puffer with ich

[boozerell]

I have been reading all the information on marine ich and have a couple questions.

My puffer has ick, there is a coral beauty, orchid dotty back and a damsel in the display tank. I was wondering which way would be best to go about the treatment. The display tank has live rock, and sand. I have a 30 gallon tall tank that I could set up, but am concerned about the amount of space for these fish? If I removed the live rock do you think I could treat in the display tank? I was leaning toward the hyposalinity method, but wasn't sure how much die off I'd have from the sand.

The tank is an established tank that has been up for 2 years. I'm really kicking myself over this one. I added the coral beauty a little too soon and believe this is how the ich got in the tank.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Lots of folks on this forum have tried treating the DT; it seem that very few are happy with the results and work involved. There always seem to be snags when this method is used. Your only option is what you don't want to hear. All fish need to be treated in an HT and the DT left fishless for 10+ weeks. You may need a bigger HT, I don't know how you're stocked. Fish can handle being cramped in an HT as long as they have places to hide and ammonia is kept under control. Because puffers don't tolerate copper well; your options are hypo or tank-transfer.

 

[boozerell]

My display tank is a 90 gallon with a refugium.
I have a running 30 gallon that has live rock in it.
I have an empty 30 in the garage.

Livestock:
dogface puffer
coral beauty
yellow tail damsel
orchid dottyback.

I could take the live rock out of the 30 and put into my 90 gallon, make that tank bare to use for a hospital tank, in addition I could set up the other 30. Maybe have the puffer alone and the rest in the other, thoughts?

I know for the puffer the hyposalinity is the preferred method. Do you think the others should be copper?

Thanks for your help, I appreciate it.

 

[MrTuskfish]

My display tank is a 90 gallon with a refugium.
I have a running 30 gallon that has live rock in it.
I have an empty 30 in the garage.

Livestock:
dogface puffer
coral beauty
yellow tail damsel
orchid dottyback.

I could take the live rock out of the 30 and put into my 90 gallon, make that tank bare to use for a hospital tank, in addition I could set up the other 30. Maybe have the puffer alone and the rest in the other, thoughts?

I know for the puffer the hyposalinity is the preferred method. Do you think the others should be copper?

Thanks for your help, I appreciate it.

Unless the puffer is huge, I think all these fish could be treated in a 30 gal. They aren't in there long-term and can handle it with no problem. Hypo is very effective and as long as you have to use it with the puffer; I'd just treat all the fish. Dwarf angels can be sensitive to copper too. With hypo, a well-calibrated hydrometer is a must. Expect frequent WCs unless you have a cycled sponge ready to cycle the HT. Keeping the exact SG is vital and having a supply of made-up and mixing water ready (a brute container is great), at the exact SG of the treatment tank tank (1.008) will make things easier.