Copper Treatment Tank for Ich

EmmaKB

New member
A bit of background before I get to my question
I currently am running two tanks; 1 105 Gal with a 35 Gal sump, this is my main display tank and has been up and running for several years now. My Second tank is an 85 Hex which I've only just aquired.
Current Inhabitants include:
1 Achilles Tang
2 Tomato Clownfish
1 Foxface Rabbitfish
1 Threadfin Butterflyfish
2 Firefish
1 Citron Goby
1 Red Scooter Blenny

1 Cleaner Shrimp
1 Peppermint Shrimp
5 Astrea Snails
5 Hermit Crabs
1 Teddy Bear Crab
1 Unidentified Crab

Last month my Achilles Tang showed the typical signs of Ich (White salt like spots, 'flashing' against the rock and sand). He has done this before and I applied the usual treatment of increasing my Reef Solution dosing and adding more Garlic to the feedings. Unlike before the 'treatment' seemed to have little effect, I move to the next step and started using Focus and Metrodiazonal, several days later my Tang quit eating Mysis and frozen foods, only eating algae and not much. I decided it was time for more drastic measures, Copper. After a few hours we finally caught him and he was transferred to a 10 Gallon quarantine/ hospital tank. I started dosing with Copper and within 2 days the majority of his salt 'spots' were gone and he was eating again.

Forward two weeks and my Butterfly, Foxface, and Tomato's are all showing Ich signs as well. I had continued dosing with Reef Solution and the extra garlic, as obviously Ich is present in the system. I realized that there was no way that I could put my Tang back into the main display or he would be reinfected and given the copper treatment his immune system is probably low anyway. Also I realized that I couldn't cram 9 fish into a 10 Gallon Tank for hospital purposes. So I searched around a purchased an 85 Gallon Hex Tank. All of the fish are now in that tank and only my invertebrates remain in the main display tank. I would like to keep it this way for a minimum of 40 days in the hopes that the Ich life cycle will end and kill it all off. I've heard that Ich can go 'dormant' has anyone heard of that?

My question is this:
I am running the 85 Gallon Hex barebottom with some PVC pieces for the fish to hide. I am currently running a small (too small) Aquaclear 50 on the tank for filtration. I am not running a circulation pump, should I be? I am looking at purchasing the Remora Pro Hang On Skimmer, is this a good skimmer?
 
Yes. I would run a filter raited higher than 84 Gal. Also a few power heads wouldnt hurt to get rid of deadspots. The best water quality should be obtained to reduce chances of ich. The skimmer your asking about is actually a very good skimmer. Ive heard it may be a little noisy, but very efficient. Also, try lowering the salinity to about 1.014 in your 85g, as it will "starve"the ich.
 
Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) doesn't go 'dormant.' It is an obligate parasite and goes through a cycle. There are time ranges within that cycle associated with each stage. If an infected tank goes fishless for 8 weeks, the parasite will die.

Garlic, Focus, and metronizazole are not effective against Marine Ich. Your previous experience with garlic is not likely related to the Marine Ich having 'disappeared.'

Put whatever equipment you can on the hospital tanks during the treatment to ensure the best water quality and environment you can.
 
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