Ich in reef tank

[Feelingsalty33]

Just noticed that my hybrid Achilles tang has ich. Water parameters are good. But I added a new fish this week that seemed to stress it out. What's the best way to treat ich besides pulling the fish out and putting into quarantine. Thanks guys

 

[HumbleFish]

Is this a reef or FO? No way to successfully treat Ich in a reef tank due to corals/inverts. In a FO, it's a little more doable; but still not always successful and sacrifices will have to be made.

 

[Feelingsalty33]

Reef

 

[HumbleFish]

Completely eradicating Ich from a reef tank without going fallow is highly unlikely. No matter what little bottles of "reef safe" magic they're pushing these days.

You can sometimes contain Ich (for awhile) in a reef tank by practicing Ich management. Instead of repeating myself, you can find my thoughts on the subject here.

 

[snorvich]

Reef

Start by reading the stickies to understand what you are dealing with.

 

[slgcmg]

My suggestion is to feed garlic soaked food and hope he keeps eating. That's his only way to survive unless you make the decision to try and catch him and treat him. That usually does more harm them good because you just add more stress to him.

The garlic can help build up immune system, but more importantly keeps them wanting to eat.

How long have you had him?

 

[Feelingsalty33]

He has been in the tank for 3 months

 

[newaquarist]

Try Dr. G's anti-parasitic caviar... if the fish eats it, is likely to be highly effective... though it won't rid ich from you tank, it can play a role in the broader battle and preserve the fish that eat it, at least for this outbreak...

 

[ca1ore]

Just noticed that my hybrid Achilles tang has ich. Water parameters are good. But I added a new fish this week that seemed to stress it out. What's the best way to treat ich besides pulling the fish out and putting into quarantine. Thanks guys

Achilles is not called an 'ich magnet' for nothing. Often the first fish to exhibit symptoms. Sorry to say that nothing short of removing all fish and treating them in a hospital tank is likely to work. Magic caviar and garlic might keep away vampires, but it doesn't do much for an ich problem.

There are some experienced aquarists with mature, long established reef tanks who will continue to feed well and just observe, but my own experience has found this to be less than completely effective.

 

[Feelingsalty33]

Thank you. I was able to get them out without moving all my rock. Thanks guys

 

[Neptune 555]

Would be interested to follow along if you want to update with a status...? What is your QT protocal? How is he responding? How are your other fish in DT?

Neptune

 

[MrTuskfish]

Thank you. I was able to get them out without moving all my rock. Thanks guys

I hate to give you the bad news; but your whole tank has ich , not just the fish showing spots. This is why Snorvich advised reading the ich stickies. The parasite probably came along with the last fish. I assume that fish wasn't quarantined. All of your fish now need to be quarantined and treated in a separate tank and your main tank left fishless for 10-12 weeks. This can be avoided in the future by quarantining all new fish. Also, garlic does nothing to cure ich and may be harmful when fed over time.

 

[newaquarist]

Another option, one I am considering myself since my tank recently recovered from Ich but I know it's still in there, would be to remove your corals and inverts and dose the tank with chloroquine phosphate for 30 days. That's a one time treatment, then wait a month, run carbon and uv (if you have one) and then start returning corals to the tank. This is NOT a long established protocol but should work and in some cases -- certainly mine -- a hell of a lot easier.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Another option, one I am considering myself since my tank recently recovered from Ich but I know it's still in there, would be to remove your corals and inverts and dose the tank with chloroquine phosphate for 30 days. That's a one time treatment, then wait a month, run carbon and uv (if you have one) and then start returning corals to the tank. This is NOT a long established protocol but should work and in some cases -- certainly mine -- a hell of a lot easier.

I really hesitate to use any meds (except the wormer, Prazi-Pro) in a tank with LR & substrate. There is no way of knowing how much CP those materials will absorb and release; meaning there is no way of knowing if there is a therapeutic level of CP in the water column or remaining in the LR to poison inverts down the road. This is why QT & HT tanks not have these things; just some non-absorbent PVC, etc.

 

[rog2961]

remove all corals and invert and treat with CP. Worked for me, 4 new additions and no signs.

 

[rog2961]

I really hesitate to use any meds (except the wormer, Prazi-Pro) in a tank with LR & substrate. There is no way of knowing how much CP those materials will absorb and release; meaning there is no way of knowing if there is a therapeutic level of CP in the water column or remaining in the LR to poison inverts down the road. This is why QT & HT tanks not have these things; just some non-absorbent PVC, etc.

I saw no release of CP after clearing my system with big water changes, carbon, and skimmer. Atleast none that I can detect. Corals are growing, PE is good, Snails have no issues and Copepod population is there. I'm interested to know if CP caused my pineapple sponge explosion.

 

[Holsteiner]

Ugh! I feel for ya! Our Achilles had ich when we first got him in from the wholesaler, "knock on wood" he's been perfect for the last two years. No new advice to give you other then what you've got. When we were feeding ours while he had it I used selcon, garlic and ginger. Good luck and hopefully he keeps eating for you!

 

[Feelingsalty33]

Thanks guys. I hopefully have it under control now

 

[MrTuskfish]

Thanks guys. I hopefully have it under control now

"Under control" and "eliminated" are two different things. You are not out of the woods just because you don't see spots.

 

[Feelingsalty33]

I never said I was out of the woods I just was saying I got some good advice. Calm down