Curing Ich in Display Tank?

[DRGilroy]

I thought I would chime in now... I am also suffering from an Ich outbreak. My outbreak is due to the fact that I failed to process my new fish through a QT. I plan on putting them into a QT and treating them with Cupramine and a Hyposalinity treatment. Both can be used at the same time according to a SeaChem tech posting.

"It can be safe to use Cupramine during a hyposalinity treatment. Keep in mind that some fish may be sensitive to hyposalinity treatments and some fish may be sensitive to copper based remedies. Cupramine is still effective as low as .2 mg/l if you wish to keep it on the lower end of it's effective range during a hyposalinity treatment to avoid any additional stress on this particular fish (although I have successfully used it at .4 - .5 mg/l concentration during a hyposalinity treatment)."

Post was found here: http://www.seachem.net/support/forums/showthread.php?t=40&page=2

 

[tmz]

Thanks for the information I'm sure it will prove usefull in some applications, such as when hypo doesn't work and you wan't to move to copper without waiting a week to raise the sg. However, since copper is effective all by itself, why would you wan't to start off with both hyposalinity and copper treatment?

 

[downhillbiker]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12758479#post12758479 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tmz
Thanks for the information I'm sure it will prove usefull in some applications, such as when hypo doesn't work and you wan't to move to copper without waiting a week to raise the sg. However, since copper is effective all by itself, why would you wan't to start off with both hyposalinity and copper treatment?

except that hypo, in certain parameters, has been known to be less stressful to fish in treatment, than a normal salinity. i run around 1.015 vs the standard 1.026 in my display. many people with fish only tanks run their display at 1.015 all the time.

 

[tmz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12758598#post12758598 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by downhillbiker
except that hypo, in certain parameters, has been known to be less stressful to fish in treatment, than a normal salinity. i run around 1.015 vs the standard 1.026 in my display. many people with fish only tanks run their display at 1.015 all the time.

Yes , I run the qt south of 1.020, more like 1.018 and my reefs at 1.025+. I tought from your post that you were treating with hyposalinity (which would be !.009) and copper simultaneously.

Marine fish have evovled to live in sg of around 1.026, eventhough their internal sg is considreably lower (about 1.008). They osmoregulate and remain hydrated by drinking large amounts of water and passing out only some of it through concentrated urine.
So in the short run they do a lot less work to remain hydrated in water of a lower sg as long as it is not lower than 1.009,since they have little ability to process out fluids that will enter through the skin at sgs lower than their own internal sg.
However, in the long run coping with sg significantly lower than sg from their natural environment could be harmful to their internal organs. My preference for keeping marine fish is to replicate natural conditions to the degree possible in a captive environment.

Good Luck with your treatments.

 

[DRGilroy]

I found a post by capn_hylinur:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1403492

" there are three accepted methods for curing ich. All require a separate quarantine tank

hyposalinity--bring down the salinity level to 1.009 for 4 weeks

copper based medications--you have to adhere to the directions exactly or they don't work

series of complete water changes coiniciding with the life cycle of ich

here is a how to do sheet for hyposalinity:

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/t...posalinity.html

please note--do not attempt this without a refractometer. At 1.008 you risk upsetting the osmoregulation of the fish

here is an article on the life cycle of ich--you need to understand this if you decide to do the series of water changes

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/t.../marineich.html "


Found this on ich article page:

Does a specific gravity of 1.017 prevent outbreaks?

A specific gravity of 1.017 is not effective in controlling outbreaks of marine "Ich" as has been claimed by some authors (e.g. Delbeek and Sprung, 1994). Colorni (1985) found that tomonts could survive at salinities as low as 15 ppt (specific gravity ~1.011 d20/20). Further, a specific gravity of 1.017 is far too low for most invertebrates and the long term effect on fish is unknown.

 

[gary faulkner]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12756012#post12756012 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by yodatwo
if the fish are still eating, i'd highly recommend garlic. personally i think the qt tank should be the last resort as it seems really stressful on the fish.

i beat ich with garlic an haven't had it since.

Completely disagree!

 

[downhillbiker]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12759828#post12759828 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gary faulkner
Completely disagree!

i completely agree with your disagreeing. QT is the ONLY proven method. it doesn't hurt to try garlic and ich attack, but if i gets bad, do what i did and get them in QT asap. its all about knowing your fish and watching everything closely.

 

[tmz]

I agree with Gary's disagreeing as well. How could a well managed transfer to a well managed qt tank be more stressfull than being infested with flesh eating parasites in the skin, mouth, nose and gills?