How is Ich introduced - just fish?

[iwishtofish]

I was wondering how Ich is introduced to tanks. Is it just through infected fish, or can you sometimes get unlucky by adding other creatures? Can any amount of the LFS' water contain enough Ich to infect a tank?

 

[Andrew]

You can refer to this thread:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1152767

 

[papagimp]

Wouldn't that be nice if only fish introduced ICH, a simple QT of all fish would keep ich out permanently. Unfortunatly in the real world ICH can come in on fish, corals, darn near anything. Due mainly to the fact that they can lay cysts that can stay dormant for "x" amount of time. I will say that IMO, 99.9% of the time, it's fish introduced though. Anythign else bringnig it in would be kinda dumb unluckiness. Well, maybe less than 99.9, I can see new live rock bringing it in as well, but mostly fish.

 

[iwishtofish]

I'm glad to hear that it is most likely to come in on fish. I will start my stocking with a fish (Lawnmower?) that is less likely to bring it in until I can explore the feasibility of a QT tank. And I'll keep my fingers crossed!

 

[papagimp]

The only fish I would consider "less likely" to bring in ICH, would only be fish coming from a friend or trusted person that you know for a fact QT's all their incoming livestock and has a system you trust. Anythign from the LFS or online is going to be much more likley. Certain fish are less likely to get ich, such as some dragonettes and gobies, but this does not mean they can't bring it in to the tank.

 

[kevin2000]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10246984#post10246984 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iwishtofish
I'm glad to hear that it is most likely to come in on fish. I will start my stocking with a fish (Lawnmower?) that is less likely to bring it in until I can explore the feasibility of a QT tank. And I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Bad idea ... lawnmowers get ich but their coloration makes it very difficult to see. Further .. you ever try and catch a lawnmower once he's in a reef tank .. good luck on that.

QT EVERY fish that goes into your ST .. no exceptions. QT doesn't take alot of money or effort .. just patience.

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/trevor-jones/quarantinetanks.html

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

ich can come in on LR also not just fish.

 

[iwishtofish]

I just read the posts and the article - compelling advice. Looks like I need to spend more money. I guess things don't need to be fancy and I can probably get stuff second-hand if I search the classifieds.

How would I seed the bacteria from my DT to the QT? I obviously wouldn't transfer sand or rock to the QT. Perhaps I could run a small HOB filter off my sump for a while and then run it on the QT? Or would this become a "nitrate factory" in the QT? Thanks again for all the advice. I still obviously have quite a bit to learn!

 

[Freed]

I don't trust anyone elses tank but my own to be ich free. I don't care who's tank I get fish or anything else from, it ALL gets QT'd.