Ich

[Clownfishman]

I get back after just 24 hours gone from my tank... and two of my three fish are covered in ich... The water level did evaporate, but after checking SG it was only 1.023... regular level is 1.022... They didn't have any food and maybe they were stressed due to that so the ich attached... But I have seen ich come and then go.. .. should I just wait and see if this clears up??

PLEASE HELP

[Kevin1000]

There is a chance that your two fish will develop a partial imunity to ich - better chance that all of your fish will die unless you treat.

I would suggest quarantine for all of your fish. There are only two consistent effective treatments for ich that I am aware of - hyposalinity and copper. Both treatments will kill inverts and require a Qt tank.

I prefer hyposalinity over copper - easier on the fish and IMO easier to administer. Hyposalinity will require you to use a refractomer as a std hydrometer is not accurate enough.

If you go with copper I would recommend cupramine - least harmful of the coppers on the market.

Heres a link on ich

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/tr...marineich.html

Heres a link on hyposalinity

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/tr...osalinity.html

And heres a link on setting up a simple QT.

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/tr...tinetanks.html

You should leave your tank empty of fish for 5 weeks to insure that your tank is clear of ich.

In the future make sure you quarantine all fish prior to putting in your tank - best insurance against ich.

Hope this helps.

[Clownfishman]

Yeah I think they aren't gonna make it... my smallest clownfish doesn't have any on him at all... maybe he is immune??

[Kevin1000]

You sound pesimistic? Ich is not very difficult to treat and most fish will survive if you diagnose and treat the fish in the early stages. Also remember if one fish has ich then odds are they all have it even if you don't see it.

If you don't have a QT - you can use an inexpensive rubbermaid container - even a 5 gallon bucket will do.

[Clownfishman]

One of my fish I can't treat though, cause i just can't catch him...

[Kevin1000]

Throw some food in a large glass container - wait for the fish to enter container and net the whole container - fish & all.

IMO not treating is not an option. Suspect your fish will slowly die and any fish you stick in the tank within 5 weeks will likely get ich and suffer same fate.

Good luck.

[Phishnoob]

Our clown seemed immune then got it. He outlasted the tangs by a couple of weeks. Time to put them in the Q tank. It seems like once the symptoms start it is too late.

Hopefully UV and the cleaner shrimp army will help out next go around. No more skank LFS fish for us either, we found a great place to go now.

Phishnoob

[Kevin1000]

"Hopefully UV and the cleaner shrimp army will help out next go around"

Unfortunately the swimming stage of ich is so short that it is unlikely a UV will have much, if any, impact. Cleaner shrimp and cleaner wrasses are much touted (urban myth) but have little impact on ich.

The only way to insure you don't have ich is to quarantine everything.

[cheeks69]

I have learned the lesson of quarantining the hard way. I have had 2 severe cases of Ick that wiped out all but my pair of watchman gobies for some reason they seem to be completely immune to it.

I thought that buying from a good LFS that quarantines their fish for a minimum of a week was the way to go because I just didn't want the hassle of setting up and maintaining a quaratine tank.

My advice is quarantine every new fish before they're introduced to your tank for a minimumof 4 weeks otherwise you'll introduce the parasite to your display tank and the only way to get rid of it is to leave it fallow for 4-6 weeks.