Guys, I just wanted to share my experience with you.
I went through battle with Ich in my reef tank since Sep. I brought ich to my mature 3 years old tank with new addition of Pyramid Butterflyfish. Outbreak was heavy and in total I lost 3 Pyramids, 1 Copperband, 2 Genicanthus. As I have full growth SPS tank I decided to go for management as I have no option for treatment tank and catching all fish without devastating corals.
Following measures has been applied at first stage: UV, garlic and vitamins. As the result most of the fish like Anthias and Yellow tangs, Naso, Blue tang get rid of ich and I did not see single spot on them since then. Things looked bad at Brown Powder Tang and Regal Angelfish (both more than 2 years in my tank). Powder was heavily infected but fighting hard - eating well and remaining active and looking fat. Regal looked terribly and I though he was dying as infection went to his gills and fish stayed in strong water pump current having difficulty with breathing.
Second stage: I have read some texts here and applied H2O2 dosing. In order to not shock reef inhabitants I went slow and started with 30ml in first week ramping up to around 140ml in week 8. I can not say many good things about this treatment beside the fact that Regal made it trough and is clean since 2 months however I am not sure it is thanks to this treatment. Brown Powder Tang remained infected. Down side of of H2o2 - it has impact on bacteria and caused nitrate growth (growth - not spike) and eventually killed half of my shrimp population. Side effect on shrimps was easy to notice from the beginning - their activity has slow down significantly.
Overall tank condition was good and and no negative effects on corals observed. All fish clean, just Blue Powder has some spots.
After that I decided to add one Angelfish from certain source - I know it was not good idea from Ich standpoint but considering stable situation in tank and fact that H2O2 was dosed I though I will take the risk thinking that free swimming ich will be oxidised by H2O2. After 3 days Angelfish look terribly bad - spots everywhere. After that I am full of doubts about H2O2 cure effectiveness.
Third stage: I decided to give a try with relatively new "Bluichtiof" specific manufactured by polish company Reef Scorpionfish. From what I read on product description it is not designed for eradication but management however it is rather closer oto the first one. Cure has 2 specifics - one added to food (guess these are vitamins to boost immune fish) and second is added to water and it is acting on Ich free swimming stage. What I read it is based on Iodium and Silver and do not contain copper. Treatment last 10 days and medication remain in the tank for at least month after that. No additional husbandry required, no problem with skimmer and biologic filters.
I have finished treatment 2 days ago: effects are very encouraging. No side effects noticed (perhaps slight cyano pop-up) . Corals and inverts are ok. Difference on fish is obvious. I think it was worth to try and will keep you updated how the things are going. I know how hard it is to fight Ich off in display and perhaps we have step forward here with this cure.
I went through battle with Ich in my reef tank since Sep. I brought ich to my mature 3 years old tank with new addition of Pyramid Butterflyfish. Outbreak was heavy and in total I lost 3 Pyramids, 1 Copperband, 2 Genicanthus. As I have full growth SPS tank I decided to go for management as I have no option for treatment tank and catching all fish without devastating corals.
Following measures has been applied at first stage: UV, garlic and vitamins. As the result most of the fish like Anthias and Yellow tangs, Naso, Blue tang get rid of ich and I did not see single spot on them since then. Things looked bad at Brown Powder Tang and Regal Angelfish (both more than 2 years in my tank). Powder was heavily infected but fighting hard - eating well and remaining active and looking fat. Regal looked terribly and I though he was dying as infection went to his gills and fish stayed in strong water pump current having difficulty with breathing.
Second stage: I have read some texts here and applied H2O2 dosing. In order to not shock reef inhabitants I went slow and started with 30ml in first week ramping up to around 140ml in week 8. I can not say many good things about this treatment beside the fact that Regal made it trough and is clean since 2 months however I am not sure it is thanks to this treatment. Brown Powder Tang remained infected. Down side of of H2o2 - it has impact on bacteria and caused nitrate growth (growth - not spike) and eventually killed half of my shrimp population. Side effect on shrimps was easy to notice from the beginning - their activity has slow down significantly.
Overall tank condition was good and and no negative effects on corals observed. All fish clean, just Blue Powder has some spots.
After that I decided to add one Angelfish from certain source - I know it was not good idea from Ich standpoint but considering stable situation in tank and fact that H2O2 was dosed I though I will take the risk thinking that free swimming ich will be oxidised by H2O2. After 3 days Angelfish look terribly bad - spots everywhere. After that I am full of doubts about H2O2 cure effectiveness.
Third stage: I decided to give a try with relatively new "Bluichtiof" specific manufactured by polish company Reef Scorpionfish. From what I read on product description it is not designed for eradication but management however it is rather closer oto the first one. Cure has 2 specifics - one added to food (guess these are vitamins to boost immune fish) and second is added to water and it is acting on Ich free swimming stage. What I read it is based on Iodium and Silver and do not contain copper. Treatment last 10 days and medication remain in the tank for at least month after that. No additional husbandry required, no problem with skimmer and biologic filters.
I have finished treatment 2 days ago: effects are very encouraging. No side effects noticed (perhaps slight cyano pop-up) . Corals and inverts are ok. Difference on fish is obvious. I think it was worth to try and will keep you updated how the things are going. I know how hard it is to fight Ich off in display and perhaps we have step forward here with this cure.
