Does Ich need a host?

[rabidcrab]

Can Ich linger in a tank? I had ich previously in my tank, got rid of everything... I had like 2 fish that survived and they havent had any ich... But now I have Ich again, with new fish. Its a 90 reef. What should I do?

 

[6stringpenguin]

you should have gotten rid of the 2 last fish and let the tank run without any fish for a couple of months. The ich will only survive if there are hosts in it.

 

[Twitterbait]

yes it can, get a UV or wait 3+ months

 

[andrewsmart]

treat your fish in q/t and leave the display empty for 8 weeks.

all fish.

q/t all new fish before introduction to main tank.

 

[rabidcrab]

there was absolutely no sign of any sickness on surviving fish. its just odd.

 

[drumachine09]

From my FW experiance, i know that ick is ALWAYS present in a tank. I dont know if a UV changes it or not. Ick is always in the tank, but can only attatch itself to a fish when the fish is stessed, from moving, or poor water quality. However, i dont know if this differs from SW. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Jerry W]

Contrary to what you may have heard, ich is not always present in a tank, and it is quite possible to have a system that is free from the parasite. Some fish can remain asymptomatic, but they are still hosts. Introduce a new fish and it is quite possible they will contract the parasite. With proper quarantine and treatment, you can rid your system, but as mentioned, the main tank should be left w/o any fish for a minimum of 5-6 weeks. This interrupts the life cycle and the parasite dies off.

 

[rabidcrab]

what abiout shrimps and crabs? (cleaner shrimps, hermits)