Hypo salinity?

[tinnghe]

So I cycled my tank and put a CUC in then a pair of clown. They both started to show sign of ick. Should I putty whole tank into hypo mode? Or just let them deal with it?

 

[mille239]

The clowns need to be removed and placed in Hypo... treating the whole tank will kill your CUC. Run the tank without fish for 6 weeks, and start over.

 

[mike_cmu04]

I would start up a small hospital tank and treat them. Make sure you qt everything before going in your display to avoid this problem again.

 

[Palting]

The best way to fix this, and avoid this again in the future, is to have a QT. Now is as good a time as any to set it up. You can treat your clowns with hypo for 4-6 weeks, and leave your DT fishless for 6-8 weeks. You don't want to do hypo on your DT, as this will kill not onlly your CUC, but any inverts and critters you may have developed on your rock and substrate. You may get a massive die-off, and potentially an ammonia spike, killing the fish you are trying to treat.

BTW, if your fish are eating and are otherwise healthy, and the tank has good parameters, the spots may disappear in 3-4 days. This does not mean the Ich is gone or that they are cured. It only means that the Ich is going through it's life cycle, and will likely show up again.

As I'm sure you already know, this is a hot topic for reefers. You'll get opinions directly opposite what I just said, or what the others said in the prior posts.

 

[crvz]

before doing anything, I would certainly confirm that the fish actually have ich instead of just "showing signs." Most fish, when stressed, may show a few spots that could be perceived as pests, but given time, good feedings, and quality water conditions they will clear up without any special treatment.