How To Cure Marine Ich

[ClownFishGuy6]

So I just has ich in my tank and correct me if I am wrong with the method i came up with but what I did was I lowered the heating to about 75 but I lowered if by 1 degrees everyday so it wouldn't stress out the fish that are in there. I lowered it because, correct me if I am wrong here, but it is easier for ich to occur when the tank is on higher temperatures right? Then I did a 30% water change and got some new water from my LFS. As I was doing this I got food for them that had garlic in it because it strengthens there immune system. And to put a little less stress on them I shut the light off at the same time every night now(I don't know if this helps but I am pretty sure it puts a little less stress on them). The reason I am trying to put less stress on them is because the main cause of ich is stress right? I just started putting a copper treatment in about 3 days ago when the ich was not visible because I couldn't get it any earlier. But I'll put in the copper treatment for about 2 weeks. I took out all my inverts for this treatment. The only thing I am not doing is taking my fish out for the full 72 days because that's too much of a hassle for me. I just want to know from some of you out there reading this that are experts at this hobby, is this an okay method?

 

[ThRoewer]

So I just has ich in my tank and correct me if I am wrong with the method i came up with but what I did was I lowered the heating to about 75 but I lowered if by 1 degrees everyday so it wouldn't stress out the fish that are in there. I lowered it because, correct me if I am wrong here, but it is easier for ich to occur when the tank is on higher temperatures right? Then I did a 30% water change and got some new water from my LFS. As I was doing this I got food for them that had garlic in it because it strengthens there immune system. And to put a little less stress on them I shut the light off at the same time every night now(I don't know if this helps but I am pretty sure it puts a little less stress on them). The reason I am trying to put less stress on them is because the main cause of ich is stress right? I just started putting a copper treatment in about 3 days ago when the ich was not visible because I couldn't get it any earlier. But I'll put in the copper treatment for about 2 weeks. I took out all my inverts for this treatment. The only thing I am not doing is taking my fish out for the full 72 days because that's too much of a hassle for me. I just want to know from some of you out there reading this that are experts at this hobby, is this an okay method?

You are wrong and it is for sure not an OK method.

Temperature within the natural reef range (74-82° F) has no effect on fish getting sick or not.

Garlic does nothing good for a fish (it may causing them liver damage though).

Light should always be on a constant schedule and ideally on a timer.

Copper treatment in the display tank is a really bad idea - you won't be able to put your inverts back. The rocks and sand are contaminated now and will leach out copper later.
Also 2 weeks of copper does nothing.

 

[snorvich]

So I just has ich in my tank and correct me if I am wrong with the method i came up with but what I did was I lowered the heating to about 75 but I lowered if by 1 degrees everyday so it wouldn't stress out the fish that are in there. I lowered it because, correct me if I am wrong here, but it is easier for ich to occur when the tank is on higher temperatures right?

No. A lower temperature does increase dissolved oxygen but does not affect ich one way or the other

Then I did a 30% water change and got some new water from my LFS. As I was doing this I got food for them that had garlic in it because it strengthens there immune system.

No. Garlic increases eating response.

And to put a little less stress on them I shut the light off at the same time every night now(I don't know if this helps but I am pretty sure it puts a little less stress on them). The reason I am trying to put less stress on them is because the main cause of ich is stress right?

No. Ich is caused by a parasite but is exacerbated by stress.

I just started putting a copper treatment in about 3 days ago when the ich was not visible because I couldn't get it any earlier. But I'll put in the copper treatment for about 2 weeks.

No. Copper should be a minimum of four weeks, but tank transfer is better by far.

I took out all my inverts for this treatment.

No. Inverts should stay in.

The only thing I am not doing is taking my fish out for the full 72 days because that's too much of a hassle for me.

The closer you are to 72 days, the higher the chances that ich will be gone.

I just want to know from some of you out there reading this that are experts at this hobby, is this an okay method?

 

[snorvich]

ThRoewer, you must type faster than I. Our answers are consistent, however. :love2:

 

[Deinonych]

The link below is an excellent primer on marine ich. Highly recommended reading.

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa164