5 weeks of hypo and I still have ick

[kawasaki00]

I removed all fish about 7 weeks ago, held at 1.009 for 5 weeks and a week after putting everything back in the ick is back on the powder blue.
Very frustrated to the point of just selling everything. I have had a reef tank for 5 years but it is really starting to wear on me.

 

[Freed]

Are you using a refractometer? Have you added anything to the tank lately besides the fish? You had 0 fish in the tank for 5 weeks right?

 

[kawasaki00]

Yep, refractometer and no fish in the display for 5 weeks, very frustrated.

 

[ScottyDon't]

Wow, that really blows I have all my fish in quarantine right now and that is my worst nightmare.

Unfortunately, hypo is only effective against cryptocaryon. If you have oodinium ich then copper is the only effective treatment.

 

[marine_freak]

Uh.....I think there is natural treatment options also...good atlantic cleaner wrasse and multiple cleaner shrimp.....they will make short work of most ich...oh by the way I have a Powder blue tang he is 6 yrs old....they are very, very prone to get ich......mine has had it on and off it's entire life...little changes in water chemistry will trigger it but the cleaners keep it in check and my powder blue always shakes it off. Do not sweat the small outbreaks I do not know a person who has had a powder blue without at least 1-2 outbreaks....... You can also look into UV sterilization and ozone they will not completely irradicate it but will put a huge dent in it...... this is all my 2 cents.....but speaking from much experience it is managable.

 

[Sk8r]

I had a mild outbreak, and the advice was soak food in garlic juice and just toss it into the tank. It wasn't pleasant for us juicing the garlic, but the fish were even going after the garlic bits. (We also got a cleaner shrimp, for good measure.) Second day, nobody else has come down with the stuff and the fish that had it was showing only two faint spots after one feeding. Second feeding today. We'll see. A lot of people doubt it as a cure, and that's undoubtedly so, but if it prevents its finding a host, well, I'm willing to juice more cloves.

 

[TerryB]

Most people recommend leaving the display tank without any fish for at least six weeks now before putting any fish in the tank. The problem is that you probably cured the fish in treatment, but the parasite hadn't died out in your display tank yet. 30 days usually is long enough, but it seems that in recent years that it is taking longer more often than it used to.

Terry B

 

[kawasaki00]

I guess my only option is to leave everything out for 8 weeks, I have battled it before and they kind of become immune. Added a powder blue about 6 months ago and that is why I want it gone for good.
I just think it is not fair to the fish to have him in there if i don't try to get rid of it once and for all.

 

[BTTRFLYGRL]

Are you sure its ich? I have a Powder Brown Tang that , I think, has every known parasite there is! I treated with hypo for 5 weeks also, the ich cleared up fast but after I started raising the SG the PB got these weird blotches and spots I am assuming this is a type of flukes. Been treating him for a couple of weeks , tried Prazipro but it came back with a vengence, I thought he was going to die! I treated with Furan-2 and started Formalin dips and he looks great..I think I might finally win!!
I know how frustrating this is! I have been treating my tang for one thing or another since Jan But, I want him to get better

 

[ScottyDon't]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7146500#post7146500 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by marine_freak
Uh.....I think there is natural treatment options also...good atlantic cleaner wrasse and multiple cleaner shrimp.....they will make short work of most ich...oh by the way I have a Powder blue tang he is 6 yrs old....they are very, very prone to get ich......mine has had it on and off it's entire life...little changes in water chemistry will trigger it but the cleaners keep it in check and my powder blue always shakes it off. Do not sweat the small outbreaks I do not know a person who has had a powder blue without at least 1-2 outbreaks....... You can also look into UV sterilization and ozone they will not completely irradicate it but will put a huge dent in it...... this is all my 2 cents.....but speaking from much experience it is managable.

If your tang has had it off and on all it's life then obviously your natural treatments are not effective. Natural treatments help the fish to cope with the parasite but do not treat the parasite itself.. Here are some good articles:

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/tr...marineich.html
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-08/sp/index.php
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php

 

[baobao]

Remove all the inverts, rocks, and then leave fish in a bare bones tank with salinity around 11ppt-14ppt. Only raise salinity after 8 weeks and watch your water quality. During this time, there is no need for skimmer or UV.

Alternatively, you may want to explore Cholorquine (made by Marex).

 

[marine_freak]

To scottydon't success is not measured in absolute cure.... there is gray area...... but as for success I would consider it success all my fish are happy, healthy eat well and have terrific color...... I have had no loss of life in over 10yrs...........I would consider that success...but opinions vary. I appreciate the links but I have been in the trade for 24 yrs now including owning my own salt shop..... I doubt there will be much there that I have not already looked over in my library of Salt water books and seminars I have been attending over the years. by the way I am interested to know do you own a powder blue tang????

 

[ScottyDon't]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7153098#post7153098 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by marine_freak
To scottydon't success is not measured in absolute cure.... there is gray area...... but as for success I would consider it success all my fish are happy, healthy eat well and have terrific color...... I have had no loss of life in over 10yrs...........I would consider that success...but opinions vary. I appreciate the links but I have been in the trade for 24 yrs now including owning my own salt shop..... I doubt there will be much there that I have not already looked over in my library of Salt water books and seminars I have been attending over the years. by the way I am interested to know do you own a powder blue tang????

I posted those links to benefit all... wasn't trying to be cheeky with ya.

I completely agree with your measure of success. But it doesn't always turn out so favorable... such as with my powder blue.
Yes, I own a powder blue. It is currently in a QT tank because my first one got ich and died. Not only did it die but all my other fish got infested and became very sick over a couple weeks before I took them out to a hospital tank and treated with cupramine.

If you're able to manage the presence of ich in your system, that's great, and hopefully others can obtain such success. But myself and many others have not been able to, so I just want to show that there are 2 sides to the coin.

 

[marine_freak]

LOL brother...... I understand.... and you are right there are 2 sides to every coin. Hope your powder blue does well. They are one of the most beautiful fish in a reef tank just my opinion though. Good luck.

 

[ucsb_irishman]

Don't give up yet. When this parasite has no host to attach to it can not go through its cycle. Most of it will just die off but some may go dormant in the aquarium. I would add a product made by Kordon (a called Prevent Ick. It is a 100% natural remedy, which made me an immediate skeptic until I tried it myself. It worked great and I have never had an outbreak of ick in my aquarium again. I would also treat all your fish in a quarantine aquarium for two weeks using Coppersafe and only add them to the main tank when they are eating well, with no signs of stress.