Ich in FOWLR - No QT

[plowro8]

So, how am I supposed to treat for ich when I have fish affected in my DT and I have no QT or any means to get one? I have crabs and shrimp in my tank. Is there any way for me to treat my tank for ich with crabs and shrimp in the tank? If not, could I remove the crabs and shrimp and treat the tank then? I have no coral, but am looking to add some if I can get this ich situation figured out.

I see tons of info on how to treat your fish outside of your DT, but just need to know my options...

Thanks!

 

[mbingha]

There is no treatment that is safe for inverts. Save yourself the headache and buy a qt.

 

[plowro8]

Like I said, I don't have the means to get and maintain a QT... tough times.

So could I donate the crabs and shrimp to my LFS and then treat the display? And if so, what the best recommendation for doing so?

 

[Newsmyrna80]

There are no reef safe or invert safe treatments for ich. If you can remove the inverts can you remove the fish instead? Do you have access to a Rubbermaid container or 2? You could do tank transfer which is pretty easy. A Rubbermaid, power head or air stone and a heater is all you need for a QT.
Also I recommend reading the stickies on ich at the top of the forum.

 

[plowro8]

So I would put my fish in a Rubbermaid container for 8 weeks?

I see my only option being to treat the DT and get rid of the inverts. Is there any reason I couldn't/shouldn't do that?

 

[plowro8]

Could I relocate the inverts and do hypo on the DT?

 

[mbingha]

If you hypo your dt, much of the life you paid for on your live rock will die. This would probably cause an ammonia spike and kill your fish, so no.

 

[plowro8]

If you hypo your dt, much of the life you paid for on your live rock will die. This would probably cause an ammonia spike and kill your fish, so no.

Could I remove the inverts and then treat the DT with copper?

 

[mbingha]

Only if you plan on never having inverts or coral again. Live rock and substrate continue to leach copper once it's removed from the water column. Seriously, get a qt. Rubber maid bins will work fine. Didn't have to be pretty, just heater, powerhead, and some 2-3 inch pvc to make fake caves for fish to hide in.

 

[plowro8]

Only if you plan on never having inverts or coral again. Live rock and substrate continue to leach copper once it's removed from the water column. Seriously, get a qt. Rubber maid bins will work fine. Didn't have to be pretty, just heater, powerhead, and some 2-3 inch pvc to make fake caves for fish to hide in.

Okay, I guess I am in a tough spot. So how long must I have the fish in QT?

And another tough conundrum.... Not all my fish have signs of anything, nor have they ever. So assuming the tank is infected, but the healthy fish have developed an immunity to the parasite, do I QT them too and risk that stress on them? Sorry for all the questions, but this whole deal is giving ME the ich.

 

[mbingha]

No worries with the question. You're doing the right thing by taking the initiative. To answer your question though, to rid the tank of ich you will need to quarantine/treat every fish, and leave the display fishless for a minimum of 10 weeks. 12 would be better. Even if they don't show signs of ich, the parasite is still there. It can live in the gills. All it takes is for one to live and then the entire treatment is useless.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

No worries with the question. You're doing the right thing by taking the initiative. To answer your question though, to rid the tank of ich you will need to quarantine/treat every fish, and leave the display fishless for a minimum of 10 weeks. 12 would be better. Even if they don't show signs of ich, the parasite is still there. It can live in the gills. All it takes is for one to live and then the entire treatment is useless.

+1 All fish need to come out. Even if the fish don't show symptoms they are still hosts/carriers.