please help ASAP. ICH

[alexk3954]

I got home from school and could not find my clown anywhere. I checked the overflow and there he was. I put him back in the main display and tonight when I fed I saw ich on him. I did water tests just now

ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 0
pH 8.2
temp 84
alkalinity 7dkh
cal 400

Everything seems normal. This is so discouraging because I try to keep my tanks so healthy and I have every type of coral, SPS are even thriving in my tank, but the water levels are too stressful for a clownfish? Or could it be stress from his trip? He is very active, and looks healthy. What should I do?

 

[93blackgt5.0]

Add some garlic to the food and make sure he is fed. A cleaner shrimp or wrass might help.

Eric

 

[saltycreefer]

I like this stuff marine max made by tropical science labs.
It boosts up the fish's immunity and it usually clears ich on my fish in 3 days tops.

 

[alexk3954]

I will try feeding some garlic soaked food. I have a cleaner shrimp, so hopefully the clown will find him. Thanks for the help. How long should it take for the ich to clear? What do you think the cause was?

 

[drummereef]

Definitely stress is to blame for the ich. Probably not a good day for the little guy and he got stressed. The alk might be a little on the low side. I'd try to get it up to at least 9dkh to avoid harsh pH swing. Also make sure the temp isn't swinging too much. That was the major cause of ich in my tank a while ago. Once I got that in check everything cured itself. I'm sure he'll be back to normal if given the proper conditions.

 

[robs5134]

Aside from all those band-aids, I would set up a small QT and remove all fish to the QT. Slowly lower the salinity to 1.008 and hold there for 6-8 weeks, then slowly raise the salinity and return to the display tank. It's really a simple process. No skimmer is needed if frequent small water changes are done. Anything else is just a temporary fix.

 

[boxfishpooalot]

aside from all your other parameters, whats you salinity? And what device do you use?

I think maybee a salinity imbalance.

 

[alexk3954]

I use a refractometer and the salinity is 1.025. I will try raising that alkalinity too. I do not have any tanks that I coud set up a qt in. Thanks for all of the help guys.

 

[boxfishpooalot]

I find some of my sensitive fish will only start to scratch when the salinity is lowered. Most marine fish have adapted to live in an enviroment of 1.026 for millions of years. Anything lower is unnatural. IMO.

I would raise the salinity and keep it there

 

[alexk3954]

i'll try raising my salinity then. 1.024 is just how my tank started and I always thought that was a good level, so I kept it stable there. I'll see how my tank likes 1.026 as I raise it in the next week or two. The ich does seem to be receding a little already