Tangs have Ich

[wss5900]

A month ago I introduced 4 tangs into my tank on the same day to prevent territorial disputes. A week later they all had ich. They are very sick and I think that they will live and endure the ich and it will eventually subside but can one of you fellow reefers please tell me if you have knowledge of a specific product that I can put on their food (like a garlic product) that will knock the ich out. Please help...I hate to see my fish suffer. Thanks!

Tony in Tampa

 

[Andrew]

Garlic isn't the solution for ich. Read the below article and the pinned threads in the disease and treatment forum:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/sp/index.php

 

[wss5900]

Thanks Andy. So now that the fish are already in my 265 gallon reef tank I guess i have to just hope now that they build up a tolerance to the ich. It would be too difficult to catch them with 200 pounds of live rock and 50 LPS Corals. My other fish have gotten ich and they beat it and I hope these new tangs do the same. Since it has been a month since they got the ich I think they may survive. In the past I have noticed that fish died within a week that had ich. If they made it past a week their chances of survival got better. If I had to bet on this situation I will say that they will live abd kick the ich. Thanks

 

[Reef This]

That article doesn't confirm, nor deny the effectiveness of Garlic against Marine Ich. It simply says, "there is still much to know".

It may not be the solution, but in my short time as a reefer in the last 8 years, I've used garlic as a alternative to tearing my tank apart to catch fish and Q them. It's worked wonderfully. I've had Ich twice, once in my 55 about 7 years ago, and just recently when our temps started dipping, and I forgot to turn on the extra 2 heaters for our winter months. Ich came, about 2 1/2 weeks of garlic, no fish died, no fish quit eating, nothing. Everything is now back to normal, and the tank is doing wonderfully.

The really odd thing, the 2 clowns I have, were in the 55 and had ich years ago in that breakout, were the only of my fish in my current system, who DIDN'T get ich this time around.

I don't read all the studies, but I've found articles that vary in opinion, and in my experience, it has worked. Garlic will improve your fishs' immune system, and it will help improve the tolerance. It may not cure the ich itself, but it will certainly help your fish fight it off, and make them that much more healthy.

 

[Kannin]

I use Garlic Extreme. It may not cure ich but it is likely to keep them interested in eating and might keep their immune system up. As long as the fish is eating well... he will beat it. Really good flow is also real good for them.

 

[Roy G. Biv]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11009314#post11009314 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kannin
I use Garlic Extreme. It may not cure ich but it is likely to keep them interested in eating and might keep their immune system up. As long as the fish is eating well... he will beat it. Really good flow is also real good for them.

Second that. I am a big UV fan. It wont get rid of all of the ich but will knock down the population that are suspended in the water to give the fish a better chance. The key is 72hrs at a clip IME. This way you dont kill everything in the water column.

 

[wss5900]

Thanks to all of ypu guys that have answered my concerns. Ich is a problem but I think that garlic can't hurt. It is worth giving a try I have been soaking their Spirolina in Garlic Guard by Seachem for the past three days. They are eating really well. Actually unbelievably well! I will continue to soak the Spirolina and hope their immune system fights off the ich. But I hate to see them in agony as they scrape against the rocks and stay right in front of the filter 2 main pump flow goose neck spouts. Thanks Guys!

 

[Justin James]

Get cleaner shrimp.
Get cleaner gobies.
Get cleaner wrasse.
Soak food in Garlic guard.
Soak food in Selcon.
Do regular water changes.

"POOF"!!! Ich Gone!

 

[wss5900]

Good advice Justin. I have the cleaner shrimp working overtime right now. Water changes are done weekly. Tank is clean and in nice shape. Could be a tank of the month candidate. Using Garic Guard for the past three days. They are jamming on the Garlic Soaked Spriolina. So lets see what happens. Justin: What is Selcon?

Thank you.

 

[Reef This]

I like having the cleaner shrimp during my Ich issue this time.

The problem was, my Lionfish didn't. Guess he was hungry.

 

[Roy G. Biv]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11009426#post11009426 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Justin James
Get cleaner shrimp.
Get cleaner gobies.
Get cleaner wrasse.
Soak food in Garlic guard.
Soak food in Selcon.
Do regular water changes.

"POOF"!!! Ich Gone!

Waiting for the ich police to chime in. I didnt want to say that myself.

 

[Ehaze]

only true way to get rid of ich, is hypo salin, or copper. and let the display tank sit with not fish for 4-6weeks

 

[Andrew]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11009993#post11009993 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ehaze
only true way to get rid of ich, is hypo salin, or copper. and let the display tank sit with not fish for 4-6weeks

Thanks You! Adding cleaner shrimp to your tank is not going to solve ALL your ich problems. The ich is still going to be there no matter how many shrimp you add. Garlic can buy you time to get a QT tank set up, but once again, the ich will still be present. Please read the article on garlic.

 

[petoonia]

I agree that the shrimp wont cure ICH. I do believe that the cleaning they provide the fish with is a great relief to the fish. My coral beauty was constantly getting cleaned when she had ICH. Imagine not being able to scratch when you have poison ivy.

I would use Selcon, vita chem, and garlic on the food. Alternate between the vita chem, and selcon. Use the garlic at every feeding.

 

[wss5900]

Thanks Petoonia for the advice. Very good.

 

[petoonia]

You are welcome!!!!!

 

[kingfisher62]

I too, beleive that garlic helps ! Some extra water changes would not hurt.

Has anyone heard of covering a tank and not allowing any light in for a week? something to do with the parasite not being able to find the host.

 

[Reef'in Colorado]

Introduce a pair or group of cleaner gobies in addition to your shrimp. They will help too. In the past I have had tangs that would ich up from time to time. I added a pair of gobies and they really seemed to help.

 

[HBtank]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11009993#post11009993 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ehaze
only true way to get rid of ich, is hypo salin, or copper. and let the display tank sit with not fish for 4-6weeks

My understanding is that "curing" a tank of ich is futile, it will almost always be present in any tank, no matter how hard your try to keep it out. It just shows its ugly head when fish become stressed, like adding four tangs at one time.

Garlic keeps fish eating, and I have never had a fish that was eating die on me. Thats why I like garlic.

Anyways, JMO, if needed I may treat the fish in QT (though I always consider ich to minor to need it) but never consider curing the tank and think 4-6 weeks in QT is harmfull to a tang on its own.

 

[Ehaze]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11010098#post11010098 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Andrew
Thanks You! Adding cleaner shrimp to your tank is not going to solve ALL your ich problems. The ich is still going to be there no matter how many shrimp you add. Garlic can buy you time to get a QT tank set up, but once again, the ich will still be present. Please read the article on garlic.

Thanks, ive learned the hard way, ive lost around 2k in fish with the garlic and, the kick-ich, it was a waste of $$$... I have let my tank sit with no fish for 8 weeks, I QT all my corals in fish free, chem free no-sandbed tank tank for 4 weeks, as for the fish they get 2weeks of copper, then into the tank.