Hyposalinity tank and Ich I am puzzled

[Memo]

I bought a Blue Tang - Paracanthurus hepatus. She stayed at the LFS for 3 weeks to make sure she had no obvious problems and was healthy. No signs of ich and perfect color. So I brought her home performed a 15 minute fresh water dip mixed with Methylene Blue. Placed her in a 5 gal hospital hyposalinity tank with salt level at 1.009-1.010 specific gravity verified via refractometer. Tank temperature is at 79-81*F also added Seachem Cupramine Copper at about 15-20 mg/l. Perform daily RO water changes 25-50% depending tank condition. Tank is bare bottom, with heater couple PVC'c and Penguin BIO-Wheel Power Filter minus carbon filter, artificial light is on for 12 hours. She has been in the tank for 15 days. She is very shy but eating well New Life Spectrum Flakes with garlic and formula one/two mix 2-3 times a day plus sea weed every other day. Everything ok rightââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦Ã¢â"šÂ¬Ã‚¦Wrong this morning I woke her up to feed her and I saw some small white dots behind her right eye and one in her mid section. Experts what are the possibilities of this being Ich? I am puzzled after all this tender love and care? This afternoon feeding time the dots are gone except the one on her side. She is not rubbing or itching. The mark on her side looks like a scratch. Any Ideas? What could these dots be?
Thanks!

 

[TerryB]

If the salinity is not low enough and the copper dose is not high enough then of course it could be ich. You should be measuring the salinity, not the specific gravity. The salinity should be between 11-14ppt. I prefer 14ppt but some go lower to 11ppt. Check the pH and salinity DAILY. The directions on Cupramine suggest a dose of .5ppm. What dose are you using and how often are you testing the copper level? BTW, it is dangerous to combine hyposalinity with copper and unecessary. The pH tends to drop in hypo and copper becomes more toxic as the pH falls. Not a good combination. FW dips and methylene blue won't help with ich, but they can stress the fish. Feed this fish some Pacifica plankton.

Terry B

 

[Memo]

Thanks for the reply. I perform copper test daily 1 or 2 hours after I change water. PH is good. Does the spots come and go?

 

[TerryB]

The spots do come and go periodically as part of the life cycle of the parasite. I still don't know what your salinity is or what your copper level is. Still not a good idea to combine copper and hyposalinity either.

Terry B