Tank Infected! Please Help

HidingReefer · 02/01/2015, 09:30 PM

Hi, I am about 3 months into the hobby. My current tank has a clown fish, blue tang, yellow tang, chromis, and a damsel, with some corals. I now know that I have Ich in my tank. I see some white spots on my blue and yellow tang, along with my nemo. The spots disappeared for the yelow and nemo, but the Ich is staying on the blue tang. I am adding Garlic Powder to my food but it is not helping the blue tang. But I want to give some good news too, the blue tang is swimming and eating well. What should I do now? Quarintine, or any medications (reef safe). Please help.
Ich has been in tank for ~1 week now

First Post ^^^^

Ajohnson · 02/01/2015, 09:45 PM

The only sure fire way to treat is to quarantine ALL of your fish, not just the infected one(s). Treat the fish in QT, and leave your tank fallow for at least 8 weeks. That's the right way to do it. The only proven effective method for treating ich is copper. I've used polyp lab medic in the past, and my tank conveniently no longer has any ich issues, however many a poor soul has been torn apart on forums such as these for recommending "snake oil" treatments. They also say that a blue tang will get ich if you look at it funny, so you should probably invest in a good hospital tank setup because you may have many more ich battles to fight.

HidingReefer · 02/01/2015, 09:52 PM

Thanks for the info!

HidingReefer · 02/01/2015, 09:57 PM

Also, Do I add anything to the quarantine setup, such as live rock or live sand, or should I keep it empty?

ca1ore · 02/01/2015, 09:57 PM

Assuming by 'blue tang' you mean regal or hippo, then they are extremely susceptible to ich and it is not unusual for it to be the only fish with symptoms. I am of the opinion that there are different strains of ich with differing levels of potency. If a milder strain then the problem may prove to be manageable as long as you feed your fish well and maintain high water quality levels (garlic will do nothing, BTW); if a more aggressive strain then likely more aggressive measures will be required.

The prior post is correct that you would have to remove all fish to a separate tanks and leave your reef fishless for 72 days. that gives you time to treat the fish, and ensure they are not still carriers. Cupramine (copper), tank transfer and chloroquine phosphate are all effective against ich.

Frankly, though, I'd be inclined just to watch your fish for a week or so. If the spots return, and in much greater numbers, then you will know that you have to treat your fish. If they do not return, and it is just an occasional spot on the regal, you may be able to manage through. Does make adding subsequent fish a little trickier though.

Ajohnson · 02/01/2015, 09:57 PM

I wouldn't put any in. The copper will kill all invertebrates, including the bacteria on the rocks and sand. I put in a sponge filter with an airline, a powerhead for circulation, and a heater. I also put in some pieces of pvc pipe for the fish to hide in. You just have to do more frequent water changes, as there aren't the beneficial bacteria to help out.

danielmitchell · 02/02/2015, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ajohnson

They also say that a blue tang will get ich if you look at it funny.

hahah i laughed.

02/01/2015, 09:30 PM	#1
HidingReefer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 259	Tank Infected! Please Help Hi, I am about 3 months into the hobby. My current tank has a clown fish, blue tang, yellow tang, chromis, and a damsel, with some corals. I now know that I have Ich in my tank. I see some white spots on my blue and yellow tang, along with my nemo. The spots disappeared for the yelow and nemo, but the Ich is staying on the blue tang. I am adding Garlic Powder to my food but it is not helping the blue tang. But I want to give some good news too, the blue tang is swimming and eating well. What should I do now? Quarintine, or any medications (reef safe). Please help. Ich has been in tank for ~1 week now First Post ^^^^

02/01/2015, 09:45 PM	#2
Ajohnson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Edmonton, AB Canada Posts: 58	The only sure fire way to treat is to quarantine ALL of your fish, not just the infected one(s). Treat the fish in QT, and leave your tank fallow for at least 8 weeks. That's the right way to do it. The only proven effective method for treating ich is copper. I've used polyp lab medic in the past, and my tank conveniently no longer has any ich issues, however many a poor soul has been torn apart on forums such as these for recommending "snake oil" treatments. They also say that a blue tang will get ich if you look at it funny, so you should probably invest in a good hospital tank setup because you may have many more ich battles to fight. __________________ 90g reef tank, 30 gallon sump. Dual Kessil A350w LED lights. Bubble Magus Curve 5 skimmer, omega bio-pellet reactor. 80 lbs. live rock, 3" sand bed all around. 30g hospital/QT. 10g frag tank. Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon reef tank with a 30 gallon sump. 75 pounds of live rock and approx 3" sand bed all around. Lots of fish, LPS, and Softies, as well as some SPS. 2 Kessil A350W lights. Bubble magus skimmer, omega biopellet reactor.

02/01/2015, 09:52 PM	#3
HidingReefer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 259	Thanks for the info! Last edited by HidingReefer; 02/01/2015 at 09:58 PM.

02/01/2015, 09:57 PM	#5
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Assuming by 'blue tang' you mean regal or hippo, then they are extremely susceptible to ich and it is not unusual for it to be the only fish with symptoms. I am of the opinion that there are different strains of ich with differing levels of potency. If a milder strain then the problem may prove to be manageable as long as you feed your fish well and maintain high water quality levels (garlic will do nothing, BTW); if a more aggressive strain then likely more aggressive measures will be required. The prior post is correct that you would have to remove all fish to a separate tanks and leave your reef fishless for 72 days. that gives you time to treat the fish, and ensure they are not still carriers. Cupramine (copper), tank transfer and chloroquine phosphate are all effective against ich. Frankly, though, I'd be inclined just to watch your fish for a week or so. If the spots return, and in much greater numbers, then you will know that you have to treat your fish. If they do not return, and it is just an occasional spot on the regal, you may be able to manage through. Does make adding subsequent fish a little trickier though. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

02/01/2015, 09:57 PM	#6
Ajohnson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Edmonton, AB Canada Posts: 58	I wouldn't put any in. The copper will kill all invertebrates, including the bacteria on the rocks and sand. I put in a sponge filter with an airline, a powerhead for circulation, and a heater. I also put in some pieces of pvc pipe for the fish to hide in. You just have to do more frequent water changes, as there aren't the beneficial bacteria to help out. __________________ 90g reef tank, 30 gallon sump. Dual Kessil A350w LED lights. Bubble Magus Curve 5 skimmer, omega bio-pellet reactor. 80 lbs. live rock, 3" sand bed all around. 30g hospital/QT. 10g frag tank. Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon reef tank with a 30 gallon sump. 75 pounds of live rock and approx 3" sand bed all around. Lots of fish, LPS, and Softies, as well as some SPS. 2 Kessil A350W lights. Bubble magus skimmer, omega biopellet reactor.