cencalfishguy56

It's a parasite, not a disease, so it can not wait until later to strike and continue its lifecycle beyond what is currently known.

 

A tank being treated with copper needs to be measured and dosed daily or else I can guarantee that copper will not be near treatment level (which is about 0.4-0.5ppm). Copper binds with anything and everything that goes into the tank, food included, so even just feeding can lower the copper level.

 

Tell your LFS they're better off using chloroquine except for wrasses.

cp is way easier to use and monitor! Also doesn't kill beneficial bacteria
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