[woodywood]

I have been testing Hydrogen Peroxide 3% that you can purchase from any grocery store or drug store. Peroxide is proving to be the fastest, cheapest, easiest and safest Ich cure that was brought to my attention by one of my customers. I used to be a research chemist so I took his results and began studying effective concentrations - 1 ml per gallon in extreme conditions where Ich is covering the fish - 1 ml / 5 gallons when Ich is definitely in the tank - to 1 ml per 10 gallons when you see the first white spot or just suspect Ich. Repeat daily for about 3 weeks. My present recommendation is to reduce the amount of peroxide with time if you started with the 1:1 or 1:5 concentrations to 1:10.
I've had the 1:10 and 1:5 ratios work in my personal 135 with no observation of harmful effects. (For calculating the amount of peroxide I used tank size not actual water volume.) I have SPS, LPS, shrimp, starfish, anemones and much more (and fish). My rose bubble tip did react and swelled up but returned to normal a while later. What I do observe is the parasites start to swell and begin falling off the fish. I would hypothesize the same mechanism that's affecting the Ich is also affecting the anemone to a lesser degree. If you have any what you might perceive as sensitive use the 1:10 ratio.
Hydrogen peroxide H202 is in simple terms water plus oxygen or H2O + O. The oxygen is the effective part that kills or oxidizes bacteria when used in a fresh wound and only water is left. I'm not sure exactly why and how it's so effective on the parasite and I would love to have a professional analysis to include on my website.

I don't have enough tanks with Ich to do a more comprehensive study but I would accept all observations to determine the limitations of hydrogen peroxide. Using or not using skimmers, carbon, etc. won't make a difference because peroxide will decompose into water long before they reach the filter. To be most effective use a fresh bottle (with the latest expiration date) and keep it tightly closed and refrigerated. It is a variable that can maximize effectiveness and promote more consistent observations.
Woody
I'm one of your sponsors - Seahorse Aquarium Supply - www.seahorse-nw.com- I have an information only website and don't sell online

 

[valfal]

I have a 55 gallon tank by the way....only added 55 ml....correct? doesn't seem like enough to do anything but am being hopeful.

 

[jerryclunsford]

It should be plenty H2O2 is a potent oxidizer.

 

[woodywood]

tell me more about your tank and I'm guessing your ich is really bad. There is a point of no hope to save the fish where the parasites have burrowed in too deep

I have a 55 gallon tank by the way....only added 55 ml....correct? doesn't seem like enough to do anything but am being hopeful.

 

[valfal]

Thanks for replying.

I started up the tank in July. 55 gallon with fish, crabs, live rock.

Up until 2 weeks ago, I had 2 clownfish, 1 goby, 1 yellow tang.

Two weeks ago I bought a flame angel. When the fish was in the store in was swimming really fast and skimming the glass. I was assured the fish was fine, will do fine in my tank with what other fish I had.

The next day, the angel started to break out in the white spots. I went back to the fish store, and because of the crabs they sold me a combination of rally/kick ich.

Well the medicine was finished and the spots were not getting any better so I went back. They sold me another 2 bottles of the same medicine.

I need to mention that as soon as the angel was added to the tank, the yellow tank went after her. She never left her alone. We figured that was the reason for the stress and the ich.

Three days ago, the ich was not only getting really bad on the angel but spread to the other fish. That night the Angel was hiding and eventually seemed like it was gasping for air at the top of the tank. And of course she stopped eating. The next morning she was dead.

The next one to get it really bad was a clownfish. Same thing happened...spots, stopped eating, gasping for air and he died overnight.

The yellow tang and the other clownfish are really infested with the spots although they are still eating and acting fairly normal.

I came on the reef tank forum last night and was referred to your post. I ran out this morning and figured I had nothing to lose and added the hydrogen peroxide. They are still eating and don't seem to be getting worse, but look terrible.

I now realize a few things....first of all I had trust in this fish store I was going to but now know that they just wanted to make a sale. I have now learned that "kick ich" does not work. But yet even tonight when I stopped in to tell them what was happening, they tried to sell me yet another 2 bottles of rally/kick ich.

I have also learned that a yellow tang and a flame angel should not have been put in a 55 gallon tank. They assured me they would be fine.

Sorry for being so long winded. Really sad for the fish and frustrated. I know that it is a long shot that the peroxide will work for them but I have to try. By the way, I also learned that I should have a hospital tank. Something else the fish store said was not necessary. I will try to post some pictures of the fish today.

 

[valfal]

 

[valfal]

Do you have an email address where I can send the pictures

 

[woodywood]

yellow tangs and flame angels are fine together and in smaller tanks - just buy smaller fish and the more rock you have the better the habitat and the fish feel safer. the tank size recommended on the internet assume large fish and once fish are in captivity they grow much slower. yellow tangs 8+ inches - flame angels 5+ inches in the wild. I personally had a 7" gold banded maroon clown over 10 years. when you buy a fish don't reference the internet - little fish little tanks etc

 

[woodywood]

FYI any LFS that tries to sell more products that don't work especially in your situation needs new owners or just close up. I only sell products I personally test and evaluate. I am in a unique position [PhD in chemistry , minor in bachelors math and many years as research chemist ] but it's not rocket science to determine if something works as advertised. - i test products before I offer them for sale - anyway that's enough for now

 

[valfal]

As expected, I think the infestation was so bad it couldn't be cured. This morning the clown has "stringy" stuff coming from it. The tang can't keep his balance and is bouncing off rocks, floor etc. Hard watching them suffer like this.

On the bright side....Goby is looking pretty good. I don't know how that is possible.

Thanks for your info.

 

[valfal]

Goby is the only survivor right now.

 

[valfal]

I've been treating the tank with hydrogen peroxide for 4 days....55 ml for 55 gallon tank. The last surviving fish doesn't have any spots. Should I continue with the 55 ml every day?

 

[woodywood]

reduce peroxide to 1m/5 gallons every day for 3 weeks -a good water change up to 90% and you're good to go

I've been treating the tank with hydrogen peroxide for 4 days....55 ml for 55 gallon tank. The last surviving fish doesn't have any spots. Should I continue with the 55 ml every day?

 

[valfal]

O.k. so finished treating with hydrogen peroxide for the last 3 weeks. My one and only fish is looking good except for tail fins which are frayed. All numbers looks good so I don't know why they look like that. Fish is swimming and eating fine.

I am waiting for the delivery of the marinemax. Until then I am trying to set up my quarantine tank....just want to make sure I do everything right.

tank will be set up with a piece of live rock and water from main tank?

need small power head and no light and no heater?

How soon after this tank is set up can I get a new fish?

How long does the fish have to stay in the quarantine tank....4 weeks?

 

[teufel72]

Interesting read. This should also work for velvet right?

 

[migueldelgado24.md]

I have been testing Hydrogen Peroxide 3% that you can purchase from any grocery store or drug store. Peroxide is proving to be the fastest, cheapest, easiest and safest Ich cure that was brought to my attention by one of my customers. I used to be a research chemist so I took his results and began studying effective concentrations - 1 ml per gallon in extreme conditions where Ich is covering the fish - 1 ml / 5 gallons when Ich is definitely in the tank - to 1 ml per 10 gallons when you see the first white spot or just suspect Ich. Repeat daily for about 3 weeks. My present recommendation is to reduce the amount of peroxide with time if you started with the 1:1 or 1:5 concentrations to 1:10.
I've had the 1:10 and 1:5 ratios work in my personal 135 with no observation of harmful effects. (For calculating the amount of peroxide I used tank size not actual water volume.) I have SPS, LPS, shrimp, starfish, anemones and much more (and fish). My rose bubble tip did react and swelled up but returned to normal a while later. What I do observe is the parasites start to swell and begin falling off the fish. I would hypothesize the same mechanism that's affecting the Ich is also affecting the anemone to a lesser degree. If you have any what you might perceive as sensitive use the 1:10 ratio.
Hydrogen peroxide H202 is in simple terms water plus oxygen or H2O + O. The oxygen is the effective part that kills or oxidizes bacteria when used in a fresh wound and only water is left. I'm not sure exactly why and how it's so effective on the parasite and I would love to have a professional analysis to include on my website.

I don't have enough tanks with Ich to do a more comprehensive study but I would accept all observations to determine the limitations of hydrogen peroxide. Using or not using skimmers, carbon, etc. won't make a difference because peroxide will decompose into water long before they reach the filter. To be most effective use a fresh bottle (with the latest expiration date) and keep it tightly closed and refrigerated. It is a variable that can maximize effectiveness and promote more consistent observations.
Woody
I'm one of your sponsors - Seahorse Aquarium Supply - www.seahorse-nw.com- I have an information only website and don't sell online

I been doing yur treatment for a week an a half in my 46 gallon reef tank 1 ml a gallon gona start lowering the dosage slowly starting tomorrow