Ich strikes in our display

[jeffbrig]

Despite our almost religious QT efforts, we've managed to introduce ich into our display. I can't tell you how frustrating this is after all of the effort (and patience) that has gone into QTing all of our fish. We figure we either introduced it with a mandarin that we QT'd using the tank transfer method, or an ich cyst hitchhiked in on the rock base of an acro colony. We QT most corals to guard against this, but not acros because our QT wasn't well suited to keeping them alive (we'll be addressing that with a new coral QT system very soon).

The ich is clearly evident on our achilles, PBT, and purple tangs. While I don't think they are in immediate danger just yet (knock on wood), we're weighing our options for how we want to treat the system. We're pretty sure we're going to need another fairly large tank to house either all of the fish, or all of the LR/corals while we go fallow and use copper or hypo. I don't think our 55g QT is big enough to house all of our fish (and tangs), plus it's already holding a batch of new fish in the middle of their own hyposalinity treatment.

So, we're going to need to set up another QT, and a big one at that. Probably something between 75 (4 foot) and 125g (6 foot, better for active tangs). Does anyone have a tank sitting around collecting dust that we could rent/buy/borrow for a couple of months?

Oh, and Manny, if you happen to read this, I'd like to talk to you about possibly building an acrylic skimmer body for us. I have a few recirculating needlewheel pumps that I may be able to put to good use on a larger QT system.

As we make decisions, I'll be posting more of what we might need to see if anyone has spare equipment we can borrow or purchase.

 

[ReefWreak]

Good luck treating! That's too bad that you're beautiful fish are not doing well....

 

[jeffbrig]

It's more frustrating than anything. We put so much effort into QTing, and it's a real exercise in patience when nothing you buy can ever immediately go into the tank. To screw up like this and end up with it anyhow is pretty devastating, but we'll work through it.

 

[Rogger Castells]

I bet you I can cure it in less than a week just by feeding the correct food

 

[jeffbrig]

I'm already feeding the "correct" food. Chopped fish/clams/scallops/squid/shrimp plus garlic, selcon, nori, cyclopeeze, etc. I've fed this blend for more than a year. Didn't prevent them from catching ich, though.

I have no doubt that these will fall off and the fish will look "cured" in a week. That's the nature of the parasite. It's the next round that concerns me. I'm not content to sit back with a parasite in the tank that can explode at the first sign of change or stress and potentially kill one of my fish.

 

[gasman059]

lol funny I was talking to Roger bout this yesterday I have some in my tank-all my tangs as well as angel.Jeff all is well your tank is well established. Try to feed some garlic mix and get some cleaners and cleaner wrasess. I will be so difficult to erradicate your tank. Besides starting form scracth that IMO is not worth it. Just get your fish a healthier immune system so they can fight it ,
Food is IMO what helps the most.
I have a UV that i think helps 2.

 

[Speckled Grouper]

I have 2 yellowbelly hippos, 1 naso, 1 yellow, 1 powder blue and 1 mimic. None of my fish ever went through any QT.

I have seen a white spot here and there on the hippos and the PBT, never on any of the others. It usually disappears after 1 day and won't be seen again for months.

My theory is, the healthier the fish, the quicker they "shake it off",
And I contribute their good health to the following:

Nori sprinkled with Garlic Extreme nightly.
Mysis shrimp sprinkled with Garlic and Vitamins almost every night, blender mush with fresh garlic twice a week. I also feed live brine that are gut loaded with Selcon, frequently.
A cleaner wrasse (african only), I don't care what other people say, but that guy works!
Two cleaner shrimp.

 

[gasman059]

A cleaner wrasse (african only), I don't care what other people say, but that guy works!

Agree

 

[Rogger Castells]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9478517#post9478517 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeffbrig
I'm already feeding the "correct" food. Chopped fish/clams/scallops/squid/shrimp plus garlic, selcon, nori, cyclopeeze, etc. I've fed this blend for more than a year. Didn't prevent them from catching ich, though.

I have no doubt that these will fall off and the fish will look "cured" in a week. That's the nature of the parasite. It's the next round that concerns me. I'm not content to sit back with a parasite in the tank that can explode at the first sign of change or stress and potentially kill one of my fish.

I hear you, Good luck with the treatment!

 

[newreefbishop]

Well I battled this about the third month into my tank....

I found that the proper food has a dramatic effect as I dont have a quarantine, and me cleaner works his butt off. I think a combination of proper food is the key....

Rogger why is there always a debate on how to treat this thing, and with all this science lol why hasnt man kind come up with a pill for this too......

 

[nyvp]

Jeff if you need any space my tank is yours

 

[instrance]

If you need I can lend you my qt tank. Its only a 10 gallon maybe you can use it to put your smaller fish in there. I know its not much. If you need it let me know.

 

[Lacy]

Ich strikes in our display

Hi,
I dont have an empty tank yet, but in about 2-3 weeks we should have the 130 gal empty. I dont know if you can wait that long.
Renee

 

[Scratch-D]

I have successfully used a cleaner shrimp before to clean up this problem. Cleaner shrimp ROX!

 

[Miamireefer]

Jeff...I am pretty sure your fish will be fine... Just keep an eye on any secondary infections they can contract...thats what usually does the fish in imo....my tank has ich as well although being established and the fish not being in any stress allows them to just come and go with no ill effect... good luck man..

Nick

 

[Miamireefer]

Jeff..I also haver a 46bowfront that I am breaking down...all it has is sand.....if you need to use it by all means let me know....with your 55 and 46 you might be able to pull it off??

again let me know. 786-499-0571


Nick

 

[jeffbrig]

Thanks for the offer Nick, but I'm going to have to pass on the 46. The problem I have is that I'd like to keep the 4 tangs together so I won't have issues with aggression when reintroducing them. But, we'll need a long tank so they'll have enough swimming length without killing each other.

Christy found someone clearing out some used 75g tanks. We may go for one of those, but we're still hoping for a tank that's 72" long.

 

[heuerfan]

Sitting back and hoping did not help me

Sitting back and hoping did not help me

I had 7 very healthy fairy wrasses in a 72 gallon, then upgraded to 125. Nothing new added but live rock.


2 months after i upgraded to the 125 the 7 wrasses broke out with ich. They all ate very well and acted normally. I stepped up my feeding and waterchange regiment and soaked all foods in garlic, selcon, vitachem, beta glucan, etc... This went on for almost 3 weeks, the spots would come and go on some of the wrasses, some worst than others.

Just last week i lost a 4" flame wrasse, he just died all of the sudden, found him with all his scales raised.

Just last night, my prized 5" lineatus who was super fat and hardy died due to wounds all over his body that happened overnight. Secondary bacteria infection.

Now i am kicking myself in the head for not taking action, my wrasses were super healthy but the ich got to them.

Just wanted to post this info because i too thought my wrasses would ride it out........

Again good luck with this enormous task you have,
Steven

 

[FleeVT]

Reading up, absorbing as much as I can before I take the plunge. Good luck fighting the ich.

I have to ask:
These used 75g tanks being clear out. Any reef ready and any for sale?

 

[jeffbrig]

FleeVT, I'll let you know after I have my pick of them.