It sure likes like it to me.
There are exactly ZERO reef safe treatments for Ich. None. You choices are, in my order of preference, Tank Transfer Method (TTM), then Chloroquine Phosphate (CP), then Hyposalinity, and then, way down on the list, Copper.
All require the use of a hospital tank or tanks.
TTM is the least stressful to the fish and is 100% effective if done properly. It works because it disrupts the life cycle of the Ich parasite. It does require at least 2 separate tanks that need to be sterilized between uses. A simple cleaning with bleach and allowing it to dry will do the trick. Depending on fish size and number, it can easily be carried out in 5g buckets with a couple heaters and air stones (dispose of the airstones after use).
CP will work just fine, but requires proper dosing.
Hyposalinity can work, but MUST be carefully monitored for the duration of the treatment. Any slight rise in the salinity will reset the timeclock on the treatment.
Although copper has been around for decades, it it TOXIC to all inhabitants. The trick is to maintain a proper dosage that is just below the lethal range for the fish while being above the lethal range for the parasite. An added problem is that many fish will not tolerate copper well, if at all.
Regardless of your treatment plan, ALL fish in the tank MUST be treated at the same time while the DT remains fallow (fishless) for a minimum of 72 days. Leaving any in the DT will allow the Ich parasite to have an intermediate host even if the fish appears to be asymptomatic (Ich free)
jm.02
