Ich Treatment Opinions

[rdnyva]

With the exception of one small Blue Chromis my fish are in the second week of hyposalinity. I had intended to leave the display fallow but I am unable to catch the Chromis. As soon as I come into the room he dives for the rocks. This Chromis has never shown signs of ich even though all the other fish had the white spots and were flashing. I know the meaning of fallow but there is nothing I can do. If this Chromis were to make it through the 72 day fallow period without showing ich, should I put the other fish back in the display.

 

[Dmorty217]

With the exception of one small Blue Chromis my fish are in the second week of hyposalinity. I had intended to leave the display fallow but I am unable to catch the Chromis. As soon as I come into the room he dives for the rocks. This Chromis has never shown signs of ich even though all the other fish had the white spots and were flashing. I know the meaning of fallow but there is nothing I can do. If this Chromis were to make it through the 72 day fallow period without showing ich, should I put the other fish back in the display.

No, with the fish present in the DT even without showing signs of ich the lifecycle will continue

 

[goliwala]

I am not an expert, have had my tank for only couple of years. One thing I've learned so far is to leave things alone as much as possible. A healthy fish in clean water will fight off ich by itself. Medication and other methods do work but not as good as just letting a fish fight it off. If anything, put vitamin in their food and feed good quality food.

 

[rdnyva]

Dmorty, thanks. I had a feeling you'd say that but had to ask anyway. I dont have a clue how to catch this guy. I have a fish trap and the others were relatively easy to catch. I think he saw his friends disappear one by one, and now he won't even come out to feed if I'm near the tank.

One other question. I'm having a slight ammonia problem in the hypo qt tank which I'm dealing with by water changes but they are hard to keep up with. Is there a med that will neutralize ammonia.

Goliwala - I actually believe as you do but I spent almost a month over feeding with adding garlic and Selcon and was winning for awhile, then it got worse and I started losing fish. That's when I decided to take action.

 

[oseymour]

One other question. I'm having a slight ammonia problem in the hypo qt tank which I'm dealing with by water changes but they are hard to keep up with. Is there a med that will neutralize ammonia.

Try BioSpira or Dr Tims Nitrifying bacteria

 

[gone fishin]

I agree with Dmorty. Try not feeding the fish for a couple days then put some food in the trap, that usually works for me with a stubborn fish. Seachem prime will neutralize the ammonia, do not use with copper medication. Good luck just my 2 cents.

 

[hkgar]

Probably need to remove the rock and even most of the water. Try trapping first but you need to get him out and treated. Don't start treatment on the others til you get this guy.

Search for soda bottle fish trap.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

Best way to catch him is at night.You really need to remove him to stop the ich cycle.

 

[Dmorty217]

You could use any number of ammonia detoxifiers. If you use one just be aware that if you test for ammonia it will still show up, but it is bound chemically to make it non toxic to fish.

 

[rdnyva]

If the ammonia test gives a false reading, how will I know when to add more detoxifier?

 

[andrewkw]

You may be able to get him by simply draining your tank, but given its a chromis it may get stuck in the rock somewhere. If you're at all not 100% happy with aquascape now might be a good time to tear it down.

I had to do the same thing, couldn't catch all my fish. Now 80 something days later they are back in the tank and I am more happy with the aquascape and although I did lose a couple of things my tank is much better positioned for long term success.

 

[Dmorty217]

If the ammonia test gives a false reading, how will I know when to add more detoxifier?

If the ammonia is present and you use the detoxifier, what ammonia is present in the water will be bound but you should also have a tank that far enough along to process the ammonia into nitrite, then to nitrates. With that said in theory the ammonia level should only go down after adding the detoxifier. When I use detoxifier its for TTM so the fish are only in said container for 3 days

 

[gone fishin]

If the ammonia test gives a false reading, how will I know when to add more detoxifier?

Lets say you used Prime by Seachem, well then just by coincidence Seachem makes an ammonia test that works with prime.

 

[rdnyva]

Thanks for a great discussion and some helpful information. Tearing down the tank was not option in my opinion. I have a great aquascape that I really like with multiple 3 and 4 sided caves. I don't think I'd ever get it back together. Just as a coincidence I was able to catch the Chromis last night. I guess it just took time and patience. Now comes a long fishless period for my tank, but my corals are nice to look at too. Thanks all.