Fake Powder Blue Tang Ich Treatment

[happyclam]

I don't have a Powder Blue Tang yet, thinking about getting one. If it was to get ich (very likely), what would I do? It would be in a 135 gal SPS reef with no other fish except for a pair of clowns. All replys, suggestions, and ideas welcome. Just wanted to be prepaired for the inevitable.

 

[chrissreef]

why not QT him? this will decrease the likelyhood of initial ich outbreak a TON. Hypo or copper that tank

cleaner shrimp "may" help in the display... there are no reef safe treatments. There are witches brews that some people claim work but they're expensive.

well rounded diet, good water, low temp swings should all help. Also, don't freak with just 1-2 spots.

 

[Freed]

QT it before putting it in the main tank and you won't have to worry about it.

 

[happyclam]

Sweet! I would definately QT it when 1st aquired. I was under the conception that even after QT, it would break out with ich.

 

[Freed]

If you haven't properly QT'd the fish in your main tank or have seen ich in the past in the main tank, then yes, it could break out with ich after putting it in the main tank even after proper QT.

 

[chrissreef]

ich will always be somewhere, even if you QT every fish you put in your tank. There's no such thing as an "ich free" tank.

ich are in gills of fish
ich is on rock and corals you buy from stores

the key is trying to reduce/eliminate as much introduction and keep the fish healthy and stress free to avoid outbreaks.

goodluck!

 

[Freed]

chris, please do more research. It is very possible to have an ich free tank if you want one.

 

[chrissreef]

freed, so you're telling me in an "ich free" reef tank that you can strees the fish out, feed them unhealthy foods etc. and they will never ever show a spot of ich?

 

[Freed]

Yes. I "stress" my fish out on a regular basis AND because I have practiced strict QT in the past, no ich. Yes, it can be done. Those that say it can't, have not researched and only listen to speculation about there being "no such thing as an ich free tank".

 

[chrissreef]

- why on earth are you stressing your fish out on a regular basis? especially if you're practicing "strict qt". I call __
- are you qting every invert/coral/rock etc. for 3-6 weeks? if not, your tank isn't "ich free"
- assumption and speculation based on either your experiences or invented to support your opinion - /sigh

 

[Freed]

Doesn't matter why my fish are being stressed. The fact is that, just like any other person's tank, I have to get in mine on a regular basis and in doing so my fish get "stressed" just like anyone else's so they should be breaking out in loads of ich as you suggest, correct? Please read my sig. I QT everything before putting into main tank. Fish, corals( I just yesterday moved an elegance, two hairy mushrooms and a purple cespitularia from QT to my main tank after no less than 4 weeks in QT) and any inverts, live rock, etc.

You have to want to learn to make it happen instead of just pointing fingers and saying it's not true. Please check www.wetwebmedia.com and other resources such as Reefkeeping magazine for QT fact and fiction.

 

[chrissreef]

rofl - you call cleaning your glass "stressing" your fish? wow... just wow, you were gaining credibility until that point.

if anything, i'll give someone 2 thumbs up in putting in measures to prevent ich introduction/outbreaks... but saying a tank is ich free is like saying a disease like the bubonic plague or smallpox has been eliminated. I have to look it up but there was an outbreak just a few years ago of something we thought we had eliminated. Heck, there are well over 100 uncontacted tribes throughout the world and species we thought were extinct popping up here and there. Tribes in Asia, South America and plenty of closed countries really leave a lot of holes in our claims of elimination.

My point is saying something is "ich free" without 100% monitoring of every molecule in the tank is an assumption. A good one? yes, but an unproven one.

you do have good qt procedures so i'll give you 2 thumbs up for that.

 

[Freed]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12798285#post12798285 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrissreef
rofl - you call cleaning your glass "stressing" your fish?

Where did I say that is the only thing I do in my tank? You, my friend, are the one doing all the assuming. It sounds like you are a lost cause.

 

[chrissreef]

we're both stubborn lost causes because neither is willing to be open to the other... i believe we can agree to disagree â€"œ no biggy â€"œ it’s a hobby and we can probably agree on lots of other issues =)

btw â€"œ We can both take a lesson from my second sig quote in this situation. Sadly, we’re both “too” set in our ways/experiences/research =)

ps - can you have an ich free tank? probably... does one ever know 100% for sure? no - this was my point.

 

[Freed]

I am going by fact. You, on the other hand, are only subscribing to speculation without learning the facts. Good luck.

 

[pwoller]

I would invest in a couple skunk cleaner shrimp. I had a blue tang for a long time and never had a problem, but others with tangs and ich swear that the cleaner shrimp will readily clean the parasites off of them.

 

[package]

Happy Clam,

If you are still out there, I would not worry about the ICH so much. I have had issues with it on multiple occassions, meaning I was not smart enough to research it as Freed suggested. As Chris said it can be introduced in several different ways perhaps just not with fish. If your tank has been up and running several months with no signs of ICH, you are perhaps good to go (they need a host to live). As I said I have had issues with it mulitple times, I did begin the QT practice but it had already been introduced into my tank. Make sure you QT and do not let it in to start with. I read somewhere that it can remain with a host up to 11-12 months (due to max. cell divsion I think). I know I transferred a Hippo tang from one tank to another and it broke out. I do not know if it was introduced many months previously and was living in small quantities or if it came in on rock or coral. Either way, it was in there an it was shocker to me.

Since the PBT will soon be the boss of the tank, the stress should not be so bad. If there is ICH already in the tank it must be in small quantities so the PBT may never come across it. If it were to get it, sometimes they fight it off on their own. Just QT the tang, make sure it eats well to build up it's natural immune system, perhaps introduce it after the lights are off to reduce the stress. It should be OK - just QT it from the start and do not panic if you see a couple of spots.

I have had mixed experiences with cleaner shrimp. I have seen them set up a cleaning station. I think they will help if there is a small outbreak in which the fish can probably beat. Same for cleaner wrasse. Most do not live very long but now some are available from Africa (I think) anyway they clean well and will eat flakes.

Good luck

 

[happyclam]

Thanks for the help everybody- and sorry I started a small war/debate over the issue of ich. I have kind of developed this motto for reefkeeping- you'll never know for sure what will happen, so just purchase lightly and see if it works. Of course, it is always good to maximize the potential for success by QT, but you will never know for sure. And if the tang does get ich really bad and a can't cure it in QT, I might end up losing $60. But on the other hand, it might be just fine and live a happy life for many years, so it is always worth a try.

 

[liz3]

Well opinions are like butt holes, everyone has one everybody thinks the others stink. One can never be absolutely positive on one given position, there are too many variables introduced into a tank.

Research, listen, then do what works best for you.

I lost the very nice BT and had him in QT, no other fish in the new tank had ich, but once moved he developed it anyway. Hyposalinity did not work on him, and neither did the "reef safe" treatment for ich. Good luck and I hope you don't lose the fish. It'

 

[jnc914]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13410435#post13410435 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by liz3
Well opinions are like butt holes, everyone has one everybody thinks the others stink. One can never be absolutely positive on one given position, there are too many variables introduced into a tank.

Research, listen, then do what works best for you.

I lost the very nice BT and had him in QT, no other fish in the new tank had ich, but once moved he developed it anyway. Hyposalinity did not work on him, and neither did the "reef safe" treatment for ich. Good luck and I hope you don't lose the fish. It'

How do you know it was ich? It could have easily been velvet, which is not effected by Hyposalinity. I use Cupramine copper and Prazi- Pro on everything 4-6 weeks in QT prior to going into the DT. And yes, you can achieve an "ich free" environment with patience and proper QT procedures. There are many other hobbiests on this forum who run similar QTs and don't have any ich issues with any of their fish.