To Catch a Blenny

[mindfluid]

Hello, I have a mini reef with a Pr of Skunk Clown and a Bi Color Blenny. There showing signs of Ick and getting the blenny out is tricky being he has a good secure home in my live rock and completely disappears inside of it at the site of me coming close. The the rock has 2 anemones and a feather duster attached to it. The fish only tank I want to move him to has a little copper and I keep the salinity lower so I cant just move the entire rock. Any suggestions or clever homade trap ideas would be greatly appreciated. FYI I changed my garlic additive from Kent to Garlic Elixer at the first signs of flashing (a week ago) and also added No Ick hoping he would win the battle but the Ick seems to be getting a foothold on him now. He's breathing very heavy and is getting those little white markings on his face. The clowns have been in my fish only for 2 days now and aready look 10 times better.

Cheers.
Mind

[kreblak]

How did you use No-Ich? You have to be relentless with that stuff, 2 oz per 25 gallons every three days until the Ich is gone. Then continue for three weeks. I have used No-Ich with great success in my 46 gallon tank, but I did treat for 7 weeks.

[mindfluid]

Thanks for your reply!!!
Yes I am using the regiman you described above for a little over a week. I discontinued carbon use and skimming as per instructions on bottle. I am sure eventually the "no ick'will catch up but untill then I dont want to lose the little guy. I will continue use for 3 more weeks or longer if needed. Ive read good things about this product and hope that it will rid this tank of ick. Ive also hear that fish can live with and beat ick after showing signs with use of garlic extracts. I use to keep a tomato clown in this tank and he showed white spots for the first few days but cleared up after adding something called "Marine Zoe" to the food. Then again he was all over my bubble tip and the Skunk Clowns and of course the Blenny are not so I dont know if the "bonding" made the difference. The other factor I considered is that some fish seem much more prone to disease so maybe the tomato doesnt fall into that "prone" category. At any rate im hoping for the best and will keep treating. Oh, did you keep your skimmer off and carbon out for a whole 7 weeks??? I was thinking of adding carbon and skimming for a few after my water changes. Then re-dosing.

Thanks in advance for any feedback......
Mind

[kreblak]

Ich is a parasite. If one of your fish has it, all of them do. The only difference is whether or not the fish's immune system successfully fights off the parasite. Fish can, and do, recover on their own in the wild. In an aquarium, though, the fish cannot escape the rapidly multiplying protozoa, and they get sicker and sicker until they die. No-Ich kills Ich duing the free swimming phase of it's life cycle, when it is infective. Yes, I discontinued skimming and carbon for 7 weeks, and dosed 4 oz (46 gallon tank) every three days like clockwork. My dottyback was COVERED in whitespots, not eating, and breathing very heavily. He is now healthy as a horse and rules the tank. The symptoms of Ich were gone after 4 weeks, but I continued for another 3, because literally all it takes is one surviving parasite to produce 600 more and begin the cycle anew. Ich can be beaten, all it take is patience and dilligence. Oh, and feeding the fish garlic helps. The is a lot of anecdotal evidence that it boosts their immune systems. Plus, theylike the taste! :D

PS- While the skimmer is off, test frequently to make sure that your nitrates aren't increasing. Mine were, so after the last treatment was over, and I was convinced that the Ich was defeated, I did a 25% water change to reduce nitrates.

[mindfluid]

Thanks again!
I'll continue for another 5-6 weeks then. Have you used some of the other easier to find reef safe treatments (Kick ich, Green X) is there really a difference? Someone told me "no ich" is more of a natural approach while other's are a little more chemical based. I'll order 2 more bottles online if I have to but would like to see your thoughts first.

over & out

mind

[kreblak]

I haven't used Kick-Ich, but someone on these boards was involved with the clinical trials and testing of it, and said that it performed through the roof. My only direct experience is with No-Ich. I loved No-Ich and would recommend it to anyone is a second. It isn't an instant cure, but it works very well, and none of my inverts were harmed.

[Joey D]

Well guys, I haven't beaten ick yet, but then again as i've heard, prevention is the best cure. New fish should go into a quarantine tank for 3 weeks. Observe their feeding and swimming habits, and make sure the water parameters are identical in both tanks so that when you switch the fish into the main tank, it will not be shocked again. "tropical science" makes a disease prevention additive called "marine-max" that I have been using and my fish are doing well. It seems that ick only occurs if water conditions get really bad, the fish get really stressed, or new fish are added. Now, the first 2 are obvious, stress makes the fish disease prone, but the real deal ive been hearing alot is that all tanks have ick, the fish in your tank are in good health and immune to it, but the new fish are stressed and are susceptible, and if new fish are bullies, they can stress your old fish and cause outbreaks. if it continues, invest in a good UV sterilizer( will raise your water temp a few degrees) which will kill free floating parasites and algae spores. Just make sure the one you buy is big enough, or better yet, slighty bigger than recommended for your tank size.
Remember, prevention is the best cure.