So my regal HAS ich. I wasn't sure if she had it or not but today she has very defined white salt like specks on her. She was eating well up until this evening. She HATES the taste of the medication and she HATES the garlic guard even more. She has been going to town on the algae clip. What should I do since she isn't eating the medicated food?
Regal has ich for sure
- Thread starter Tang tank
- Start date
jimmy frag
New member
ich
ich
these guy are the worst for ich. feed the heck out of him and go get cleaner shrimp, lots. they really do wonders. just dont leave it to long.
ich
these guy are the worst for ich. feed the heck out of him and go get cleaner shrimp, lots. they really do wonders. just dont leave it to long.
TampaReefer79
Premium Member
Garlic and cleaner shrimp do nothing for ich, don't waste your money on that. Spend the money instead on a good QT setup! How many fish are in the tank with the hippo? Was the hippo qt'd initially?
TampaReefer79
Premium Member
After going through your posts and finding out this is a brand new 75 gallon setup with no skimmer and tangs in it already, I have to say please slow WAY down. You're moving way too fast without knowledge and will be killing animals in short order. You have to get the basics down and get the tank stable before you go on coral/fish shopping sprees. I see you also want to add a purple tang. Please do some reading here first. I'd even suggest you bring the hippo tang back to the store after you qt it back to health. Your tank and lack of equipment are not ready for what you're doing yet.
Hello! I am rather new to tw hobby as well and went threw this exact same thing. I believe I probably added fish too quickly as well but what's done is done. Heres what I have done. I am sure some will disagree but everyone has there opinions...
I bought a bottle of cupramine removed ALL my inverts an dosed my display/ main tank. Cupramine is a low dose copper that does not get absorbed by the live rock or sand. Get a copper test! I tested the copper levels after each dose and they seem to be stable-- the copper is not being absorbed. After 3 weeks buy a really good carbon or a heavy metal remover and run it until you do not see a change in color on the media for 1 week. During your removal process you can begin to put inverts back in but slowly and start with snails and hermits..wait 2 days after you add to make sure thy are doing good before adding more.
Now this seems like a long process but I had too much live rock and too many fish to try and catch. Plus no qt that is worth anything.
I have not put my inverts back in yet so I can not tell you that this is full proof... Just what I have read from the website and testimonials or seems to e fine. I think people really over estimate the power off copper....again jug my opinion. Good luck with your tank. I am sure whatever you decide to do will be fine. Everyone has to learn on their own ya know! Unfortunatley for us newbies that means messing up some!
I bought a bottle of cupramine removed ALL my inverts an dosed my display/ main tank. Cupramine is a low dose copper that does not get absorbed by the live rock or sand. Get a copper test! I tested the copper levels after each dose and they seem to be stable-- the copper is not being absorbed. After 3 weeks buy a really good carbon or a heavy metal remover and run it until you do not see a change in color on the media for 1 week. During your removal process you can begin to put inverts back in but slowly and start with snails and hermits..wait 2 days after you add to make sure thy are doing good before adding more.
Now this seems like a long process but I had too much live rock and too many fish to try and catch. Plus no qt that is worth anything.
I have not put my inverts back in yet so I can not tell you that this is full proof... Just what I have read from the website and testimonials or seems to e fine. I think people really over estimate the power off copper....again jug my opinion. Good luck with your tank. I am sure whatever you decide to do will be fine. Everyone has to learn on their own ya know! Unfortunatley for us newbies that means messing up some!
rayn: There are 2 clowns in the tank with her. They are showing no signs of ich as of today.
jimmy frag: I have read that cleaner shrimp help but don't really cure the ich problem. I have also heard that they won't clean ich off a fish...but like anything else in this hobby everyone has tried different things, had something work and had others not work. At this moment I don't want to add anything to the tank because I feel that could stress the Regal out even more just adding to the problem.
TampaReefer79: Thank you for your comments. I don't plan on adding any fish to my current set up for a while (at least a few months) I was asking about the Purple Tang because I do like them and was just curious about how they do in home aquariums. From what I can tell this hobby has a lot of people in it and everyone has a different opinion. I am the type of person that over reacts, over thinks, and over stresses a lot of stuff that is better to be left simple. I started my 75 gallon tank of 02/14/11 after having a 5 gallon nano tank up and going for a few months. I went to several stores to see what they recommended I purchase and the price. I made my selection based on a valued opinion of a LFS owner that I have been getting my freshwater fish and supplies from for years. He was also the person that sold me my 5 gallon set up even though I expressed great concern doubting myself in my ability to have, take care of, and maintain a saltwater tank. Since first setting the tank up I have tested my water, watching the cycle happen. Before adding any live stock (with the exception of my live sand and live rock) I myself tested the water as well as my LFS. After the cycle happened we both agreed that it would be wise to add a "clean up" crew for the algae and other nuisance things on the live rock. 2 pieces of my live rock came with cleaner clams on them and they are still alive and well today. Also my live rock has started to grow some leather corals, along with a ton of Coraline algae. At the same time of adding my "clean up" crew I added 2 tank raised clowns. They were in the tank for over a week before I considered to add any other fish. All the while I have been testing the water to make sure everything stays balanced. Last Friday I needed more water to do my weekly Saturday water changes so I went to my LFS where I saw and purchased my Regal Tang. I consulted with the owner whom I have trusted for years and made the choice to purchase her. Now looking back hind sight is 20/20. She should have been one of the last fish I add to the tank and I should have even considered not getting her at all based on the 75 gallon tank. However what's done is done and I have her. I have since added a UV sterilizer along with a protein skimmer. She is still very lively, eating her algae clip all the time and she has started to enjoy all 75 gallons of her tank. I have kept a watchful eye on her and notice that although she does have a few spots on her she isn't getting more (if anything she has less on her) She has eaten the medicated food today. I believe that as long as I slow down and continue to take care of her the way I am that she will be just fine. I am new at this hobby and I realize that I have made my first of I'm sure many mistakes (as even those seasoned veterans of the hobby do). The last thing that I want to do is kill a bunch of fish or corals. Adding corals of any kind is only going to happen in the very distant future.
Mrsbmckee: Thank you for your comment. For now I am going to keep on with what I am doing seeing as how I am seeing results from it. She isn't getting worse she is getting better. Good luck with your set up as well!
jimmy frag: I have read that cleaner shrimp help but don't really cure the ich problem. I have also heard that they won't clean ich off a fish...but like anything else in this hobby everyone has tried different things, had something work and had others not work. At this moment I don't want to add anything to the tank because I feel that could stress the Regal out even more just adding to the problem.
TampaReefer79: Thank you for your comments. I don't plan on adding any fish to my current set up for a while (at least a few months) I was asking about the Purple Tang because I do like them and was just curious about how they do in home aquariums. From what I can tell this hobby has a lot of people in it and everyone has a different opinion. I am the type of person that over reacts, over thinks, and over stresses a lot of stuff that is better to be left simple. I started my 75 gallon tank of 02/14/11 after having a 5 gallon nano tank up and going for a few months. I went to several stores to see what they recommended I purchase and the price. I made my selection based on a valued opinion of a LFS owner that I have been getting my freshwater fish and supplies from for years. He was also the person that sold me my 5 gallon set up even though I expressed great concern doubting myself in my ability to have, take care of, and maintain a saltwater tank. Since first setting the tank up I have tested my water, watching the cycle happen. Before adding any live stock (with the exception of my live sand and live rock) I myself tested the water as well as my LFS. After the cycle happened we both agreed that it would be wise to add a "clean up" crew for the algae and other nuisance things on the live rock. 2 pieces of my live rock came with cleaner clams on them and they are still alive and well today. Also my live rock has started to grow some leather corals, along with a ton of Coraline algae. At the same time of adding my "clean up" crew I added 2 tank raised clowns. They were in the tank for over a week before I considered to add any other fish. All the while I have been testing the water to make sure everything stays balanced. Last Friday I needed more water to do my weekly Saturday water changes so I went to my LFS where I saw and purchased my Regal Tang. I consulted with the owner whom I have trusted for years and made the choice to purchase her. Now looking back hind sight is 20/20. She should have been one of the last fish I add to the tank and I should have even considered not getting her at all based on the 75 gallon tank. However what's done is done and I have her. I have since added a UV sterilizer along with a protein skimmer. She is still very lively, eating her algae clip all the time and she has started to enjoy all 75 gallons of her tank. I have kept a watchful eye on her and notice that although she does have a few spots on her she isn't getting more (if anything she has less on her) She has eaten the medicated food today. I believe that as long as I slow down and continue to take care of her the way I am that she will be just fine. I am new at this hobby and I realize that I have made my first of I'm sure many mistakes (as even those seasoned veterans of the hobby do). The last thing that I want to do is kill a bunch of fish or corals. Adding corals of any kind is only going to happen in the very distant future.
Mrsbmckee: Thank you for your comment. For now I am going to keep on with what I am doing seeing as how I am seeing results from it. She isn't getting worse she is getting better. Good luck with your set up as well!
Orcrone
New member
I think you got lucky. There are many things living on live rock, not just the snails/crabs etc. you removed from your tank. When these things died off due to the Cupramine treatment the ammmonia spike could have overwhelmed your bio filter, killing all your fish. I went through the ich treatment nightmare and removed all the rock in the tank in order to catch the fish.
Orcrone
New member
Chris27
New member
There is nothing you can medicate the food with to cure Crypt....so what are you adding to it? If the fish isn't eating medicated food, just stop medicating it, you want the fish eating, that is the No. 1 component of a healthy fish.
Besides that, do the responsible thing, and set up a quarantine tank, they are cheap and very easy to set up. It doesn't have to be a glass tank, just anything that holds water.
Given that the parasite is in the tank, you really should pull everyone out and actively treat them with copper, hypo, whatever while leaving the tank fallow for 5-6 weeks. It's going to easier then having to constantly deal with the parasite every time you add a fish....trust me....I lost a good deal of fish before I started QT'ing.
Besides that, do the responsible thing, and set up a quarantine tank, they are cheap and very easy to set up. It doesn't have to be a glass tank, just anything that holds water.
Given that the parasite is in the tank, you really should pull everyone out and actively treat them with copper, hypo, whatever while leaving the tank fallow for 5-6 weeks. It's going to easier then having to constantly deal with the parasite every time you add a fish....trust me....I lost a good deal of fish before I started QT'ing.
sjwitt
New member
I've had good luck with Microbe-lift Herbtana. It is Reef Safe and you can treat the Display tank. I also use Microbe-Lift Artemiss ... they are complementary products that help boost the natural defenses of the fish. Don't use it if you're using other medications. I keep it on hand and treat my entire 185 gal system at the first sign of a spot on any of the fish.
I've never had any luck with garlic. I do have cleaner shrimp and they DO help. Just my experience.
I've never had any luck with garlic. I do have cleaner shrimp and they DO help. Just my experience.
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lhm nole
New member
I would go at least 8 weeks fallow agree with everything else
Gogandantess
New member
Before I cared or knew about QT, I've had a powder blue wipe out my tank and a hippo do the same thing. It's a devastating experience.
MrTuskfish
Team RC
Cupramine is the best copper on the market, IMO & IME. It is not a "low dose" copper; there is just a wider range between "effective" and "toxic to fish'". Where did you get the info that LR doesn't absorb Cupramine? It does.
MrTuskfish
Team RC
This is a sure combination for dead fish. Neither cure or prevent ich.
Chris27
New member
The verdict is still out, but the chemical makeup of Cupramine suggests that is doesn't react with calcareous material. It's far less reactive then it's copper sulfate competitor. The "less reactive" part is what makes the product easy on fish....the caveat is that it's easier on parasites/inverts as well.
Look at it this way, the manufacturer tells you to remove chemical filtration (carbon) and turn off the UV sterilizer, then how effective is the med if it can be stripped from the water with carbon, or broken down by a UV sterilizer?
Ionic copper is far more reactive of a compound, and calcareous material reacts very quickly with it. Just a small amount of calcareous sand will strip the copper from the water column in a few short hours.
The best copper IMO & IME is copper sulfate, aka ionic copper, if dosed properly, and maintained in the therapeutic range of 0.2-0.3 ppm, no parasite will make it's way through. I've used both chelated coppers, and cupramine, and had outbreaks afterwards, which tells me that it is less effective on the parasite.
MrTuskfish
Team RC
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TampaReefer79
Premium Member
Can you please elaborate on how cleaner shrimp DO help?
