My First Bought With Ick

[krzyphsygy]

Been in the hobby for about 4 years and out of it for the last 3 years. I was pretty methodical in my fish selection process in the first 4 years as I learned more on this forum, but I slipped big time this time around. I set up a small 10 gallon and cycled the tank with 15lbs of rock and tested until my cycle was complete. Added a few crabs and snails and then added a tank raised clown. The clown was fine and in the tank alone and seemed lethargic most of the time. I thought it was because he was alone in the tank. I saw his demise comming because he was eating much. He was alone for about another week before I decided to add him a friend. I bought anonther tank raised clown and as soon as The bag hit the tank, the other clown came right over to him. Once I released him into the tank, they were like peas and carrots instantly and the first clown came out and started to thrive. 2 weeks later I noticed white spots on the new clown. ( 1st mistake, no QT). The next day, the white spots disappeared and I thought that due to a water change that I did where I blew the rocks and debree flew everywhere, maybe those spots were detritus that attached to his skin and thats why a day or two later they were gone. Well now both fish have this and are hidding. I have plans on setting up a 90 with all new everything so essentially I could make this a hospo tank but not sure how I should treat. I only have this tank and dont want to move.

Should I remove the inverts and snails and treat with copper?
Should I remove the Live rock?
Should I do Hypo and to what SG and Temp??
Not sure how to handle this. I have read all the threads, but still unsure. This is a display tank, but in a month, I will have my large tank set up, so I can do what I want with this one.
Suggestions please??

Thanks

 

[Sk8r]

Remove all live rock and sand to buckets, and prepare to keep it there, aerated, for 12 weeks: the parasite is now in the sand and rock. In 12 weeks it will starve out and your rock and sand will be ok.

OR...you can remove the fish to a bucket with a filter and heater, and drop the salinity over 24 hours to hypo: precise instructions are given in the stickies of the FIsh Disease Forum. Temp 80.

I'd opt for #2. Draw a line on the bucket for a topoff mark, and get a refractometer: for hypo to work, you have to have a PRECISE and STEADY reading, ideally with an autotopoff connected to the qt tank. If you let the salinity rise, you favor the parasite: if you let the salinity drop, you kill the fish. It's not easy to do, but is easier on the fish than copper, which depresses appetite. Get an ammonia badge, too. Proper white poly buckets can be had for cheap at Lowe's, paint dept: must be white, not metal-colored.

 

[krzyphsygy]

What happens if I go hypo with out removing rock or sand, I guess I will kill all the bactera right? Well when I bring it back up will the tank and fish survive on what bacteria is left? What If I continued to boost with Stability during the process?

 

[krzyphsygy]

Just lost the first clown....sucks

 

[angelfish7]

Since you're going to start fresh in a month in your new DT anyway, i would just get the snails out and treat the tank with cuppramine. This way your ridding the parasite from your fish and tank all at once. I believe copper kills off ich faster than hypo plus some strains of ich are resistant to hypo.

 

[krzyphsygy]

Lost the other clown an hour later...

 

[sandwi54]

i'm sorry for your loss, but this should be a lesson to always QT new fish and treat prophylactically. you simply don't want to take chances like this and ruin a display tank.

 

[krzyphsygy]

Oh yea, def lesson. Thanks for reminding me! I have been out of the hobby for the last 3 years and lost my edge in picking healthy fish. The 4 years in the hobby, I have had 4 SW tanks and and never ick with any fish I purchased. The was the first time. I guess there is a first time for everything. Hopfully wont happen again..

Thats enough for me QT wil be up and running 24/7 going forward.