Yellow tang with ick?

[the other tang]

I recently had my ph crash due to running gas heaters and depleating the o2. Short story long, my Ph is on its way back, my alk shot up from too much buffer, i just screwed up there trying to fix the Ph. Now my tang has little bubble looking white spots all over him. i have never seed saltwater ick, but can nly assume it looks like freshwater ick,right? I took a pic but it does not show much. I realldon't know how to treat this other than quatantine him in my 20 gal ro mix tank and treat him there. I would really appreciate any advice on this as i am kinda lost.

 

[the other tang]

I have read some threads on herediscussing the parasites I am call ing Ick. I can't help but ask if I should go through the almost definite tank breakdown to catch this tang to quarantine him, or treat him in the tank. His tank mates are at this point doing ok, but are they next? perculla clown, purple firefish,and a purple dottyback. What about the parasites themselves, whaere do they come from, live rock, any livestock or corals in the history of this tank? Are the nessessary in the reef or a complete nuisance at best? Whay not treat the tank and attempt to rid them or at least keep them from attacking the other 3 fish?

 

[the other tang]

Would a cleaner shrimp assist here? If anyone has any experience please let me know.

 

[D659600]

QT the tang if you can catch him. Try to lure him in with food. Cleaner shrimp my help but QT is the best thing. I would QT the other three fish and corals. Let the tank sit empty of fish and corals for 6 weeks. There are a hand full of remedies on the market for ick cures that are safe for corals.

 

[luke33]

I would leave the corals in the main tank, and move the fish to a qt. Lower your salinity to .009 in three days....slowly! This hyposalinity level will kill the ick on all the fish, even if they are not showing signs. Your main tank should go fallow for 6 weeks. With no host, you will have no ick in your main or qt. Do not add copper or lower your salt in your main tank. LR and corals, and inverts will die if you do this. Good luck and make sure your fish are eating alot!

 

[the other tang]

help me understand why I wouldnt treat the display. it makes sense to not stress the tang any further by moving him, right. Besides my qt tank is not the best set up. Stress is what I believe caused this. I can see the qt option has its upsides too but might not be worth the entire tank breakdown it would take to get the fish out. I do not have any hard corals only shrooms, and zoos, and some star polyps.

 

[the other tang]

I am at work at the moment and planning my strategy for later, what meds would you reccomend. I read some good things about garlic.

 

[D659600]

Garlic should be used each time you feed. It helps build up the immune system. If the ich is not that bad garlic might help the fish fight it off, but ich will always be present in the tank. I may not have a reef but I do own 10 tangs and every time I feed I soak in garlic and switch between selcon and zoe for added vit. I have my tank medicated very low .10 of copper power. Corals can not handle any copper so I would talk to your trusted LFS to find out which meds would be best for your tank.

 

[the other tang]

thanks, i appreciate the help. Just a question I read on a thread here that any copper will cause digestive tract issues in tangs, not true?

 

[the other tang]

I bought kick-ich made by ruby reef, it is copper free and reef safe. It makes no ref to light , should i have the light on or off? I assume if it really mattered it would be listed in the instructions.

 

[D659600]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8728098#post8728098 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by the other tang
thanks, i appreciate the help. Just a question I read on a thread here that any copper will cause digestive tract issues in tangs, not true?

Well, I have never had any problems, but I keep the levels so low. I really hope that it is not true cause I would be in a world of smash the tank to pieces :eek1: :eek1: I have also seen that copper is not safe for eels but I have 2 eels in my 210 and they have never showed any signs of any problems. So, some things that I read I ask more questions than anyone likes and I also look at the date because there is so many new and cool things coming out in the fish care market. Plus I have a really awesome LFS. I am blessed with them, they qt my fish for me.

 

[maro1]

The other tang,

Reading on this site will show you that the only real methods of irradicating ich are Hyposalinity, Copper, Transfer method. everything has its drawbacks.

Hyposalinty will kill off the good bacteria and critters and corals in your display so use Qt tank.

Copper is a poison that must be used carefully. and will defintley kill of inverts and live rock

So choose your method that you can mange well.

Mar