ericwebster
Premium Member
So I'm a newb -- and I have been bitten by the infamous Blue Tang ick bug. There have been lessons learned over the past few weeks. I wanted to share my thoughts, results and see what everybody thinks and ask for any other ideas.
Its a long read, but its a hot button topic. I know there are a few of you out there getting ready to insist on letting the tank go fallow (6 weeks) and treat with the only known cures to ick is hyposalinity and/or medication inside a QT. That to me is a last resort and I am preparing for that. So please, no need to fan those flames. (Still in need of a refractometer if anybody has a good site for one of those)
Up until this week I didn't have a QT tank setup so I introduced a fish into my tank whom had ick. This won't happen again (I swear -- poor little fella) -- I think everyone has to go through this once soo -- cheers to popping my Ick cherry.
I also know that when you are trying to purge a tank of ick I need to let the tank be fish less for 6 weeks.
Two weeks ago I had decided to try "alternative" ick treatments first which included a large water change (~50%), stress relief, neon goby, ick kick, garlic and ginger.
I have "marinading" the fish food in a solution which contained grated garlic, ginger and zoe.
The ick has been cycling on and off the Tang (the only fish affected) but has yet to go completely away.
My tank is in a "high traffic" section of the room and by high traffic I mean my roommate has to walk past the tank (within 2 feet) to get to his bedroom. I think this may be causing the Tang some stress.
I've been thinking about wrapping some sort of blanket/towel around the tank to keep him from bugging out while he is in "stress reduction" time. Anybody ever try this?
This morning the Ick was worse than ever. Maybe about 5-6 cists on bosh sides of his body -- so I am prepared to QT this weekend. But because my tank has 5 damsels in it -- its going to mean a complete tank breakdown. (I hear there buggers to catch)
Is there anything I may have missed in my "alternative" treatment or could be done differently?
I think I read about higher temperatures?
Its a long read, but its a hot button topic. I know there are a few of you out there getting ready to insist on letting the tank go fallow (6 weeks) and treat with the only known cures to ick is hyposalinity and/or medication inside a QT. That to me is a last resort and I am preparing for that. So please, no need to fan those flames. (Still in need of a refractometer if anybody has a good site for one of those)
Up until this week I didn't have a QT tank setup so I introduced a fish into my tank whom had ick. This won't happen again (I swear -- poor little fella) -- I think everyone has to go through this once soo -- cheers to popping my Ick cherry.
I also know that when you are trying to purge a tank of ick I need to let the tank be fish less for 6 weeks.
Two weeks ago I had decided to try "alternative" ick treatments first which included a large water change (~50%), stress relief, neon goby, ick kick, garlic and ginger.
I have "marinading" the fish food in a solution which contained grated garlic, ginger and zoe.
The ick has been cycling on and off the Tang (the only fish affected) but has yet to go completely away.
My tank is in a "high traffic" section of the room and by high traffic I mean my roommate has to walk past the tank (within 2 feet) to get to his bedroom. I think this may be causing the Tang some stress.
I've been thinking about wrapping some sort of blanket/towel around the tank to keep him from bugging out while he is in "stress reduction" time. Anybody ever try this?
This morning the Ick was worse than ever. Maybe about 5-6 cists on bosh sides of his body -- so I am prepared to QT this weekend. But because my tank has 5 damsels in it -- its going to mean a complete tank breakdown. (I hear there buggers to catch)
Is there anything I may have missed in my "alternative" treatment or could be done differently?
I think I read about higher temperatures?