Ick problem

[notorious_reb]

I have a longstanding 125 gallon fish/coral tank. For as long as i can remember Ich has infested the tank. Fortunately, i do frequent water changes so my water quality is relatively high. I rarely add new fish and many of the long lived fish have grown immune to ich (they have survived the initial infections but after two-three life cycles were ich free). The exception is a blue hippo tang that seems to survive with relatively good health through each of the cycles. I have read more threads than i can count about ridding ich from your display tank. The two most supported methods being hyposalinity and moving everything to a QT tank for 6 weeks and leaving the display tank fallow for that time period.
I cannot afford to purchase another tank with the proper filtration, lighting, etc to serve as a QT tank for my stock of fish (my larger fish would require more than a small tank). Hyposalinity in the display tank is impossible due to my coral. I would certainly love to remove this pest once and for all.
I have a question that may be a stupid one, but i was wondering if anyone had any experience or thoughts on the following; if only one of many fish seems to be a host for ich, if you QT that fish for a period of 4-6 weeks with hyposalinity will the ich in the main display tank die? My understanding is that without finding a host ich will die. In that sense, those fish immune will not provide a host to allow the ich to continue its life cycle. If anyone has any thoughts or experience with my question please respond. If anyone has any additional thoughts, please weigh in as well.
Thanks in advance.

 

[RocknReefr]

Well, ich is a free-flowing parasite. This parasite has the ability to remain dorment in the tank-hence the fact that it pops-up periodically. When a fish is stressed or its immunity is weakened, the parasite may appear again. Fish such as Tangs are more prone to this parasite as their skin is really smooth which makes it much easier for this parasite to "stick to them."
A natural way of combatting this parasite would be, thawing the fish food in Garlic Extract (Garlic-x) by Kent. Basically, the fish ingest this and the parasite doesn't want to stick to the fish. Another additive you can use is Marine-Max which is a pro-biotic disease preventative and immune booster. Both of these options are completely reef and invert-safe.
A more permanent option would be to invest in a UV sterilizer. I think a 25watt would be ok. These run around $150 to $200. If you aren't familiar with one of these, it is a quartz-tube which holds a UV-C light. Any water that passes through this UV sterilizer will be remedied. You can hook this up in-line with your return-pump, or as a hang-on option. Another bonus to this UV Sterilizer is water-clarity! Hooray for not having to scrub the tank as much!

 

[notorious_reb]

thanks for the response and advice. I at one time passed my water through a UV sterilizer but decided to remove it. That is an excellent suggestion, i am embarrassed that i hadnt thought of it. I have tried some of the food additives with no success. I even at a time tried ginger which accomplished nothing except making my fish disinterested in their feeding. Your suggestion of marine max sounds encouraging. I may try that. Do you have any first hand experience with that product? If so, was it effective?
I did a google search after my original post and it came up with a product called chem-marin. The premise of this product is that it "tricks" the parasite into binding to a false host, thereby killing it. In addition it enhances the fish's secretion of mucus membrane making it harder for the parasite to attach itself to the fish. It claims to be coral and invert safe. The web sit itself looks a little discomforting. It has an odd looking man in a chemists jacket holding his product. Seems like a home-grown solution from a guy with no affiliation with a company. Needless to say i'm skeptical...but do you or for that matter anyone have any knowledge of this product? I certainly dont want to blindly start putting different products in my tank trying to save one fish when it could compromise everything else in there.
Thanks again for the response.

 

[RocknReefr]

notorious_reb,

I have used this product, as well as MANY of my friends with fish and reef tanks. A lot of people like to use this as a disease preventative, even without any parasite signs. This product is COMPLETELY safe. I know of MANY people who use this product up to three times the recommended dosing with no negative effect. -Not that i'm suggesting you do so.
With the UV Sterilizer, keep in mind that the UV bulb itself will need to be replaced after a year or so of use, so keep that in mind. Now, if the UV works and you opt. to take it out again, the parasite may pop-up again. Constant contact with the light-to-water is the best way for long-term happiness.
Sounds like you have a lot of hardy fish in there. I hope this works out ok for ya!

 

[RocknReefr]

By the way, Marine Max is made by Tropical Science.