ICH

[Simona586]

well i jus looked at my fish really closely because one of my clowns is breathing hard and fast and my powder blue yellow tang and flame angel have ICH =[!!! whats the best way to take care of this?!?!?!

[Sir Patrick]

Is this outbreak in a reef tank, FOWLR or fish only tank?

[Simona586]

its in a reef tank

[Sir Patrick]

Any chance of a hospital tank? If so- you can treat with copper.

If there is no chance- I would sugggest dosing food with somthing along the lines of selcon, vit c, and garlic. This will boost the fish imune system, and heighten its chances of survival.

Not sure of the reef safness- but ya might want to look into hypo salinity.

[MizTanks]

Awww man that really bites! I'm still traumatized by my own battle with Ich. I finally had to let my tank fallow for a month before I could safely put any fish back in it. The Ich parasite feed on the fish but live and breed in the substrate, where they then become free floating in search of a host. Taking away the food source is the only sure fire way of killing them in a reef tank without the use of chemicals. QT your fish for sure if you can or like Sir said build em up. Good luck and keep us posted.

[cg5071]

the herbtanna i mentioned did work on my kole tang. it is reef safe and since you will be taking your skimmer offline for awhile you can do it at the same time. you can run your carbon too. i used 2 bottles since i was treating about 75 gal and a bottle treats 60g for 10 days. i dont know what is in it but it is herbal and smells strongly of citrus.

also the feeding and vitamins ect are a great idea. good luck.

[MizTanks]

I tried the all natural STOP ICH- it didn't rid the parasite from my tank-every fish I put in the tank came down with it-i wound up loosing 4 fish-was a very hard lesson-hence the fallowing CURE!

[Poseidon]

Here is the best possible read for treating C. Irritans:

http://www.reefland.com/forum/marine-fish-care-health-disease-treatment/20321-marine-ich-myths-facts.html

It is a good idea to know the parasite before you treat your tank with anything. ;)

[rmalone]

I agree with Poseiden, if your going to treat make SURE you know what your fighting. A hospital tank and fallowing the display are really the only sure way to irriadicate the problem.

I wouldn't take the skimmer offline or screw around with your sump, at all, it will just lead to more stress. If the fish are still eating try to get them to eat a garlic/selcon/spectrum thera-a diet or some combination thereof. Try to keep temp and salinity swings to a minimum. Bottom line keep them eating and stress free and you have a chance. Of course, a hospital tank is your best bet but I have seen fish come out of serious illness in the display.

[MizTanks]

Here is the best possible read for treating C. Irritans:

http://www.reefland.com/forum/marine-fish-care-health-disease-treatment/20321-marine-ich-myths-facts.html

It is a good idea to know the parasite before you treat your tank with anything. ;)

Awesome read! Thanks for this link!

[Poseidon]

You're welcome. And good luck OP, it can be hard to treat, but done correctly, you will have success. ;)

[Simona586]

thank you very much but with the hyposalinty will that be fine in a reef tank?

[Simona586]

so i have to drop my salinty alot then correct? whats the normal ppt?

[Poseidon]

thank you very much but with the hyposalinty will that be fine in a reef tank?

No that is NOT fine in a reef tank. Hypo only works in a fish only tank, or a hospital tank.

[Simona586]

ahhhhhh so whats the best way? because i cant setup another tank

[Poseidon]

You need to read that link I provided you, all the answers are there.

You can use buckets to treat if you have to, but you will have to be prepared to do daily water changes.

[Simona586]

okay thanks im gonna have to wait to atleast the weekend it sux because i just started a new job that i work everyday from 9 to 5 so i have really no tim during the day for the tank :-/

[Sir Patrick]

Hows the tank? Hows the fish?

Just got back into town from camping, and figured I would check in.

[Simona586]

well i was just typing a good report and turned around to look at me tank because its in my bed room and half of my rock fell and it was on coral and just a mess and i had to hurry up and put it back up as best as possible then i seen my powder blue at the bottom swimming kinda slow so idk how this is gonna end up and i cant like mess with it because i have to leave for work in 5 min so i hope when i get home at five nothing too bad has happened!!


oh and thanks for checkin in i really appreciate it!!

[cg5071]

good luck with the fish