what could have caused Ich

[tm613]

I have just noticed that some of my fish in my 180g FOWLR have Ich...all these fish have been together with no additons for 4 months and they were all QTd before put in the main tank, a few of these fish I have had for 2+ years

Anyone have any comments on what could have caused this?

 

[pelochas]

did you have a sudden temp drop? or did something to cause everyone to have stress?

 

[tm613]

a temp drop may be the culprit, my sump is remote in the garage (unheated) and ...Possible that my in sump heaters are not keeping up when the lights are out.....was not aware low temps could cause a ich outbreak

 

[FishyMel]

Temp change for sure caused it. I go through this every fall when the weather changes and the walls in my house get cold. It is just enough to cause a 2 degree drop overnight and whammo! Ick! I keep a UV sterilizer running to combat this.

 

[atlfishes]

This leads to an interesting question. Most of the research on Ick at the beginning of the disease forum states that Ick is not always present and must be introduced. If this is true, Ick is present in your tank, but generally your fish are immune unless stressed. If Ick is not present in your system then it wouldn't matter how stressed your fish get it wouldn't result in an outbreak.

I don't know the right answer.

 

[bderos]

I've done talking around with friends and fish stores I go to regulary and they have all told me that Ich is always present in the tank. Most of the time fish can fight it off with a srong immune system unless they can get stressed. Also what I've heard is that a UV sterilizer can help eliminate the bad bacteria but if it also gets rid of the good bactreria too, so you have to becareful when buying one and how much you use it. I don't have one but I am thinking of getting a UV b/c the Ich my houses temp has been fluctating and I've lost a Tomini Tang so far to Ich. Over all I'm not sure what will work. I know right now the rest of my fish don't have it and maybe b/c I've increased the temp to 80 and I'm soaking the flake food in vitamins and adding liquid garlic everyday. I don't know the right answer either.