Oh no...not another ich question!

[fisheze]

$#^@*! I've got ich!

It was noticable in a royal gramma and a bristletooth tang. I noticed it last Saturday night - rushed out Sunday and bought a UV sterilizer, Kick Ich and started working to treat the reef tank.

I managed to catch the tang out of the reef tank. (couldn't get the royal gramma) I set up and old hexagon tank as a hopsital tank. I gave the tang a freshwater dip and put him in the hexagon tank with coppersafe treatment. I'm adding Immuno-Vital-Marine to this tank and the reef. Also adding Garlic Extreme to all food.

1 week later:
The tang appears to be much better. He's eating very well and his color has returned. He still appears to be 'dusty' but much better than before.

Now back to the reef tank. Royal Gramma is still hanging in there. He looks better - still eating well. The other fish in the tank consists of: Six Line Wrasse, Diamond Watchman Goby and a Bi-Color Blennie. All of these appear to be ok. No visible signs of ich.

My question:
When is it 'safe' to put the tang back into the reef? Can I return him to the reef now since the reef tank has already been exposed to ich anyway?

Why the rush? My hospital tank has sprung a slow leak! (When do the problems end???)

I appreciate any advice.

 

[Sk8r]

I'd say continue the treatment, and plug the leak as best you can with some IC-Gel. He'll relapse, more than likely, just in the stress of the transfer. Tangs are prone to die of this pest, and he is much more in danger than your other fish.

 

[BTTRFLYGRL]

So you treat him and then place him back into an ich infested tank You need to remove and treat all the fish and leave your main fallow for at least 6 weeks.

 

[fisheze]

Yea - I've decided to replace the leaking hospital tank so that I can continue the treatment.
It's not easy catching these small fish out of a reef tank - but I'm still trying!

 

[Sk8r]

Try a lightning-fast pumpout to a safe container: the fish will gather in the lowest spot in the sand. Control where that is, and you can net them with no problem.
Pump your water back in. If your corals are exposed to the air, no fuss if less than 5 minutes. Tree sponge is a problem and should be protected by being lifted out in a bag.

Note: the fish remaining in your tank are ich-resistent. Blennies and gobies almost never get it, and I've never seen a wrasse with it. The greatest problem is the tang, who will almost certainly get it again if it's anywhere to be had. You could pretty well ignore the ich and carry on, but with him---you haven't much choice but cure the whole tank. And beware of putting any new fish into a tank where there are tangs: you have to qt, or you could be importing it all over again.