ich problem over time

B

banjo

Registered Member
Dec 3, 2006
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I have a 55G tank that has been set up for more than 6yrs. over the last 3 years, i seem to have a recurrign ich problem with new fish. i have a sailfin tang, blue damsel, velvet damsel and dottieback that are doing fine but puffers get ich and die repeatedly. i have a skimmer and test show no issues. (nitrates less than 15, nitrites 0, ammonia 0, ph 8.3) i have been told that is is great for a fish only tank. correct me if i am wrong. i also have several crabs to clean up any left over food and non of them seem to be having any problems.

my question is does ich hibernate in the tank until a new fish comes in and then attacks? any help is much appreciated.

Thanks
 
Ideally you need to let your display tank go fallow for at least 6 weeks. The parasites reproduce and rest non-feeding stages of progeny in the water and on the substrate so everytime you introduce a new fish there is a chance of the parasites attaching again.

Any fish that is "under the weather", is a target for Ich. Things such as poor diet, stress and under par water conditions can make a fish more susceptible.

Whilst your water levels look good, you might be better off rehoming your Tang, Sailfins need a minimum of 135gal.
 
FWIW, the ich life cycle in the longest-lived strains can persist for nearly 8 weeks. Keep that in mind for treatment and quarantine.
 
Amphiprion said:
FWIW, the ich life cycle in the longest-lived strains can persist for nearly 8 weeks. Keep that in mind for treatment and quarantine.
Click to expand...

How long can the ich parasite survive in a aquarium without a host?

I had a severe case and after dosing the display with parazone and removing the fish to my local lfs (good friend) left the tank fallow for 12 weeks, i did however leave the snails and crabs in the there along with the live rock but removed all the sand (which is only across the front edge)
Having waited over 5 months to start restocking i would be gutted if there was a chance of a recurrence from within the tank.
 
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