I'm not 100% convinced that hypo or copper kills ich completly. I've run copper for months strait at higher than recommended levels and hypo'd for equally as long a very hypo levels. All the while completly emptying the dt. Only with it return. I've also done strick QT on all new arrivals. I've found that good water chemistry an cleaner shrimp/wrasses an keeping stress to a mini seems to eliminate ich problems. Certain fish are just alot more prone to ich, and keeping tangs in small tanks is a sure fire way to see ich blossom.
Other's may disagree with my comments but I'm just sharing my experiances.
Matt
1. Copper is effective. Hyposalinity is less effective due to hyposaline variants of Cryptocaryon.
2. It is physically impossible for cleaner shrimp or fish to remove Crypto from the fish. This would entail puncturing the fish itself.
3. You either dosed ineffectively or failed to quarantine properly.
Well in my opinion a 5 week fallow period is not enough. More like 8 at a minimum most prefer 10 to 12. I would leave things alone, continue to QT and things should be fine.
Agreed regarding 5 weeks. This is generally too short. It's better to think of the entire process mathematically. Each week will remove "x" amount of the threat.
6 to 8 weeks is the general rule of thumb. I've used 7+ and its worked well for what that's worth. Pushing it past 8 weeks is likely to only see aggregate changes in effectiveness IE 99.99999999 %. Fallowing your DT is the most efficient way to resolve the issue however the most you could acquire is the above percentage success rate.
SaltwaterAdict said:
LOL Ich is extremely overrated! Leave your tank alone and let nature take it's course. If you have good waterquality and feeding the fish well then you will see a complete reversal. Most people panick, QT, and then they have nothing but issues. My blue hippo and powderblue will get ich from time to time, but it will quickly go away. Check out my tank through my public profile. I got a ton of fish and will see ich come and go when I add new additions. You will never whip out ich I don't care who you hear this from, it's a complete fallacy. Ich will always be in your system no matter how careful you are with QT, dips, etc. I never dip my fish. It will usually do more harm than good, unless the fish really needs it. If it's a healthy fish, put him right on in!
This is dumb and the equivalent of saying you will never wipe (whip?) out tapeworms from your stomach. Cryptocaryon is a parasite. Without a host, it won't survive. Your mentality is what proliferates the mistreatment and death of marine animals.
Just because you don't physically see the parasite on your fish doesn't mean that it's not currently hosting in your fish's tissues. Since it's not such a big deal, do an autopsy on a marine animal that's died from organ failure or internal hemorhaging and then equate that to one of your animals.
QT tanks are really only for bacterial/fungal infections IMO People usually panick when they see a spot on there fish and go to unnecessary extremes
Good to know that your anecdotal advice somehow overrides every other expert's and accomplished marine biologist's scientifically backed data...
Simply put, quarantine everything prior to putting it into your display tank. If you can prevent a problem, you should do everything in your power to do so.
These aren't a box of Legos that can be replaced, they are animals and as such need to be treated ethically. That is the point of the hobby.