Ich - is it just about EVERYWHERE and in EVERYONE's tank to some extent?

[MikeD]

Okay, so what I'm guessing is that ich is everywhere. Even in what you think is a 'clean' tank. The only other tank that I think could be ich 'free' is a q-tank after treatment or a tank that has been without fish for some time. What do you think?

Does this scenario sound right? I get a fish, let's say a tang of some sort. I treat it in hyposalinity until the ich is gone (6 weeks or so). Let's also assume that there is really no ich. We transfer it to our tank that has been empty for a month or so. All in all, there should be no ich. However, everytime that we also add in corals or a crab, or whatever into the tank, there could be ich in that or attached / embeded in rock etc. HOWEVER, because the fish that was just added in the tank was as 'strong' as could be and is now in an established aquarium, it can essentially fight off the ich in the tank and remain healthy. So, even if you think your reef is ich free, if you add corals etc, isn't it more likely that you have some form of ich in your tank? I don't know, this is just a guess. Unless we QT our corals as well for 6 weeks to make sure all traces of ich or gone (since there are no fish in your 'coral QT Tank'.

 

[Hattie B]

Your right about the last statement; QT all things wet and you can have an ich free tank.

I am leaning to the side that most people dont QT new additions (fish) let alone corals (not all but I am assuming most). However, if you do you will have essentially a worry free system.

I know many people who do QT everything, myslef included.

From QT fish, I have avoided all sorts of nasty parasites in my main tanks.

For corals, I have avoided, red bugs, flat worms, nudi's on zoas, some pest crabs just to name a few.

If you get into the habit of using a QT for everything you will most likly not have to deal with much of anything..

 

[MikeD]

So do you have your zoos growing / QT'd in a separate coral tank before going into your main tank too?

Also, if you QT a fish like a tang (assuming it is healthy and no signs of ich on it after 6 weeks) and put it into a clean system, does that mean that there is no chance then that the tang can get ich because there essentially is no ich to get even though it was 'stressed out' from the move?

 

[Hattie B]

Yes, I have a 10g QT tank for all my corals. Its basic, just some egg crate, and a light, its set all the time so I don't worry about new cycles or anything.

If your tank is ich free to begin with and you QT a new fish and it does not have ich then the assumption would be that he would not get ich as there is no ich in the system; hence there are no parasites to begin with.

I put all my rock in my tank when I started m larger tank, in August. The tank then sat there unilt December running with nothing in it beside the rocks. I had a clean up crew in Qt then I added them. Then when I started picking fish, I knew I wanted a puffer and a sand sifter, a tang esc... It took months actually over a year to find the puffer I wanted and it was a juvi- very small about the size of a ping pong ball, would fit on top of a powerhead.

After I got him, I put him in QT until he was able to eat prepared food and I could deworm. Then he went into the tank.

I did this with all the fish I have had and have never had any ich or anything in the main tank as far as parasites go.

Of course, I am not perfect and I once purchased a 6g tank and some gsp. I put the gsp into the tank, after the cycle and whanot and to this day am cursed with the aptisa, all because I did not QT that one coral. The tank is for GSP and some acans not anything else, but if I would have done my normal thing I would not have it.. Only takes once..

 

[MikeD]

I heard aiptasia can live throughout a QT process in coral rock or even a frag plug... Hidden way deep inside...