Hypothesis : Marine Ich cure by 100% water change

[Ace Park]

I adopted purple tang a week ago. He has a bit of ich on his pin as well as his body.
In the meantime, I have ich free fish tank by removing fishes over 8 weeks. So I decided to do some interesting plan to kick the annoying disease by utilizing the ich free water.

In my understanding, trophont which is parasitic on host stays the host's body four to five days only. After then, they become protomonts that are seeking a rock or sand to multiply base on their life cycle. They may do navigate over two to eight hours in order to find their shelter.

According to this cycle, the fish may simply be free from ich by doing 100% water change(This water surely be ich free) more than three times a day. This allows an elimination of protomonts because they will be removed along with the water. After five days later, all trophonts grow as protomonts and they're going to be apart from the host. Finally, the fish will completely be cured ich.

What do you think on this? Look forward to your opinion. Actually my purple tang has cured by this treatment.

 

[DavidinGA]

I'm gonna guess that won't work if you have substrate as you won't be able to remove 100% of the water...

 

[Triggerfish]

the more times a fish is removed from and infested system the more likely it is the fish will be less infected.
however, after reading this comment by Lee who is i believe an authority on this subject matter, regarding the life cycle you cant' be 100% sure.

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/fish-diseases-treatments/23132-marine-ich-myths-facts.html

"14. All white nodules fall off the fish and move on to the cyst stage. Untrue. It has been discovered that, on very rare occasions (why we don't know) the white nodule will encyst and rupture while still on the fish."

 

[Ace Park]

I'm gonna guess that won't work if you have substrate as you won't be able to remove 100% of the water...

DavidinGA:
I agree on you. Maybe you're right

 

[Ace Park]

the more times a fish is removed from and infested system the more likely it is the fish will be less infected.
however, after reading this comment by Lee who is i believe an authority on this subject matter, regarding the life cycle you cant' be 100% sure.

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/fish-diseases-treatments/23132-marine-ich-myths-facts.html

"14. All white nodules fall off the fish and move on to the cyst stage. Untrue. It has been discovered that, on very rare occasions (why we don't know) the white nodule will encyst and rupture while still on the fish."

Point is, their life cycle is not that formulaic. I appreciate your comment.

 

[Spar]

i agree with the above that 'removing 100% of water' isn't really a possibility. in between rocks, etc.

eventually timing will be unlucky and a Tomite (cyst) is going to harden on a rock or glass as well, and then when the tank is refilled, it will emerge sometime in the near future.

The Tank Transfer Method (TTM) takes advantage of the Tomite stage given anything that the cyst could harden to is removed, cleaned and dried out.

 

[ca1ore]

What do you think on this? Look forward to your opinion. Actually my purple tang has cured by this treatment.

What you propose is essentially tank transfer - just done in a less convenient and likely less effective way. If you are removing all the water then catching the fish isn't going to be a problem so I see no reason not to do a proper TT; or treat with other meds available.

 

[Deinonych]

Also, unless you allow ALL surfaces (including substrate) to be completely dry for 24+ hours, you won't kill the tomonts. I agree with ca1ore - tank transfer is much, much more effective (about as close to 100% effective as you can get) and more practical.

 

[Ace Park]

Also, unless you allow ALL surfaces (including substrate) to be completely dry for 24+ hours, you won't kill the tomonts. I agree with ca1ore - tank transfer is much, much more effective (about as close to 100% effective as you can get) and more practical.

You're right. Tomonts were not killed 100% so Purple tang got ich again. So my hunch was wrong. Now purple tang is in QT with Cupramine and became healthy.

 

[Ace Park]

What you propose is essentially tank transfer - just done in a less convenient and likely less effective way. If you are removing all the water then catching the fish isn't going to be a problem so I see no reason not to do a proper TT; or treat with other meds available.

Yep. I realized you're correct. Removing the parasite 100% is almost impossible. Now I rely on Cupramine and works well.