I know, I know...but...

[maro1]

Mid October my fish in my 300 gallon tank showed signs of ICH.

It was a pretty good breakout with 1/4th of the fish showing signs of it. The fish were seen frequently being cleaned by the tanks cleaner shrimp some flashing.

Unsure of how to best handle this I read everything and began to devise a method for Hyposalinity.

3 weeks later at the beginning of Nov my fish showed no or little signs of ich. According to what I read the ich parasite was just staging for another attack.

Mid november i saw very slight signs of ich on just a couple of fish and no distress signs and no cleaner activity by the shrimp.

setting up the Hypotanks getting ready for the Qt/hypo process. I decided to wait. To see what would develop. (Dangerous game I know) today it is mid December and no signs of Ich at all.

I am not making any assumptions as I currently ascrbe to the literature that says copper or hypo. I am ready with QT/hypo tanks if things change.

But my question is whats happening to the Ich parasite why has it seemed to slow or stop? Why has the signs of it reduced? will it go away? I want to continue to wait now to see if anything develops rather than stressing my fish by capturing and transfering them to QT.

Any ideas ? Suggestions?

Mar:rollface:

 

[D659600]

It is laying dormant. Just keep you fish healthy and stress free.

 

[Triggerfish]

Re: I know, I know...but...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8735166#post8735166 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by maro1
Mid October my fish in my 300 gallon tank showed signs of ICH.
how long prior to outbreak noticed was anything new added?


beginning of Nov my fish showed no or little signs of ich
Mid november i saw very slight signs of ich
mid December and no signs of Ich

whats happening to the Ich parasite why has it seemed to slow or stop?
Why has the signs of it reduced?
will it go away?
I want to continue to wait now to see if anything develops rather than stressing my fish by capturing and transfering them to QT.
Any ideas ? Suggestions?

depending on the strain(some release thousands of tomites others much less).
mild or weak strains can possibly diminish in population due to population of healthy fish with thick slime coatings.
the parasite may go away, remain constant or increase. all possible over time.

i agree to wait and see what transpires over the coming months.
just make sure to quarantine everything to reduce likelihood of introducing multiple strains which may compound the problem.

 

[maro1]

Triggerfish that is the best response I have had on this subject. It is one that has had a lot written about it and therefore we see less responses on posts.

It was about a month since anything was added. But what did happen was everything was moved from a couple small tanks to a 300. But they were all interconnected to a 150 gal sump and 75 gal refug.

So I will wait it out an QT the future fishes and corals, etc...

I have some chromis in Qt now. How long do you think I should wait before intoduction?

Thanks

Mar

 

[Triggerfish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8743248#post8743248 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by maro1
It is one that has had a lot written about it and therefore we see less responses on posts.
i was surprised to see this post from you, as briefly reading your recent posts about the subject, you seem to have a good grasp of it,, i had to double check to see if it was the same user name.
yes,, they will never end. it can be time consuming responding,so i now only pick and choose which ones to get involved with. i don't like to rehash the scientific documentions with folks..so i only try to support them with my own observations/experience included..nothing scientific on my part though.

I have some chromis in Qt now. How long do you think I should wait before intoduction?
this is a rather difficult inquiry to respond to. it sort of goes against a sort of 'common sense' rationale to not add new livestock to a tank suspected of being infected. as hard as it may be,,i would probably give it a min of about 3 months to see just how virulent the strain you have could may possibly become..
easier preached than practiced. i made the mistake and didn't follow this advice and it resulted in an increased disaster.

 

[maro1]

Yep it's me. Living in the middle of nowhere when it comes to reefs and such and even having this board for education and even having the right ideas about the subject which as I said there is excellent knowledge and material written here.

It's nice to have someone respond about a specific thought process you may have. So thanks.

I am prepared to wait the 3 months which sounds like a good idea. If that doesn't work or the ich in the display shows up agin during that time. All the fish are coming out and going to QT for 6-8 weeks. Which is where I was headed until it jus t kinda disappeared.

Thanks for your replys

Mar:rollface:

 

[Triggerfish]

no problem mar.... do yourself a favor and go the full 8 weeks, if it comes down to that. you'd hate to have to do it again.

 

[maro1]

* weeks it is. I don't need it back and I have plenty of other things in life to focus on:lol:

Mar

 

[maro1]

8 Weeks it is:lol:

Mar

 

[Triggerfish]

damn shift key...

 

[cilyjr]

maro please post the progress on your display. i am in a similar situation where i have not seen any signs for weeks now. i will not be buying any fish until i am sure the outbreak is gone either.

 

[maro1]

Tonight I still am seeing no visible signs of ICH. No cleaning activety by the cleaner shrimp and no signs of stress. I am planning on 3 full months before I introduce some Chromis I have in the QT.

If the ICh reapears With A vengence, I am ready to QT all the fish and leave the tank Fallow for 8 weeks.

I'll keep you updated.

Mar:rollface:

 

[maro1]

Well only seeing signs od Ich on one fish. My emp. But it does not seem to be alot. I wonder why all of this time so many other fish have showed no signs of it. Why does the parasit only attack the same fish? He is realy healthy otherwise.

Now I am wondering about my plan to get rid of it? Wait it out and see what happens?

Remove and QT everything?

Mar

 

[Hattie B]

Hi Mar,

IMO, I think you should QT everything. Just get rid of that ick..

In the long run it would be better, plus any new additions if you add in the future might be at risk.

In not a fan of waiting it out, becuase of the unnecessary discomfort IMO it appears to cause the fish.

 

[Triggerfish]

if conditions are as you describe, then as long as you have no ambition to add addtional livestock,,you can certainly just give it time and see what transpires.

in fact, that's probably what i would do. like i have said in numerous other threads. I have seen many of a reef tank with very mild parasite outbreaks..all fish appeared to be healthy.
many variables at play here..\
GL

 

[maro1]

What leads to the eventual irradication of the parasite when you just wait it out?

Mar

 

[ronjeremy]

in your case, the size of your tank is a factor...in the free swimming stage of the parasite, it must find a host within about 16hrs..if it does not it dies...that's why you see the seemingly "bad outbreaks" in smaller tanks.. multiple parasites find the same host, and the fish becomes infested..in your tank, the parasites have a much harder time finding a host, especially the same host..that is why it "seems" that you have a mild case....in time, you may get lucky and all of the parasites could die off from lack of finding hosts in time... from the sound of it,it is most likely not life threatening in your tank..it is probably more of a nuisance to the fish..in smaller tanks, the fish could be infested, including their gills, and it would be more life threatening..either way, it is best to qt and treat..you may get lucky and just have it dieoff....a good UV light could help in your case only

 

[maro1]

Now That is an interesting thought. My tank is 300 Gallons. The overflow is running at about 2500 gallons per hour. Plus strong current from the closed loop. It runs to the basement into a 150 gallon sump then drains into a 75 Gallon Refugium then back upstairs. So possibly the distance and water volume could contribute to the mild case and the lack of the free swimming stage of the parasite finding a host? Hmmmm

Well as of now only one fish shoes any signs of it. and it is still the one that had it in the beginning.


Mar:rollface:

 

[ronjeremy]

so you really have about 525g????? that is a huge help..

 

[maro1]

Yes 525 Gallons Total. You think that has something to do with the outbreak of the parasite and its impact?

Mar:rollface: