How Can I Tell If Ich Is Gone Or Hasn't Happened
- Thread starter black_majik
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wooden_reefer
New member
A bit more or less defense against ich makes no difference, especially from a strategic perspective. The number of waterborne parasites can be overwheming regardless. Ich comes in waves; one slip and the ich will gain the criticial advantage, in another reproductive cycle or two ich population will explode.
I am not saying that fish has no defense against ich, I am saying that the aquarist should not use enhancing immunity as a means against ich because the utility is doubtful and marginal. I do not want "helps"; I want sure.
Ich is basically not a disease of weakened immunity, but one of confinement--sans dilution effect of the ocean.
Do not understimate the effect of physical confinement, those five planes of glass, that alters the natural relation between pathogen and host. This is not unique to ich, just that ich is the most extreme example.
Ich eventually dies without a host; otherwise the number of successful reefers will be reduced, frustration will persist.
Last edited:
Freed
It's what it's
Down to 1.016 from the LFS salinity of 1.019 over the course of three water changes from when I put them in QT. Will hold here until later on today and do a couple more changes and get it down to 1.012 for the rest of the night and then tomorrow will drop it down to 1.009 for the remainder of their stay in QT. Hopefully I won't see any ich the entire time but if I do it should be within the first week or so.
Acro-Phobia
New member
Got a couple of questions guys.
I did some powerhead changes in my display tank which stirred up everything for a few days and made my fish a bit nervous. After about a week, my powder blue started showing signs of ich. Now, real bad.
Catching him will be a major feat, but if I am able to get him out of the display tank I can treat him. The problem is the tank. I had not seen ich in it for 6 months, but obviously it was there. Remaining residents are: 2 clowns, manderin, 6 line, and a lawnmower blenny. They are all healthy. Is there anything I can do to the tank short of catching everyone and going fishless for a couple of months?
I did some powerhead changes in my display tank which stirred up everything for a few days and made my fish a bit nervous. After about a week, my powder blue started showing signs of ich. Now, real bad.
Catching him will be a major feat, but if I am able to get him out of the display tank I can treat him. The problem is the tank. I had not seen ich in it for 6 months, but obviously it was there. Remaining residents are: 2 clowns, manderin, 6 line, and a lawnmower blenny. They are all healthy. Is there anything I can do to the tank short of catching everyone and going fishless for a couple of months?
Ich (crpytocaryon ) is in the confines of your system and will remain there unless you remove and treat all inhabitants with copper or hyposlainity and leave the tank fishless for several months.This protozoan is persistent. Some of the cysts can remain vialble for up to 72 days. Some of the fish may have parasites living on them unseen, perhaps in the gills.
I don't think any of the "reef safe cures" are worthwhile and are likely to intoduce more stress with reduced oxygen and some irritations from some of them.
Some relatively harmless and potentially beneficial half measures are:
UVsterilization with an oversized sterlizer at a relatively slow flow rate.This will be lethal to waterborn bacteria and algae including the dinoflagellate alga amyloodinium(aka the other ich or velvet).This dinoflagellate is almost always lethal unless treated early with copper or hyposalinity.Cryptocaryon is a protozoan a larger organism requiring higher doses of radiation to kill it.
Several RCers have recommended diatom filters to trap free swimming parasites.
Nutrition. A high quality variety of food perhaps enhanced with fresh garlic.
The obvious;water quality especially constant salinity,temperature and 0 amonia and nitite. Any thing you can do to reduce any stressors since the parasites, albeit in smaller numbers are ready to break out.
Good Luck
I don't think any of the "reef safe cures" are worthwhile and are likely to intoduce more stress with reduced oxygen and some irritations from some of them.
Some relatively harmless and potentially beneficial half measures are:
UVsterilization with an oversized sterlizer at a relatively slow flow rate.This will be lethal to waterborn bacteria and algae including the dinoflagellate alga amyloodinium(aka the other ich or velvet).This dinoflagellate is almost always lethal unless treated early with copper or hyposalinity.Cryptocaryon is a protozoan a larger organism requiring higher doses of radiation to kill it.
Several RCers have recommended diatom filters to trap free swimming parasites.
Nutrition. A high quality variety of food perhaps enhanced with fresh garlic.
The obvious;water quality especially constant salinity,temperature and 0 amonia and nitite. Any thing you can do to reduce any stressors since the parasites, albeit in smaller numbers are ready to break out.
Good Luck
Acro-Phobia
New member
Thanks Tom. I'm working on most of the items you mentioned already. I have never heard of a Diatom filter. Gotta look that one up.
