ich in a new system?

[max4360]

I am in the process of cycling my tank. its been a week and amonia is 2.0ppm.

I have a damsel in the tank for a week, Saturday I seeded the tank with some sand from the LFS. Today i notice white spots on the top half of the damsel. How could my tank have ick already?

Could it be from the Sand or the amonia is stressing the damsel?

Wht should I use to get the Ich out my tank, Thanks.

 

[Toddrtrex]

[welcome]

There is no need to cycle a tank with a damsel. And with the ammonia levels that you are seeing, you are stressing out the damsel and possibly doing damage to its gills.

The best solution would be to get the damsel out of the tank, and let it set fallow for 8 weeks -- that will give you time to cycle the tank, and to rid the tank of Ick -- fishless for that long the ick will die off.

 

[max4360]

The dots a very little, all over the top of the fish, Could that really be Ich?

could it be from the amonia?

 

[Toddrtrex]

Yes it could really be ick. It might have had it already, but wasn't showing any signs of it. However the stress of using it to cycle the tank -- and the very high ammonia -- very likely caused it.

 

[max4360]

omg, false alarm, the white dots were due to the damsel creating a sleeping place on the sand bed. When i tried to catch the damsel with a net, all the white dots came off. When i was watching her in the next hour, she was sifting the sand around her ;-)

 

[snorvich]

I still would not use a fish to cycle a tank. What are you going to do with that fish afterwards?

 

[PRDubois]

To Reef Central
Glad to see you

 

[byrdman81]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15200041#post15200041 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snorvich
I still would not use a fish to cycle a tank. What are you going to do with that fish afterwards?

+1

 

[max4360]

Keep the fish.It's talbot damsel. Nice yellow ontop with a black spot.

 

[Toddrtrex]

They are nice fish -- I have 4. But, you need to bring that ammonia down as soon as possible if you care about the fish making it.

 

[romsoccer12]

damsels can get pretty nasty

 

[BeanMachine]

When fish get stressed, they will tend to rub their bodies on the sand, especially if its got ich.

I don't think its normal for a damsel to bury itself if you know what I mean, if it were a goby than that's a different story.

I agree with not cycling a tank with a fish, poor little guy.

 

[Toddrtrex]

My talbot's damsels dig out little caves under the rocks, so I could see how it could get sand on them. And they are pretty peaceful, not like your average damsel.

 

[BeanMachine]

I did not know that about the talbot damsel... I learn something new here everyday.

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15204476#post15204476 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BeanMachine
I did not know that about the talbot damsel... I learn something new here everyday.

It is fun to watch them try to move old snail shells around, to make their cave bigger.

All four hanging out,

And them in a cave together --- they now have 4 separate caves.

 

[max4360]

So should I do a water change while the tank is cycling?? maybe 20 gallons?

My skimmers was goin nuts with white foam for some reason. Been dormant the whole time.

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15204542#post15204542 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by max4360
So should I do a water change while the tank is cycling?? maybe 20 gallons?

My skimmers was goin nuts with white foam for some reason. Been dormant the whole time.

Yes. I would do as large and as often as it takes to get the ammonia to 0 --- if you don't want to damage the fish that is in there.

 

[max4360]

WOW nice pics!!

How long have you had them and what size are they?
whats are you feeding yours. Try mines with mysis, spits out most of it. very finiky now.

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15204555#post15204555 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by max4360
WOW nice pics!!

How long have you had them and what size are they?
whats are you feeding yours. Try mines with mysis, spits out most of it. very finiky now.

Thanks. I have had them for about 2 months now. I would say they range from an inch to an inch and a half for the largest one.

Mine eat anything that I put in the tank -- Spectrum pellets, Rod's food (( 3 different types )), LifeLife's Herbivore mix, and Prime Reef. I think the reason yours is having issues eating is due to the ammonia.


I like the contrasting colors in this picture,

 

[wooden_reefer]

Ick is very very common from wild fish. In fact, I believe most fish carry this disease.

Yes, take the damsel out. What is the purpose? It has finished carrying seeds for good bacteria.


Take the poor fish out. Return it to the LPS if necessary. Just add a source of ammonia like finely chopped fish or shrimp.