Ich Treatment Help

[DDon]

Hi all,

I recently ended up with ich in my 240 gallon mixed reef. This was an established tank I had purchased though half the rock and most of the corals were gone and then completed with a 27 gallon bow front I already had. So not sure if ich was already in the tank as there were a few fish included or if I caused it myself for trusting that a fish I purchased had already been quarantined and treated. Doesn't really matter as it is there now and I need to treat for it.

My question is with the stock I have, which is the best treatment method. Stock includes: Powder Blue Tang, Lavender Tang, Lieutenant Tang, Moorish Idol, Clown, 5 Bartlett's Anthias, Yellow Tail Damsel, Blue Fin Damsel (will be going bye bye), 6 Line Wrasse, Starry Blenny, Yellow Watchmen Goby and unknown type of Blenny. I have a 20 long for a QT but plan on setting my 72 gallon back up to QT until the display tank is ready. I am leaning towards the tank transfer method and utilizing a couple of large (40 gallon I believe) rubbermaid containers. Is tank transfer effective if done correctly or is it better to just use a copper treatment? I would appreciate your thoughts on which method is best and has least impact on the fish (not sure if any of these are copper sensitive). Also would appreciate any feedback on size of temporary tanks and if I can expect increased aggression in the smaller 72 gallon QT tank. Everyone gets along well even with the 3 Acanthurus tangs. I can utilize the 20 long to house some fish if needed. The fish I'm most concerned with impacting is the Moorish Idol. He is eating well and seems to be healthy so don't want to upset things too much.

Attached is a pic of the tank.

 

[HumbleFish]

TT would probably be best; but the problem with using rubbermaid containers is you really can't see how the fish are doing. For example, if a secondary infection sets in.

All the fish you listed are good candidates for copper i.e. Cupramine treatment, but I don't know about the Moorish Idol. Never used copper on one of those, just Chloroquine phosphate. Which would be your best bet IMO if you could get a vet to write a script and get it filled at a local pharmacy.

 

[DDon]

Thank you for taking the time to reply.
I am not very familiar with using Chloroquine Phosphate as most of my research has been around copper, hypo and tank transfer. I have seen a few threads on it but not a lot of detail. Could you provide details and any good reads on it's use? I assume you are recommending the use if CP because of the Idol? I do not have a vet I use in the area, are most willing to prescribe with an explanation?

Thanks,
Dale

 

[HumbleFish]

Below are two good threads on CP. I've been using it for a few years now in QT and have had amazing results. The problem is it is an FDA controlled substance, so many vets are reluctant to write a script for it. Be sure to only use 99% pure pharmaceutical grade CP, as some people on ebay and even some companies are selling stuff laced with fillers. IME it works just as good as copper (if not better); but without all the nasty side effects.

I QT'd the MI currently in my DT using CP, and he did great in it. No appetite suppression whatsoever.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2136214

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2397496

 

[DDon]

Thanks. I searched for threads and have been reading through some. I will check out the threads you linked tonight when I get home from work.

 

[DDon]

I sincerely appreciate your input on this HumbleFish but with the difficulty obtaining CP and potential risk to 6 Line Wrasse (from the threads you linked) I am going to try tank transfer. I will use a couple of 20 longs vs. the rubbermaid containers and just do the fish in shifts. I sure don't look forward to trying to catch the fish out of the display tank. Can I assume the stock I have will be ok in a 72 gallon tank for the 9 weeks the display needs to sit fallow?

 

[HumbleFish]

Can I assume the stock I have will be ok in a 72 gallon tank for the 9 weeks the display needs to sit fallow?

Bioload wise, yes (although you will still need to do WCs to keep the ammonia down). You could "seed" some bio media with something like Bio-spira once the fish are in the 72 to help with the ammonia.

However, I would be concerned about aggression with the tangs. Buy lots of PVC elbows for them to "stake out" and hide in.

 

[DDon]

I am concerned about that as well. If things start getting rough I will move one of the tangs into another tank.

Thanks for the help,
Dale