View Full Version : Think that I may have a case of ich
ncompany
09-30-2007, 4:56 PM
My blue tail damsel was rubbing one of my LR the other day thought that it was weird, now have read that is one of the signs. Then yesterday I noticied that both of my angels have small white specks on them which I have read this is a tell tale sign. As of right now no QT tank. Is there any way to treat in display? Anything will help. I have some hermit crabs, snails, and a star. Would water perameters help? I could try to get some pics, could be a little tuff but I can try.
Sorry, but in my belief there are only 2 proven ways to cure ich and those include hyposalinity and copper (not safe for some). Neither are safe for inverts however and in your case if you do have ich I suggest setting up a QT tank pronto and treating with one of the beforementioned ways including proper monitering of either. This is in addition to allowing the display tank to go fallow (fishless) for 6+ weeks.
ncompany
09-30-2007, 5:06 PM
Do you have any good places to check out for a good QT setup? How big of one will I need for 4 fish? Do I leave everything else in the tank?
For qt/hospital I use a bare tank, a HOB filter for water movement and a sponge I have stored in my sump to collect bacteria for this use, a heater, and some pvc pipes for the fish to hide in.
You don't want to use sand or rocks. If you don't have media don't let that stop you, you can still set up a hospital and do frequent water changes.
If you use copper you'll need a well known brand such as Coppersafe and the appropriate copper test kit (there are different types of copper treatment so be sure you are testing for the right kind, chelated, etc). Follow the directions exactly.
If you use hyposalinity you'll want a refractometer versus a hydrometer to be certain you are getting accurate salinity readings at such a low level (around 1.009 although I've heard of some only going down to 1.014)
You won't need to remove anything else from the display tank, but you will be trying to remove the parasite and will do that by allowing your display to go falllow for 6+ weeks.
How big of a tank you'll need is dependent on the size and number of fish.
ncompany
09-30-2007, 5:17 PM
My singapore is full grown, as well as my blue tail, and four stripe damsels, My coral beauty is pretty small, what size tank would you recommend? What type of HOB filter will I need. The only one I have is on my display tank.
You don't need the HOB, you can use air pumps at the very least. With a full grown singapore angel I'd probably not go less than a 30 gallon. That is going to be tight quarters but you could get away with it for a QT. You can also just use a rubbermaid container for the QT but I personally wanted a tank so I could enjoy the fish still while they were in fish prison. In the future, if you QT before placing new livestock in your tank you won't have to QT all the fish again
ncompany
10-02-2007, 5:03 PM
It seems like now the only affected is the singapore. Should I still remove all of them?
Yes, all of them if it is ich. The parasite has a cycle and if you don't let it die out by the tank going fallow they'll only get reinfected.
ncompany
10-02-2007, 5:25 PM
the little white spots are gone, remission? It looks like small parts of the scales of the singapore are gone. Does this sounds like ich? All of the other fish look fine. Could this be something else?
Ich doesn't have a remission, just a life cycle, this graphic does a fairly good job of showing it although you can find lots of info about it online. As for whether you are dealing with ich..could be. If looking at photos online and reading about it isn't enough to have you fairly sure then take a photo for us to see if we can give you our best guess.
http://www.petsforum.com/personal/trevor-jones/C_irritansLifeCycle.gif
ncompany
10-02-2007, 5:34 PM
Thanks Grins will try to get a pic. Do not want to miss read the problem.
ncompany
10-02-2007, 6:15 PM
can't get clear enough pic to help any.
jojo22
10-02-2007, 6:59 PM
Raise your temp to 82, feed quality food with garlic added, add ICH ATTACK to the tank. You will be fine.
ncompany
10-02-2007, 7:09 PM
Not that it sounds bad to do that but everyone says you have to put them in QT. All of the fish still eat like they did before.
ncompany
10-02-2007, 7:13 PM
maybe this can help don't know how good a pic it is though
jojo22
10-02-2007, 7:45 PM
Ich attack is a reef safe treatment (I have used it at twice the recommended levels and never had a problem). Raising the temp shortens the life cycle of the ich allowing for the treatment to kill the parasite while it is waterborne. The better the food soaked in a garlic extract the heather your fish will be and the stronger it's immune system will be allowing it to stay as healthy as possible until the parasite is killed off.
ncompany
10-02-2007, 7:48 PM
So all of the crabs, snails, star and LR would be ok? Will this product kill the parasite?
What's the active ingredient jojo? I always use f.w. dips and qt so I'm not familier with the product.
ncompany
10-02-2007, 8:34 PM
www.novelak.com (http://www.novelak.com)
ncompany
10-02-2007, 8:36 PM
www.novalek.com (http://www.novalek.com)
jojo22
10-02-2007, 9:10 PM
To give a more direct link.
http://www.novalek.com/kordon/ich_attack/index.htm
ncompany
10-02-2007, 9:12 PM
Thanks jojo. If I were to set up a QT what size would I need for all of my fish?
jojo22
10-02-2007, 9:13 PM
So all of the crabs, snails, star and LR would be ok? Will this product kill the parasite?
Yes all will be fine. And yes it will kill the ICH.
ncompany
10-02-2007, 9:14 PM
Also I don't have any kind of sponge so I wouldn't have any kind of biologic filter. Is there anything that I could put in there to help? What about water, do I take it out of the display or would it be all new?
ncompany
10-02-2007, 9:16 PM
If I do pinpoint this as ich, wouldn't all of the fish show signs of it?
jojo22
10-02-2007, 9:17 PM
Your LR is your bio filter. Leave your water in and add the treatment as directed. If you follow the directions on the bottle you will be fine.
jojo22
10-02-2007, 9:18 PM
If I do pinpoint this as ich, wouldn't all of the fish show signs of it?
That depends on how long the infestation has been in your tank and how many cycles the ich has been through. Each cycle will produce more offspring leaving more parasites to infect more fish.
ncompany
10-02-2007, 9:23 PM
Also I don't have any kind of sponge so I wouldn't have any kind of biologic filter. Is there anything that I could put in there to help? What about water, do I take it out of the display or would it be all new?
Sorry I was meaning if I set up a QT tank.
Slappy*McFish
10-02-2007, 9:28 PM
Many people have claimed to have had success using 'Chem Marine Stop Parasites', as well. It too, is reef safe.
A good micron filter and a UV sterilizer will go along way in removing and killing the free-swimming parasites, as well....along with lots of water changes.
In a QT situation where you think there is a parasite such as ich, I'd not use old tank water. If you go the QT route that I mentioned earlier you'll probably have to do frequent water changes (every other day or so) but it is possible.
ncompany
10-02-2007, 9:32 PM
So I would need to set up a tank w/ new water, heater, pvc pipe, and what type of filter? Since I have no sponge or biological filter, what would stop the cycle?
You can use an air pump or any suitably sized HOB filter. For my QT I went on Craigslist and bought a used 20g package and just dumped the decorations and gravel from it. I think I paid $35 for the whole thing including the PVC I bought.
ncompany
10-02-2007, 9:38 PM
will a 20g be enough for all of my fish? If I did the air pump, would I have to use the wood airstones or the green airstones?
In your case, no. That was what worked for mine, I only had 2 at the time and since it has been used for only the new fish before the display. You'll want to get the right size for your livestock now, just pointing out that you can get a good used deal at times.