When to start treating?

[deagan14]

I got a hippo tang about three days ago he is in quarintine like I do with all fish for 4weeks. I believe he has ich, nothing you can see on his body yet, but he is rubbing on pvc pieces which I know is a common symptom. The only other fish in with him is a fairy wrasse who is showing the same symptom. Do I need to wait until I can actually see the white spots to start treating whit hypo salinty?
The tang is roughly 4 inches and the wrasse about 2.5
They are both eating very well
Since the tank is a quarintine i only pay close attention to ammonia which is zero

 

[Newsmyrna80]

If hypo is the treatment you choose you can start it immediately. I'm sure you have read the stickies as to the effectiveness of hypo and how to lower the salinity.

 

[deagan14]

Is there any ill effects if the fish doesn't have ich and I bring the salinity down to the 1.009

 

[Dmorty217]

Is there any ill effects if the fish doesn't have ich and I bring the salinity down to the 1.009

Yes the stress of lowering and then eventually raising the salinity. Also ph will be affected

 

[Spar]

make sure to take the lowering and increasing of salinity very slowly. increasing more so than lowering. if you can make the increasing over a week long period, the fish will be much less stressed, if at all.

 

[meidinad]

I say skip hypo and use a copper based treatment. The fish could also have something internal like flukes. Fluke worms are common in hippo tanks. Prazi-Pro works great for flukes. I say you pay attention and try to figure out exactly what you're trying to cure and and then use meds. In my experience hypo works maybe 50% of the time.