Ich question

[brett559]

My blue tang may have ich. I've had him for about 8 months, he's about 3.5 inches long. You wouldn't know anything is wrong with him - he's eating great, swimming fine, no weird behavior. But I'm seeing small bumps on his torso. The bumps aren't noticeable from even a few feet away, but if you look close, they are there.

I'm not really sure what could have caused it. I haven't added any fish for quite a while and I'm keeping up on my maintenance (25% water change every two weeks, cleaning skimmer cup, etc.). I have a simple system - no reactors, UV or anything like that. Just a skimmer, LR and a chaeto fuge.

Local reefers have said this time of year ich symptoms increase as the temperatures fluctuate - my tank stays between 77 and 79 - and it rarely gets to 79.

I tested my water last night:
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5

I did have to add a new powerhead last week, but it was the same kind I had before Jebao WP40.

I know tangs are prone to ich, and blue tangs more than most tangs. So if it is ich, what do I do? It would be tough to get him out - I've removed fish 3 or 4 times over the last year with a fish trap and the blue tang has never gone near the trap. I don't want to stress him out more. I've been told that fish can pull through provided they keep eating. I feed Ocean Nutrition pellets in the afternoon, and PE mysis and pellets in the evening. I feed nori 3x a week. My thought would be to feed nori daily for a while to help boost his immune system. Some say raise the tank temp?

No other fish are showing signs of stress or ich. And even the blue tang looks fine. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Maxxingout]

Sorry to hear about your sick fish. I think you might get better service if this was posted in the disease section.

I will add that it does not seem like you QT'd the fish 1st? If it is truly ich, even though the other fish are not showing symptoms, they have or will get it not questions asked.

You really need to get all fish out (if it is ich) and let the tank go fallow for 72-75 days. You can also treat with CP but this has it's own ups and downs depending on what type of display you've got.

Here is some readying for you on that http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2397496

 

[Dmorty217]

Can you take a picture and post it? Also if you have just blue lights you can turn on, if it is ich then the fish will glow with speckles all over him.

 

[brett559]

I'll try. Again, it's tough to see unless you are right up close. It's not the film or fuzzy looking stuff. Just little spots. Good idea about the blues. I'll check when I get home from work.

Thanks.