How longtime hobbyists avoid ich for decades...

Sk8r · 03/09/2011, 09:38 AM

It's the bane of the new-to-the-hobby forum, but far, far less so among longtime hobbyists. Here's why:

1. quarantine. Don't be one of those who has to be stung once badly. quarantine your very first fish.

2. water quality. Prioritize the purchase of an ATO before you get fish. Maybe 2 ATO's, one for your qt tank. Prioritize the purchase of a refractometer, and at least one accurate test kit: for alkalinity---before fish. Use them. Do not RUSH a new tank: go very slowly.

3. expertise in buying fish: a knowledgeable hobbyist looks through all the tanks and notes the health of all fish in the shop...and which tanks are connected to what sump. Will not pity-buy unless they've got a hospital tank and know the species. Will not buy fish or inverts they have not looked up in 'the book' which most stores have under the counter. Will not buy a fish that has signs of disease: gill edge showing, ragged fins, white edge to fins, white poop, stringy poop; spots, discolorations, white dots, swellings, hollow belly. Will not buy a fish they have not seen eat. Ask the store.

4. understanding of fish's requirements for swimming room/territory, oxygenation, filtration. Not overloading a tank with carnivores/high protein eaters without an adequate skimmer [removes protein waste]. Not letting fish stress each other. [territorial bluster is one thing, if no nip occurs: if you're getting fights, you have a problem.]

5. understanding how ich infests, how it lives, how it spreads, and being careful: read that sticky at the top of this forum and think about it when considering a fish source. Do not buy from chancy places: if buying from an individual, feel them out---you can figure out whether a person has an effective clue about the hobby, and don't be shy about asking somebody about his tank conditions if he's proposing to sell you something. You're the person doing the buying: you have a right to ask questions and be satisfied...and of course...back to step one: quarantine the new arrival, and do it right: bare tank, no place for ich to lurk, no trading of nets or wet items from tank to tank.

I hope that at least gives a clue how the 'old guys' get so lucky. It's not magical. And luck has less to do with it than you might think.

cjdevito · 03/09/2011, 10:40 AM

I couldn't agree more with Sk8r's points. I haven't had to deal with ich since... 1986? 1987? Sometime around then.

patsfan1130 · 03/09/2011, 11:08 AM

Solid advice ^^^^

In nearly 25 years I have only had to deal with Ich once and guess what..It was the one time I got lazy and did not QT! 1 dumb mistake cost me thousands in losses.

03/09/2011, 09:38 AM	#1
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	How longtime hobbyists avoid ich for decades... It's the bane of the new-to-the-hobby forum, but far, far less so among longtime hobbyists. Here's why: 1. quarantine. Don't be one of those who has to be stung once badly. quarantine your very first fish. 2. water quality. Prioritize the purchase of an ATO before you get fish. Maybe 2 ATO's, one for your qt tank. Prioritize the purchase of a refractometer, and at least one accurate test kit: for alkalinity---before fish. Use them. Do not RUSH a new tank: go very slowly. 3. expertise in buying fish: a knowledgeable hobbyist looks through all the tanks and notes the health of all fish in the shop...and which tanks are connected to what sump. Will not pity-buy unless they've got a hospital tank and know the species. Will not buy fish or inverts they have not looked up in 'the book' which most stores have under the counter. Will not buy a fish that has signs of disease: gill edge showing, ragged fins, white edge to fins, white poop, stringy poop; spots, discolorations, white dots, swellings, hollow belly. Will not buy a fish they have not seen eat. Ask the store. 4. understanding of fish's requirements for swimming room/territory, oxygenation, filtration. Not overloading a tank with carnivores/high protein eaters without an adequate skimmer [removes protein waste]. Not letting fish stress each other. [territorial bluster is one thing, if no nip occurs: if you're getting fights, you have a problem.] 5. understanding how ich infests, how it lives, how it spreads, and being careful: read that sticky at the top of this forum and think about it when considering a fish source. Do not buy from chancy places: if buying from an individual, feel them out---you can figure out whether a person has an effective clue about the hobby, and don't be shy about asking somebody about his tank conditions if he's proposing to sell you something. You're the person doing the buying: you have a right to ask questions and be satisfied...and of course...back to step one: quarantine the new arrival, and do it right: bare tank, no place for ich to lurk, no trading of nets or wet items from tank to tank. I hope that at least gives a clue how the 'old guys' get so lucky. It's not magical. And luck has less to do with it than you might think. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/09/2011, 11:08 AM	#3
patsfan1130 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Woburn, Ma Posts: 2,010	Solid advice ^^^^ In nearly 25 years I have only had to deal with Ich once and guess what..It was the one time I got lazy and did not QT! 1 dumb mistake cost me thousands in losses. __________________ My cat's breath smells like cat food Member of the Boston Reefers Society Current Tank Info: 75g lps, 90g sps, 120g mixed, 180 nem tank, 300g reef, 600g up & coming reef

03/09/2011, 10:40 AM	#2
cjdevito 10 & Over Club Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: NYC Posts: 635	I couldn't agree more with Sk8r's points. I haven't had to deal with ich since... 1986? 1987? Sometime around then.