Where does ick come from

[roy tharp]

So I recently set up a 55gal tank for my son in Arkasas. He told me that he has an ick outbreak & his LFS told him that it most likely came from the live sand that we used. I've been in the hobby for several years & have been fortunate enough to never have an outbreak so I don't know much about it.I don't think the sand was the source. Could I be wrong?

 

[snorvich]

Sand, unless taken from a tank with ich is not the problem. Fish, inverts, such as snails or hermit crabs, or corals could be the problem in order of likelihood.

 

[Dmorty217]

So I recently set up a 55gal tank for my son in Arkasas. He told me that he has an ick outbreak & his LFS told him that it most likely came from the live sand that we used. I've been in the hobby for several years & have been fortunate enough to never have an outbreak so I don't know much about it.I don't think the sand was the source. Could I be wrong?

It most likely came from the LFS... Funny they tried to blame it on the sand. Ask them if they are running a low dose of copper in their systems. If they answer yes then the LFS is the source of the ich. Low dose copper just masks disease, it doesn't do anything to prevent it when you bring the fish home

 

[roy tharp]

Thank you for the information. I knew it wasn't the live sand but I just wanted some back up for my arguement. I've been reading up on it so I will be educated if "I" ever are unfortunate to have to deal with it. My son on the other hand got in a hurry so I hope he learned from this. He is in the process of QT & trying to eradicate his MT.

 

[ThRoewer]

It most likely came from the LFS... Funny they tried to blame it on the sand. Ask them if they are running a low dose of copper in their systems. If they answer yes then the LFS is the source of the ich. Low dose copper just masks disease, it doesn't do anything to prevent it when you bring the fish home

Low dose copper is not even required for ich to be there invisibly. Most fish at LFS have been in contact with ich and then been treated or overcome it on their own. As a result they have enough acquired immunity to be symptom free even if ich is present. Acquired immunity is a too often overlooked mechanism to transfer ich, while it is likely also the by far most common.

There are two approaches to deal with ich:

1. keep you tank clean with rigid quarantine procedures and clean all new fish with TTM.

2. keep the fish in a low stress environment with good water quality, feed them well and let their immune system do the rest.

The first would be the recommended approach, especially for beginners and people who overstock their tanks, especially with tangs.

The second is what most unknowingly do. It can work well for those who knowingly take this approach and know what they are doing.
But for the most who just think their system is clean this usually ends with a full blown outbreak after the one fish was added who tipped the scale or one adverse event weakened the fish's immune system enough to give the parasites an opening.

 

[snorvich]

A low level, non-therapeutic level of copper has unpredictable effect on parasites, including ich. Anecdotally, the parasites seem to present at about 5 weeks after removal from low level copper.

 

[roy tharp]

I've seen mention TTM before. Is that Tank to Tank Moves that I've read about or am I way off?

 

[Spar]

I've seen mention TTM before. Is that Tank to Tank Moves that I've read about or am I way off?

Tank Transfer Method. See:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2388428

 

[microlady]

TTM and quarantine are the only way to go IMO!

 

[roy tharp]

so TTM sounds like a good initial quarantine method to insure the preventing of "ich" in the 1st place. thank you for the link.

Donnie