Ich

notorious_reb · 11/14/2008, 06:06 PM

I have a longstanding 125 gallon fish/coral tank. For as long as i can remember Ich has infested the tank. Fortunately, i do frequent water changes so my water quality is relatively high. I rarely add new fish and many of the long lived fish have grown immune to ich (they have survived the initial infections but after two-three life cycles were ich free). The exception is a blue hippo tang that seems to survive with relatively good health through each of the cycles. I have read more threads than i can count about ridding ich from your display tank. The two most supported methods being hyposalinity and moving everything to a QT tank for 6 weeks and leaving the display tank fallow for that time period.
I cannot afford to purchase another tank with the proper filtration, lighting, etc to serve as a QT tank for my stock of fish (my larger fish would require more than a small tank). Hyposalinity in the display tank is impossible due to my coral. I would certainly love to remove this pest once and for all.
I have a question that may be a stupid one, but i was wondering if anyone had any experience or thoughts on the following; if only one of many fish seems to be a host for ich, if you QT that fish for a period of 4-6 weeks with hyposalinity will the ich in the main display tank die? My understanding is that without finding a host ich will die. In that sense, those fish immune will not provide a host to allow the ich to continue its life cycle. If anyone has any thoughts or experience with my question please respond. If anyone has any additional thoughts, please weigh in as well.
Thanks in advance.

benzreef · 11/15/2008, 12:06 AM

that sounds like it should work. as long as your other fish are healthy, the parasite should be gone within 6 weeks or so

Flipper62 · 11/15/2008, 01:20 AM

If Ick / ich is in the tank.......Its in the tank. Even if other fish dont show signs of it, its still there. If it IS ICK.....You need to treat all the fish.......

Its not like a cold in a human.......Its a parasite in the water. You need to treat the whole tank & get the Ick out....Not just the one fish

11/14/2008, 06:06 PM	#1
notorious_reb Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5	Ich I have a longstanding 125 gallon fish/coral tank. For as long as i can remember Ich has infested the tank. Fortunately, i do frequent water changes so my water quality is relatively high. I rarely add new fish and many of the long lived fish have grown immune to ich (they have survived the initial infections but after two-three life cycles were ich free). The exception is a blue hippo tang that seems to survive with relatively good health through each of the cycles. I have read more threads than i can count about ridding ich from your display tank. The two most supported methods being hyposalinity and moving everything to a QT tank for 6 weeks and leaving the display tank fallow for that time period. I cannot afford to purchase another tank with the proper filtration, lighting, etc to serve as a QT tank for my stock of fish (my larger fish would require more than a small tank). Hyposalinity in the display tank is impossible due to my coral. I would certainly love to remove this pest once and for all. I have a question that may be a stupid one, but i was wondering if anyone had any experience or thoughts on the following; if only one of many fish seems to be a host for ich, if you QT that fish for a period of 4-6 weeks with hyposalinity will the ich in the main display tank die? My understanding is that without finding a host ich will die. In that sense, those fish immune will not provide a host to allow the ich to continue its life cycle. If anyone has any thoughts or experience with my question please respond. If anyone has any additional thoughts, please weigh in as well. Thanks in advance.

11/15/2008, 01:20 AM	#3
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	If Ick / ich is in the tank.......Its in the tank. Even if other fish dont show signs of it, its still there. If it IS ICK.....You need to treat all the fish....... Its not like a cold in a human.......Its a parasite in the water. You need to treat the whole tank & get the Ick out....Not just the one fish __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

11/15/2008, 12:06 AM	#2
benzreef Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The tip of Lake Superior Posts: 256	that sounds like it should work. as long as your other fish are healthy, the parasite should be gone within 6 weeks or so