My sw tank had a major hit of ich last week (1 dead firefish goby, 2 dead clowns, 2 sick damsels). I moved my damsels to a little 10 gal and they seem to be doing fine (I plan on keeping them there now). My question is will the ich in my main tank go away on its own? All that is in there now are the inverts and the live rock (all doing well). If I wait long enough will I be able to add fish again without the risk of ich or is it lurking in there somewhere.....
Does time cure ich??
- Thread starter kbaker721
- Start date
Are you sure you don't have Marine Velvet if it killed that many fish that quickly. Generally it takes a while for a fish to die of ich. They must be completly covered. Marine Velvet comes quickly and attacks the gill covers which makes the fish suffocate and drown. Whatever it was it is best to keep the main tank empty for 3 weeks to make sure all the ich has died off. Once a fish becomes stressed ich starts reproducing rapidly. For each cyst that drops off the fish and falls into the gravel can produce anywhere from 3 to 3 dozen new cysts that must find a host within 24 hours if I remember correctly (it might be a little longer), but to keep the tank empty of fish hosts for 3 weeks will be the best. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the advice. I believe it was ich (although I don't know what marine velvet looks like). The problem started when I got the goby and he was constantly bothered by my yellow damsel. The goby got ich within a couple weeks, and within a couple weeks of that I noticed both clowns completely covered in white spots. They died and I noticed the damsels have it now. The damsels look like they are recovering now though in my "new" 10 gal sw tank.... But again thanks for the info thats what I thought I just wanted reassurance
How are you treating the ick? The best way, IMHO and many others that frequent this board, is the use of garlic... It's very simple to do:
Go buy chopped garlic in WATER, not oil
Soak the fish's food in the water from the garlic for 5-10 minutes
do this for a couple weeks until no signs of the ick are left
Then do it for 2 more weeks so re-infection from the now free swimming stage of the ick parasites can be resisted..
My Coral Beauty Angel had ick and it took about a month for all signs to vanish...
Good luck =)
Go buy chopped garlic in WATER, not oil
Soak the fish's food in the water from the garlic for 5-10 minutes
do this for a couple weeks until no signs of the ick are left
Then do it for 2 more weeks so re-infection from the now free swimming stage of the ick parasites can be resisted..
My Coral Beauty Angel had ick and it took about a month for all signs to vanish...
Good luck =)
I actually did put some garlic in my 10gal once I moved the damsels in there. I just put some in the water, but the problem was it stunk up my apt!! So I did a 20%water change and since all that the damsels actually look good - I can't see any ich on them......
Ick is a parasite that comes and goes, It has a life span of 6 weeks once its present.. most fish will carry the parasite and it well become present when stress is introduced..
Its usally somthing that is easy to notice.. when it does come, you will see White specs on your fish and they will be breathing Rappidly.
Now garlic is great.. i use garlic on all my foods.. all the time preventitive..
Aso when your fish comes down with ick, you can use Fresh water( no salt) at the same Temp and PH as your tank and catch the fish in net and Dip it into the fresh water, this will kill off the parasite, you will accually see the White spots Burst in the water.. hold the fish in this fresh water for a couple of mins, Untill you see that it is having issues staying right side up, Then place back into a stress free enviroment and you should be fine.
Its usally somthing that is easy to notice.. when it does come, you will see White specs on your fish and they will be breathing Rappidly.
Now garlic is great.. i use garlic on all my foods.. all the time preventitive..
Aso when your fish comes down with ick, you can use Fresh water( no salt) at the same Temp and PH as your tank and catch the fish in net and Dip it into the fresh water, this will kill off the parasite, you will accually see the White spots Burst in the water.. hold the fish in this fresh water for a couple of mins, Untill you see that it is having issues staying right side up, Then place back into a stress free enviroment and you should be fine.
Other opions on what? The "freshwater dip"?
If that is the case, i dont blame you, When i first got my hippo tang, i had a case of ich/ick, first time i had seen it.. and on another board thats what was recommended, i left it soo long that the poor guy was suffering.. so i had to try it.. and it worked really well.. and i have been using it sence.
i have reasearched the parasite alot, Due to the fact that i do keep tangs, ( Yellow, Hippo, Naso , salifin )
Link 1
link 2
Link3
Good luck with reading, Lots of information on that parasite and others..
If that is the case, i dont blame you, When i first got my hippo tang, i had a case of ich/ick, first time i had seen it.. and on another board thats what was recommended, i left it soo long that the poor guy was suffering.. so i had to try it.. and it worked really well.. and i have been using it sence.
i have reasearched the parasite alot, Due to the fact that i do keep tangs, ( Yellow, Hippo, Naso , salifin )
Link 1
link 2
Link3
Good luck with reading, Lots of information on that parasite and others..