Treating fish without copper or hypo?

[sdunkin]

I had a temp swing about 2 weeks ago that I believe caused many of my fish to come down with ich. I've removed almost all of them to QT (except for one particularly stubborn watchman goby, who will be caught in the next day or two by removing rocks if I cannot get her with the bottle trap).

I'm wanting to let the tank go fallow for 8 weeks (count starting once the watchman is caught), but I'm unsure about how to go about treating the fish in the qts. Is there any surefire way to cure them without using copper or hypo?

Copper scares me because I've just heard so many horror stories with it, plus I couldn't get a test kit locally and some of my fish weren't eating by the time I was able to get them out of the tank. Hypo I've had bad luck with in the past because the pH would drop. So, I'm slightly reluctant to try both methods and I just wanted to see if there were any other options.

When I caught them all and got them into the qts, I started treating with Seachem Paraguard. Will this be enough to kill off all of the ich on them like treating with copper/hypo would? If so, how long will I need to treat them?

 

[Chris27]

You've heard horror stories about copper on Reef Central, but have you actually read a post that specifically stated that copper killed the fish.....I haven't....but I've only been on this forum for a short time. Copper is feared by many, but loved by more, simply because it works, and it works well....any reefer that has been in the hobby for more then 5 years will agree.

Provided you don't have any of the token copper sensitive fish like sharks, rays, eels or puffers, it's use is pretty strait forward. PH isn't nearly the concern because you use it in water that is buffered the same as a display tank.

Paraguard may work for you, but it'll be a crapshoot, as the ingredients aren't typically used for halting the lifecycle of Crypt. It would be better suited as a treatment for Brook.

 

[jcw]

3 methods that have been proven.

1) hypo (my current favorite)
2) copper
3) transfer method (which I would do in low salinity to help reduce stress)

There's a sticky in this forum...

 

[RegalAngel]

I'm wanting to let the tank go fallow for 8 weeks (count starting once the watchman is caught), but I'm unsure about how to go about treating the fish in the qts. Is there any surefire way to cure them without using copper or hypo?

YES!

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1974075

 

[James404]

There are only 3 proven methods of treating crypt

1. Copper
2. Hypo
3. Tank Transfer


I prefer to use Hypo, especially if the fish aren't eating to begin with. Copper will only suppress the appetite more.