Just noticed clownfish has ICH

[Mina1227]

I have a 20 long with zoanthids some small filter feeders and ball anemone. Which treatment should I use? Copper or hyposalinity?

Can I use copper in my tank or should I put it in a hospital tank? Will copper kill snails crabs star fish?

Can someone please give me steps with how long of how to treat?

 

[Mrscribbled]

No effective ich treatment can be used in a reef tank. Copper will kill all coral and inverts. You'll need to remove all fish into a hospital tank. Bare bottom, no liverock either since it will absorb copper and make treating difficult. The main thing is to have some sort of established bio filter in QT. If you have any non aragonite filtration media in the display tank, this can be used, otherwise Instant ocean bio-spira works great.

The display tank will need to be left fishless for twelve weeks so the ich can run through all life cycles and die off. There are stickies above with great info. Also; copper will give false ammonia readings on most test kits, an ammonia alert badge works well.

 

[Mrscribbled]

Dbl post

 

[Mina1227]

I have just watched a YouTube video that says increase temp. To 82-85 and add table salt (not marine salt) for a week.

Is that right? If yes how do I add the table salt to fresh water or to salted aquarium water?

 

[Mrscribbled]

Mmm no, this only works on fresh water ich (totally different than marine ich) the only proven methods to treat ich are; copper, tank transfer, hypo (becoming less effective due to resistant strains and maintaining consistant s.g.) and cloroquine phosphate/quinine sulfate. All these will kill inverts. Please read through the stickies above so you understand the lifecycle of ich.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I have just watched a YouTube video that says increase temp. To 82-85 and add table salt (not marine salt) for a week.

Is that right? If yes how do I add the table salt to fresh water or to salted aquarium water?

This is a FW method. MrScribbled gave you the best solution in post #2 above. There simply isn't an easier way.

 

[Mina1227]

So I started to raise my temp to 80 last night and 82 when I left this morning. I noticed less white spots this morning and now there is no white spots. I see white tiny stuff moving on the glass. Can anyone relate to this? If I keep this up for a week or two will this get rid of ich!

 

[Mrscribbled]

You didn't read up on the lifecycle did you? The parasite will attach to the fish, fall off as a cyst then rupture into hundreds more parasites. Marine ich can survive temps beyond 100 degrees. What you are seeing on the glass is amphipods. Harmless and good to have.

 

[Mina1227]

No, not yet. Is that the one names "Fallow period for cryptocaryon irritans (ich)"?

 

[Mrscribbled]

The "intresting facts" one. Please read then check back in.

 

[Mina1227]

Just read it. I set up a 10 gallon as a hospital tank bare bottom. I'll add the bacteria and I'll put my two clown fish in there then I'll treat them with copper.

So it's a good idea to transfer them now when they don't have any spots on them right? Also can anyone recommend a good copper medicine?

 

[Mrscribbled]

Yes, the sooner you move them the better. Pvc elbows work good for hiding spots. Are you using a power filter or sponge filter?

Cupramine is a great copper product.

 

[Mina1227]

I have an overhead filter that I use carbon cartridge in, but I'll remove the pad and put a sponge where the water enters.

 

[Mina1227]

Should I put them in and add medicine or should I wait till I see white spots?

 

[Mrscribbled]

Get tank set up and running, add bio spira, add fish, wait 24 hours then do first dose of copper. Aim for .4ppm copper over the course of 6 days. Directions on bottle say to do two doses, I prefer stretching it out to three or four.

 

[Mina1227]

Thank you so much! Last I remember I fed them frozen mysis shrimp but there was a some that wasn't eaten. I assumed they will eat it but I guess that boosted up my ammonia and that's how the ich started.

 

[Mrscribbled]

Feed very lightly in QT, most likely ich was introduced on a coral or invert if not the fish themselves.

Good luck!