is it true that you can maintain ich free tank for many many years?

[reg828]

is it true that you can maintain ich free tank for many many years?

 

[MiddletonMark]

Yes. Many folks QT [quarantine] new arrivals to be sure they don't introduce Ich to the tank.

Add to that, given most fish can live many years - once stable and set up, there's no reason to have to add new fish after a while, except for very rarely.

 

[eckrynock]

Yes, don't buy any tangs!

Actually, the ich parasite does have a life cycle. If all fish are quarantined for the proper time before being added to the main display, it is possible to have an ich free system.

 

[MiddletonMark]

Here's part 1 of a good article on Ich:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-08/sp/index.php

 

[Lizard333]

As long as you keep the conditions in the tank good and keep you rfish happy and not stressed you may never ever see an outbrake of ICH. Just be religous about taking good care of your tank and you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[jgoodrich71]

IMO, the way to have an ick free tank is to have a tank full of healthy fish. I am one of those that does not quarantine all my new fish. But, I also hardy ever buy new fish. The times I have had ick in my tank, it was only on the new addition, and that cleared up on its own, without having to treat or medicate. The secret is having healthy nonstressed fish in a mature tank.

 

[stevebydac]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6746467#post6746467 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jgoodrich71
IMO, the way to have an ick free tank is to have a tank full of healthy fish. I am one of those that does not quarantine all my new fish. But, I also hardy ever buy new fish. The times I have had ick in my tank, it was only on the new addition, and that cleared up on its own, without having to treat or medicate. The secret is having healthy nonstressed fish in a mature tank.

I understand your point, as I have not QT'd a few of my larger fish over the years. You take an educated and calculated gamble based upon your lengthy experience. I'll hypo what I believe is a very healthy fish instead on occasion.

But I'd advise EVERY newbie with under 5 years experience to quarantine EVERY new fish. Not doing so can lead to a tank wipeout. A newer aquarist doesn't see the signs of illness as quickly, and a delay of even a few hours in treatment can end in death.

 

[jgoodrich71]

Yes, I will always recommend QT for anybody. Do I do it? Rarely. I guess my point was that as you gain experience with what to look for, and as your tank becomes more established (several years) with fish that are happy and healthy, ick becomes much less of a concern.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

6+ years with my one tank, I have never QTed and I think I only had one fish get ich, didn't affect any of the other fish in teh tank.

My key, or rather my thoughts are this, be pickey about the fish you get. Watch them closely before you buy. Give them a good stable home to live in and keep them healthy. Don't stress them out. It seems to have worked for me.

So far with my new tank, even though it's only been about 8 months since I got it, but I haven't had a problem there either. The new tank does run UV and ozone though so that may help some. Plus it was a well established system when I bought it, 3 years +.

 

[RandyP]

Never had a break out of any disease in my main tank ever...

 

[slb11106]

does anyone have any pics of ICH ?

 

[mike89t]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6748418#post6748418 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by slb11106
does anyone have any pics of ICH ?

I QT everything. So far I've had 2 fish that appeared healthy come down with a serious case if Ich about a week after being in my QT. To date I've never had an outbreak in my main display.