wilkerschnepf
New member
Well its is official I have ich in my reef system. I am assuming it has been present for years but I can't be sure one way or another. Too many variables lately to have any reasonable answer as to its origin.
Little info on my system. 100 gallon display been running for about 6 years now, about 15 fish, haven't seen a sign of ich in any of my current fish ever, almost all have been in my system 2+ years, some going on 8-9 years (transferred from previous setup). That being said about 3-4 years ago I got a CBB that showed signs of ich and died in my display. In the back of my mind I always knew there was a possibility that ich lived on in my tank but never once showed itself in the last 3-4 years. I have lost some fish in that time, never showing white spots just normal there one day gone the next. I have added two fish recently, one a blue tang a little over a month ago, and a green mandarin a couple weeks later, both from established systems being broken down.
I also have recently added a lot of coral from various places and about 6 months ago added a large amount of live rock to my sump to hold for a fellow refer that had a tank crack.
On top of that I use NSW from scripps in san diego. So there is always a small possibility that it could come from there.
I dosed my tank with sentinel to eradicate a red bug infestation, and the next day my blue tang was covered in ich. I don't know if the two were related, it could just be a coincidence but I dosed the tank at about 1:30 am and in the morning at about 9:00 am the tang had white spots all over its body. I started feeding food soaked in garlic, along with seachem metro, and focus. Tang is eating and looking better, it has been just over one week since the outbreak. The second day I saw one or two white spots on my yellow tang but that was gone by day 3. No other fish in the system have shown any signs of ich, and everyone is eating well and acting normal.
Now the question is how should I proceed going forward. Tank is already on its way back to happy and healthy. Blue tang has a little discoloration but not really showing the distinct white spots any longer. Nothing is going to change until after the new year, as holiday travel and just the normal busy life this time of year wouldn't allow for a QT procedure. Obviously the majority of my fish have developed some type of immunity to this strain of ich. After the new year should I put all of the fish through the stress of catching them and moving to a QT system and leave my DT fishless, or just leave well enough alone. I am going to continue using NSW so there is always a possibility of reinfection from that. And I will most likely continue to help other local reefers in need if they need me to help hold coral or live rock, so there would be a chance of reinfection from that.
Does dipping a coral or rock in a beyer insecticide dip kill ich? That is my normal coral dip procedure.
Also If I do leave the tank as is what would be the best method going forward for introducing new fish? I can QT like normal but add some water from my DT to introduce ich to the new fish and help build an immunity?
Ignorance is bliss, I was totally happy with how my tank was maturing, and now I can't stop thinking about what I will do going forward. Its like I just found out I have some terrible std. I guess I need to call every reefer I have sold, traded, or given fish or coral too and give them the bad news too.
Little info on my system. 100 gallon display been running for about 6 years now, about 15 fish, haven't seen a sign of ich in any of my current fish ever, almost all have been in my system 2+ years, some going on 8-9 years (transferred from previous setup). That being said about 3-4 years ago I got a CBB that showed signs of ich and died in my display. In the back of my mind I always knew there was a possibility that ich lived on in my tank but never once showed itself in the last 3-4 years. I have lost some fish in that time, never showing white spots just normal there one day gone the next. I have added two fish recently, one a blue tang a little over a month ago, and a green mandarin a couple weeks later, both from established systems being broken down.
I also have recently added a lot of coral from various places and about 6 months ago added a large amount of live rock to my sump to hold for a fellow refer that had a tank crack.
On top of that I use NSW from scripps in san diego. So there is always a small possibility that it could come from there.
I dosed my tank with sentinel to eradicate a red bug infestation, and the next day my blue tang was covered in ich. I don't know if the two were related, it could just be a coincidence but I dosed the tank at about 1:30 am and in the morning at about 9:00 am the tang had white spots all over its body. I started feeding food soaked in garlic, along with seachem metro, and focus. Tang is eating and looking better, it has been just over one week since the outbreak. The second day I saw one or two white spots on my yellow tang but that was gone by day 3. No other fish in the system have shown any signs of ich, and everyone is eating well and acting normal.
Now the question is how should I proceed going forward. Tank is already on its way back to happy and healthy. Blue tang has a little discoloration but not really showing the distinct white spots any longer. Nothing is going to change until after the new year, as holiday travel and just the normal busy life this time of year wouldn't allow for a QT procedure. Obviously the majority of my fish have developed some type of immunity to this strain of ich. After the new year should I put all of the fish through the stress of catching them and moving to a QT system and leave my DT fishless, or just leave well enough alone. I am going to continue using NSW so there is always a possibility of reinfection from that. And I will most likely continue to help other local reefers in need if they need me to help hold coral or live rock, so there would be a chance of reinfection from that.
Does dipping a coral or rock in a beyer insecticide dip kill ich? That is my normal coral dip procedure.
Also If I do leave the tank as is what would be the best method going forward for introducing new fish? I can QT like normal but add some water from my DT to introduce ich to the new fish and help build an immunity?
Ignorance is bliss, I was totally happy with how my tank was maturing, and now I can't stop thinking about what I will do going forward. Its like I just found out I have some terrible std. I guess I need to call every reefer I have sold, traded, or given fish or coral too and give them the bad news too.
