Waterchanges, Possible treatment against ich?

[blkg35]

I just finished reading an article on reefkeeping dot com by Steve (not sure if it is the same Steve (Snorvich) on here) regarding treatments against ich. One treatment that was mentioned was daily water changes. It was suggested to do daily 50% waterchanges for 2 weeks. During those waterchanges, the tank needs to get a good cleaning.
I've read numerous stickies and threads regarding ich on this forum. I know the 3 effective treatments are copper, hypo, and TTM, but what are your thoughts on 50% daily waterchanges as an effective treatment?
If this treatment is effective, it would definitely be manageable in a small barebottom tank and reduce stress on the fish.

Would love to hear everyone's opinion on this.
Very interesting read. Link to the article found here:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-08/sp/index.htm

 

[snorvich]

I just finished reading an article on reefkeeping dot com by Steve (not sure if it is the same Steve (Snorvich) on here) regarding treatments against ich. One treatment that was mentioned was daily water changes. It was suggested to do daily 50% waterchanges for 2 weeks. During those waterchanges, the tank needs to get a good cleaning.
I've read numerous stickies and threads regarding ich on this forum. I know the 3 effective treatments are copper, hypo, and TTM, but what are your thoughts on 50% daily waterchanges as an effective treatment?
If this treatment is effective, it would definitely be manageable in a small barebottom tank and reduce stress on the fish.

Would love to hear everyone's opinion on this.
Very interesting read. Link to the article found here:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-08/sp/index.htm

I never wrote an article on Reef Keeping dot com. While I have written many articles on this site about treating marine fish diseases and parasites, they are only authorized for this site. I read the article you cited and was very familiar with it. Daily 50% water changes will not cure your tank of ich. The Author, Steven Pro, is highly knowledgeable and he suggests that this is an acquisition treatment as a prophylactic prevention rather than a cure. Similar to tank transfer in terms of the intended mechanism of prevention/eradication.

 

[MrTuskfish]

If you read & understand Snorvich's sticky on the ich life-cycle; you should see why WCs cannot eliminate ich. They will reduce the number, but anything less than 100% kill ratio just isn't good enough with ich. As long as half the water remains, so does ich. The cysts release the next generation and the whole process starts over.

 

[Dmorty217]

I know the 3 effective treatments are copper, hypo, and TTM, but what are your thoughts on 50% daily waterchanges as an effective treatment?

You got two of the three right, hypo is ALOT of work and the most difficult to use properly and the stress you put the fish thru is hardly worth it. TT, copper and CP are the three methods that work. Water changes of any amount everyday won't be effective against ich. If you like this idea for treatment that's what TT is for and it's much less $$ and work than 50% changes everyday on say a 150g tank

 

[HumbleFish]

TT, copper and CP are the three methods that work.

Amen, brother! All things considered, it's long past due for CP to replace hypo as the "third proven method". While CP may have it's intangibles, it's still more effective/reliable than hypo.

 

[Deinonych]

amen, brother! All things considered, it's long past due for cp to replace hypo as the "third proven method". While cp may have it's intangibles, it's still more effective/reliable than hypo.

+2

 

[blkg35]

Thanks for the reply guys.
Snorvich, it wasn't my intention to suggest that you wrote the article. Both you and the author of the article are very knowledgeable on ich and have the same first name. What a coincidence.
I've read the CP thread and it sounds very promising. The only issue people are having is sourcing lab grade CP. If it becomes easier to get, I would love to try this method.

Does anyone know if CP would be less harsh on wrasses vs. Cupramine?
I've tried cupramine but the wrasses seem to not tolerate it after one week. I slowly brought it up to .5mg over 4 days.
Should I start a new thread regarding this or continue with this thread?

 

[snorvich]

Thanks for the reply guys.
Snorvich, it wasn't my intention to suggest that you wrote the article. Both you and the author of the article are very knowledgeable on ich and have the same first name. What a coincidence.

It is a coincidence and I was not offended in the slightest, quite the contrary. I have exchanged emails with him on several occasions. I have been asked to write on related topics for sites other than here but I don't really want this to be about me in any way; I have no desire to make a name in the aquarist literature. It is also infeasible for me to support articles other than those on here, which I try to do within what time is available. In fact I had to turn off PM on this site because I simply can't do "private consulting".

 

[Deinonych]

Does anyone know if CP would be less harsh on wrasses vs. Cupramine?
I've tried cupramine but the wrasses seem to not tolerate it after one week. I slowly brought it up to .5mg over 4 days.
Should I start a new thread regarding this or continue with this thread?

IME, flasher wrasses do not tolerate CP. At all. They seem to do fine for 2-3 days, then suddenly go downhill fast. Typical symptoms are erratic/listless swimming followed shortly thereafter by death. I don't know about other wrasse genera, but I will not treat wrasses with CP after losing a couple. Wrasses seem to do OK with Cupramine, although I usually treat at 0.40mg/l, not the recommended 0.50mg/l. Also, I do not proactively treat wrasses for crypto/velvet anymore - only flukes with prazi followed by an extensive (8-10 week) observation.

 

[HumbleFish]

IME, flasher wrasses do not tolerate CP. At all. They seem to do fine for 2-3 days, then suddenly go downhill fast. Typical symptoms are erratic/listless swimming followed shortly thereafter by death. I don't know about other wrasse genera, but I will not treat wrasses with CP after losing a couple. Wrasses seem to do OK with Cupramine, although I usually treat at 0.40mg/l, not the recommended 0.50mg/l. Also, I do not proactively treat wrasses for crypto/velvet anymore - only flukes with prazi followed by an extensive (8-10 week) observation.

+1 There's enough anecdotal evidence from the CP thread to make CP a no-go with wrasses.

 

[blkg35]

So out of the 3 effective treatments, would the consensus be cupramine as the choice of treatment for wrasses? If it is, I'll keep the dosage at .4mg/l as Deinonych did and leave it for one month, followed by one month of observation.

 

[HumbleFish]

So out of the 3 effective treatments, would the consensus be cupramine as the choice of treatment for wrasses? If it is, I'll keep the dosage at .4mg/l as Deinonych did and leave it for one month, followed by one month of observation.

IMO; either Cupramine or TT. Both are equally effective, if done correctly. Just make sure you cover the top of the QT with eggcrate or something (wrasses like to jump).

 

[snorvich]

IMO; either Cupramine or TT. Both are equally effective, if done correctly. Just make sure you cover the top of the QT with eggcrate or something (wrasses like to jump).

Egg crate does not keep wrasses in.

 

[HumbleFish]

Egg crate does not keep wrasses in.

Eggcrate with a screen mesh for smaller wrasses then?

 

[snorvich]

Eggcrate with a screen mesh for smaller wrasses then?

That would work fine! Good idea. (fairy and flasher wrasses easily go through egg crate)