hospital tank / ich questions

[Zane24]

I recently had an Ich breakout in my DT. I moved a Hippo Blue Tang into a hospital tank about 31/2 weeks ago. He is now doing great. About 1 week ago i moved a Citron Goby into the same HT. I'm treating the hospital tank with Cupramine. The Citron Goby did not make it and died last night (he stopped eating). My question is now how long do i wait before taking the cupramine out of the system in the HT? The Hippo Tang is healthy again but i don't want to risk him getting infected again if i take the Cupramine out. I plan on keeping the Hippo Tang in the HT (minus the meds) until my new tank is finished. I don't want to risk re-introducing him to Ich.

i am in the middle of a tank build. My new 180G should be ready by the end of December. I plan on putting all my other fish in QT before introducing them into the new tank. I do not want to risk transferring the Ich. Is it possible to transfer ich via live rock, or any kind of filter media? I'd like to transfer some sponges, or bio-rings to help with the cycle process but won't if there is a chance of transferring ich.

 

[SammyL]

Since you already have Ich in your current DT anything wet from that tank to your new tank you are taking a chance of spreading it.

 

[Nina51]

if you leave everything (live rock, inverts, etc.) in your current tank and leave it fallow (fishless) for 72 days, the ich you now have will die off. ich can be transferred on anything wet, however, unless it has a fish host, it will die off after the 72 days.

 

[Zane24]

That's what i figured. So it just means all new rock and waiting for the cycle. I'll have to wait anyways for this fish just so i do not transfer ich to the new tank.

 

[Zane24]

What about the HT tank and adding carbon/ water changes to get the copper out of it. Is it safe to do that at the 4 week point? Even though a new fish with ich was just added/died in the HT. I plan on leaving the hippo in the HT and turn it into a holding tank for a few weeks. I figure that will be the least stressful way on the blue hippo. After the cycle had ended i can make him the first addition to the new tank, then start the waiting/treatment period on the other fish.

If i move the shrimp, crabs, etc into the new tank after its cycled can they transfer ich

 

[gone fishin]

I assume the goby came out of your DT. If so I would be inclined to start the clock over on treatment for the first fish. Just to mention if you still have fish in your DT they need to be treated as well. Good luck.

 

[Zane24]

Thanks, i do plan on observing the other fish and treating if needed before adding them to the new tank. So far none of the other fish have showed any symptoms. I have 2 clownfish and a diamond goby that seem to be fine. They were the first fish added and have not shown any visible signs. The diamond goby is fat and happy (eats out of my hands) and the clowns are in love with their anemone and torch coral.

 

[snorvich]

So far none of the other fish have showed any symptoms.

Lack of visible symptoms does not mean a fish does not have ich in its gills.

 

[Zane24]

Thanks for responding Steve. I am planning on being very patient with the new tank and will QT and/or treat all my current fish before placing them in the new tank. I'd rather wait 72 days then be stuck with ICH in a brand new build. I've read mixed answers and was hoping you would know, is it possible for CUC to transfer ich into a tank? Basically do i have to QT the cleanup crew before transferring them as well?

 

[Nina51]

is it possible for CUC to transfer ich into a tank? Basically do i have to QT the cleanup crew before transferring them as well?

it's probably unlikely but it's definitely possible. to be on the safe side, since you are already dealing with ich, i would qt your cuc before they go into your new tank. it's a pain in the butt and will try your patience but it's the only way you will be sure.

 

[snorvich]

Thanks for responding Steve. I am planning on being very patient with the new tank and will QT and/or treat all my current fish before placing them in the new tank. I'd rather wait 72 days then be stuck with ICH in a brand new build. I've read mixed answers and was hoping you would know, is it possible for CUC to transfer ich into a tank? Basically do i have to QT the cleanup crew before transferring them as well?

If the CUC is coming from a tank that has had ich such as yours, it needs to be fallow for 72 days as well. The problem is knowing whether CUC obtained from an outside source came from a system containing fish. If it did, 72 days is safe, anything less runs a risk.