Are You FREAKIN KIDDING ME!!

[krzyphsygy]

This is crazy, 3 years out of the hobby, 4-5 in it before that and never had ICK, now every dang fish I buy has it. Long story short, I set up a small 11gl and bought two clowns, both had ICK. Both died.
I thought it was my lack of experience, maybe I was rusty buying fish. I bought a 90 gal and have a small QT set up, 10 gl. The 90 was going up soon, but not so sure now.

I set up the brand new QT tank and cycled it for 2 months. Went out yesterday and bought 3 blue chromis to use as my first fish when the 90 is up and running.

And guess freaking what, ICK. I studied these fish very well and no signs of ick, put them in QT and there it is on all 3 FREAKIN FISH. I am really stressed out.
I love this hobby for the science and beauty, but I have bought 5 fish from 2 stores with ick.

Doesnt this mean that those stores a technically tainted now? I mean really......unless they go fallow (which they wont) host after host after host goes in and comes ot with ICK.

My life is to busy to treat every dang fish I buy, I am so frustrated. Thank GOD there in QT, but I might not be able to do this anymore

 

[10g reef]

Sounds like bad sources. My only real suggestion is to purchase fish from reputable sources. I recommend buying online from places like BlueZoo aquatics or Liveaquaria that have a good guarantee.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Any source can have fish with ich; using a QT before putting fish in the DT is vital. Even L.A. Diver's Den ; perhaps the best source for fish on the planet, strongly suggests you use a QT with their fish. Ich is usually easy to cure in a QT. There simply isn't another answer.

 

[b0bab0ey]

This is crazy, 3 years out of the hobby, 4-5 in it before that and never had ICK, now every dang fish I buy has it.

I've had similar experiences. All it takes is one infected fish to infect the entire tank. And since most LFSs run all their tanks through a common sump, all the tanks get infected. Most shops don't run a UV or the bulb is old or something, and most shops' systems never stay empty long enough to give the parasite any chance of being eradicated.

 

[alprazo]

You have to assume every fish you Acquire has ich. Even if they go months in someone elses tank with no signs. Many people can tell stories of a stable, healthy tank for months, then after a power outage and temp drop, or heater failure, boom, an outbreak.

You need to treat every fish before it is added to the DT. I rec praziquantil and either copper or a quinine based drug.

 

[krzyphsygy]

Its just really frustrating this early in the game to be dealing with this.....yea I get its part of it but I have never had to deal with this before. EVER! Its seems like it must be a distributer in Florida causing this because the frist shop has been in business for years.

Wheres the hope, if I can not identify it before I buy, its just a down hill battle from there. Its crazy.....I have prazipro and cuprumine. Not sure what to try. Maybe hypo,seems the safest.

What do you guys think? Its my first time trying treatment.

 

[krzyphsygy]

Any source can have fish with ich; using a QT before putting fish in the DT is vital. Even L.A. Diver's Den ; perhaps the best source for fish on the planet, strongly suggests you use a QT with their fish. Ich is usually easy to cure in a QT. There simply isn't another answer.

I need alttle help please, what do you suggest on how to cure it?

 

[Grace tank]

Go to "reef discussion" read sticky at top of page called-ich,how to cure,how to id.

 

[alprazo]

I do not believe that hypo works. I has seen failures and personally it has failed me. There is evidence to support that Crypto (ich) can live in hypo ~ 1.009 conditions.

 

[runintoluck]

Just try to buy from more reputable sources and at least you're qt'ing. You can try fw dipping before even adding to qt. That's what I've been doing and have had success.

 

[alprazo]

If the tanks in the store are on the same system, you should assume that every fish could be infected. Large UVs with appropriate flow will reduce the infection rate, decrease transmission, and prevent a fish from being overwhelmed and die in the store. However it will not eliminate the disease. When you bring the fish home, it is now in a small closed system without UV or O3. Now the parasitic load exponentially grows and you have dead fish and an infected tank.

I use a 32 gallon trash can with canister filter for fish. The setup is pretty easy. The medicine is in the water about an hour after the fish is.

 

[krzyphsygy]

Just try to buy from more reputable sources and at least you're qt'ing. You can try fw dipping before even adding to qt. That's what I've been doing and have had success.

Thanks, what is your dip process? How long, how do you re introduce to the qt tank?

 

[krzyphsygy]

Go to "reef discussion" read sticky at top of page called-ich,how to cure,how to id.

Thanks, I'v read them all. They all have good intention, but all like anything else I guess have bad and good reviews. I have never used copper before, but I feel bad to use it. Worried about the fish I guess. I thought hypo would be easier on them.

Ultimatley, they could die and like any other disease out there for humans, animals, whatever. Treatment is never fun, but needed. I like the fresh dip thing. I am gonna look into it.

 

[alprazo]

In no way is a fresh water dip a method to eradicating disease. The best it can do with reduce the paracytic burden, and hopefully buy your fish time. It will not cure your fish.

When doing so, you must match the temp and also pH with a buffer. The dips can be terribly stressful, and I have had fish shock out and died within seconds of a dip. I leave th fish in as long as they are looking ok. Sometimes 20 min, but is probably the instant osmotic shock that knocks some parasites loose.

They are very helpful when trying to determine what you are treating.

 

[krzyphsygy]

I have read that it wont kill totally, but repeatidly done, it will several times consistantly, help out very much so.

I have read the 3 most popular methods, Copper, Transfer Method, and Hypo, these are supposed to be the ones that will work. I have already started hypo treatment. I will give it a go. The thing that really sucks is taking down the QT and starting over.

 

[alprazo]

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa164

Good read Posted earlier by bobaboey

 

[krzyphsygy]

So recent update to my ich situation. I am a little confused, it looks like either the ich has fallen off and they are currently reproducing, or I misdiagnosed and they never really had anything.
I dont know, I started to go to hypo and got to 1.020 and then started to notice healthy fish...eating like crazy, easy breathing, very active fish. No flashing or anything. I only noticed one flash by one fish in the begining...maybe I jumped the gun.
Gonna keep a close eye on them over the next 4 weeks, If I see an outbreak I will start treatment. I am gonna keep the SG at 1.020 for now, down from 1.025 and see what happens.