Question about ich.

[Jarob]

I have a 40g breeder with a 30g sump and two of my fish developed ich. My question is would it be easier for me to take out the few zoos I have and put them in a new QT I will set up and treat the entire system (not the qt) with copper, or should I try and catch all 6 fish and put them in the QT and only treat that? Also is it possible for clams to get ich? My only concern is catching the fish in a tank that has tons of LR. Would I need to take out my shrimp, crab and snail if I used the copper treatment in the tank? Thanks for the help!

 

[Gwynhidwy]

If you treat with copper you cannot have ANY invertebrates in your tank or they will likely die. Copper can also disrupt any biological filtration and should not be used in a tank containing live rock, unless you don't ever want to have invertebrates in the tank with the live rock and don't mind if there are low levels of copper in your water leaching out from the rock at all times.

I do not believe that clams can get ich.

I think you would be much better off moving the fish to your hospital tank and treating them there. Make sure you leave the display with NO fish for at least six weeks to make sure that the crypt is dead before putting your fish back in there or you will just have to do this all again.

 

[itsthesong]

I agree. Don't risk your display for any reason. QT doesn't have to be fancy. Simple heater, filter and some PVC to hide in. Some myself included have used brute trashcans as QT tanks.

 

[wooden_reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10652375#post10652375 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gwynhidwy
Copper can also disrupt any biological filtration .

Copper, as straight CuSO4.5H20, at 0.25 ppm metallic, has little impact on nitrification bacteria.

The other reason may be more valid. I don't recommend using copper in a reef tank at all.

 

[black_majik]

Use the copper in the QT