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Author Topic: Ich Help  (Read 3354 times)

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Offline Learning_The_Hard_Way

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Ich Help
« on: December 17, 2009, 21:44:09 »
I came home from vacation to notice that I have salt like crystals on my Blue Hippo Tang, Coral Bueaty, so its my first battle with ich in saltwater.  I DONOT have another tank so how do I treat it and whats reccomened not to kill my LPS (frogspawn,torchlight,HammerHead)?  Thanks inadvance for the help.

Offline jd

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Re: Ich Help
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2009, 22:05:25 »
It would be news to me if there is anyway to treat ich in-tank that won't harm corals, other than waiting it out. Chemical/Copper obviously won't work, nor will hyposalinity. I would pick up a cheap tank on craigslist and use it for treatment.
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Offline Kenn

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Re: Ich Help
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2009, 22:15:59 »
Just throwing this out..... Would a Skunk Cleaner Shrimp be of any use ?
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Offline UD Flyer

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Re: Ich Help
« Reply #3 on: December 17, 2009, 22:17:05 »
Here's a great thread with a lot of valuable and useful information that will help you.

http://www.ohioreef.com/index.php?topic=1761.0

Offline HUNGER

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Re: Ich Help
« Reply #4 on: December 17, 2009, 22:48:06 »
ouch sorry to hear that  i hope it gets better for u and ur fish
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Offline Aquatic Specialists

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Re: Ich Help
« Reply #5 on: December 17, 2009, 23:46:01 »
A skunk cleaner will definately help and/or cleaner wrasse. There is also the dreaded freshwater dip, but that can be quite nerve-wracking, on you as well as the fish. But it does work, tangs are a bit more touchy to this procedure due to types of bacteria that live in their stomachs for digestion purposes, so use caution and research before hand. I would first check your water quality and temperature. Stress is the number one cause of ick. Generally it comes from temperature flucuations, but could be a wide variety of variables at this point. Did you have someone topping off your water while you were gone? Changes in specific gravity will also bring ick on. Have you introduced anything new the aquarium? I guess pretty much what I am asking is...what has changed?

I would recommend  a quarantine system, as jd suggested, but would also recommend not using copper based or formalin based medications on tangs as this is also hard on them and will most likely kill them. I like to use Marine Melafix or Kent's RXP treatment, as these are derived from natural ingredients as opposed to poison.

If you go the quarantine route, get a small tank, a heater, 3/4 fresh clean saltwater 1/4 water from tank, a power filter with no carbon insert, and an airstone and pump for oxygenation. No gravel, decor or light. All of these items are very important, but raising the temperature is key. It speeds up the life cycle of the parasite. Follow directions on all medications, very important, if the ick goes away in a few days and the meds call for a seven day treatment do not remove the fish from the treatment. While in the quarantine,  you can run the specific gravity at 1.017 this will also keep the ick from being able to reproduce. If you want we have several used tanks and meds, probably have some used heaters and filters if this is the route you decide to go. We are located in Troy if you want to stop in.

Saltwater ick is a very difficult parasite to treat.

Offline jd

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Re: Ich Help
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2009, 00:15:24 »
Justin,

Don't you need to run your salinity down to like 1.09 for hypo to work?

Citing:

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

Also, the second part of that article has some good info in it also:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-10/sp/feature/index.php
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Offline Aquatic Specialists

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Re: Ich Help
« Reply #7 on: December 18, 2009, 04:04:50 »
I have found that running hypo-salinity results in what I believe to be kidney failure and eventually fungus. Due to the fact the fish cannot purge its system of toxins. The parasite will live on the host in specific gravity of 1.017, but will not live free swimming. Unfortunately, unless you have a fish only tank, you can not run it that low, but it is not nearly as harsh as 1.009. The fish can still live comfortably at these levels, with no ill signs in quarantine. This is what I have found works for me, but again "to each his own".  ;)

Offline Learning_The_Hard_Way

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Re: Ich Help
« Reply #8 on: December 22, 2009, 10:33:42 »
Update- well I turned the temp up to 81.5 made the salinity on the higher side and added a cleaner wrase and things seem to be better.  I have been feeding all food with Garlic drops added.  So we will see how it goes over the next month.  The spots are gone on the fish and things are looking up.  Thanks to everyones help.  I didnt not get a fresh water dip in as I tried for Hours to catch the BH Tang.  He went from rock to rock and wore me down to where I just quit!!!

Offline cyberwollf

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Re: Ich Help
« Reply #9 on: December 22, 2009, 10:52:50 »
With all the cysts gone, you probably have alot in the Bottom of the tank and freeswimming stages. Keep an eye out if you get a second cycle of cysts. A vacuuming will help reduce the numbers a little

Catching fish is always a pain, if I can't catch them within 5 mins or so I usually give up. At some point the stress induced by trying to catch them has to outweigh the FW dip
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Offline Learning_The_Hard_Way

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Re: Ich Help
« Reply #10 on: December 24, 2009, 12:27:36 »
I just found the BHTang floating around the tank (no fins moving).  Damn first fish lost!!! I guess the stress got to him. Thanks for all the help.

Offline jd

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Re: Ich Help
« Reply #11 on: December 24, 2009, 12:29:08 »
I just found the BHTang floating around the tank (no fins moving).  CENSORED first fish lost!!! I guess the stress got to him. Thanks for all the help.

Sorry to hear that. Don't feel to bad, Tangs are very susceptible to Ich.
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ReefGurl

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Re: Ich Help
« Reply #12 on: December 24, 2009, 12:55:44 »
Keep the Cleaner Shrimp in there. My tangs get Ich often, and the cleaners seem to take care of it. So I don't stress about it anymore.

 

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