when to add fish after ich

bbowler1 · 09/17/2015, 08:21 AM

I had an ich outbreak a couple weeks ago that claimed 2 fish. I believe it was caused by a PH issue that stressed a fish out and then spread. The PH issue is fixed now. There is 1 fish left in the tank that does not exhibit any signs and seems to continue to eat as normal. At what point can new specimens be added?

FishN00b83 · 09/17/2015, 08:30 AM

You need to get the last fish out and leave the tank fallow for weeks to kill off the ich and treat the remaining fish in QT. If you goto the disease section you'll find stickies on how to deal with ich and other parasites.

Sugar Magnolia · 09/17/2015, 09:02 AM

Yes, the tank needs to be fishless for 8 to 12 weeks to kill off all cycles of the ich.

Shawn O · 09/17/2015, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbowler1

I believe it was caused by a PH issue that stressed a fish out and then spread. The PH issue is fixed now.

PH does not cause an ich outbreak. The presence of ich causes the outbreak. If you never let ich into your system then you will never have an outbreak. It's the same with any other animal, if you don't put a butterflyfish into your tank you will have no butterflyfish in your system.

Leave your tank fish-less for 72 days or more. Your tank will then be ich-free. Treat your fish in one of the following ways; treat your fish with copper (if they are tolerant of it), run hypo-salinity or do the Tank Transfer Method (TTM) to rid the fish of the parasite.

Good luck with your tank and animals.

bbowler1 · 09/17/2015, 01:58 PM

Thanks, I am really bumming. No QT tank that will support a fish for that long. I guess I would have to rip my tank apart to catch him and hold at LFS.

Shawn O · 09/18/2015, 07:08 AM

How large is the fish? You can use just about anything as a QT, even a 5 gal bucket if the fish is small enough. A pair of 10 gal tanks will let you do TTM and once the fish is parasite-free you can use the WC water from the qt to do WCs on your DT. A brute trash can can serve as a long-term QT.

soulpatch · 09/18/2015, 08:28 AM

I have used a storage tote from Home Depot as a qt tank before for my larger FW fish. Just make sure you get the stronger ones and while they do bow slightly they work out great.

Taking the fish back to the LFS does not negate the need to QT that fish when you bring it back home. You can't take it somewhere, bring it back, and put it in your tank thinking all will be fine. Anything you bring to put in your tank should be QT before it hits the DT

tmz · 09/18/2015, 08:41 AM

The tank has ich now. It will very likely persist as long as there is a single fish in it. Cysts have remained viable for up to 72 days. PH is not the cause.

Bmwm235i · 09/18/2015, 11:48 PM

Going through the same thing at the moment. I have 42 more day until my dt will be fish less for 72 days. My qt tank is getting treated with copper which ends this coming week. I perform a 3 gallon water change on a 15 gal qt tank every 3 days. Get an ammonia badge helps some. It does suck but the upside is you have time to buy more corals! Qt every new fish and treat with copper and prazipro before they go into a dt tank, if they show signs of anything.

09/17/2015, 08:21 AM	#1
bbowler1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 113	when to add fish after ich I had an ich outbreak a couple weeks ago that claimed 2 fish. I believe it was caused by a PH issue that stressed a fish out and then spread. The PH issue is fixed now. There is 1 fish left in the tank that does not exhibit any signs and seems to continue to eat as normal. At what point can new specimens be added?

09/17/2015, 08:30 AM	#2
FishN00b83 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Long Island Posts: 1,140	You need to get the last fish out and leave the tank fallow for weeks to kill off the ich and treat the remaining fish in QT. If you goto the disease section you'll find stickies on how to deal with ich and other parasites. __________________ My 125 to 180 thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2525019

09/17/2015, 09:02 AM	#3
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Yes, the tank needs to be fishless for 8 to 12 weeks to kill off all cycles of the ich. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

09/18/2015, 07:08 AM	#6
Shawn O Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: People's Communist Republic of Massachusetts Posts: 1,474	How large is the fish? You can use just about anything as a QT, even a 5 gal bucket if the fish is small enough. A pair of 10 gal tanks will let you do TTM and once the fish is parasite-free you can use the WC water from the qt to do WCs on your DT. A brute trash can can serve as a long-term QT. __________________ "55gal glass box full of water, rocks and some not-so-amused little fishes" 2x Occellaris, 1 Pajama, 1 Neon Dottyback. Current Tank Info: 55gal tank, sumpless, ReefOctopus Classic 90, Twin bulb T5.

09/18/2015, 08:28 AM	#7
soulpatch Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 4,017	I have used a storage tote from Home Depot as a qt tank before for my larger FW fish. Just make sure you get the stronger ones and while they do bow slightly they work out great. Taking the fish back to the LFS does not negate the need to QT that fish when you bring it back home. You can't take it somewhere, bring it back, and put it in your tank thinking all will be fine. Anything you bring to put in your tank should be QT before it hits the DT __________________ 150 SC tank build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2550948 Some have bar tabs. I have a coral tab at my LFS. Life goals.

09/17/2015, 01:58 PM	#5
bbowler1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 113	Thanks, I am really bumming. No QT tank that will support a fish for that long. I guess I would have to rip my tank apart to catch him and hold at LFS.

09/18/2015, 08:41 AM	#8
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	The tank has ich now. It will very likely persist as long as there is a single fish in it. Cysts have remained viable for up to 72 days. PH is not the cause. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

09/18/2015, 11:48 PM	#9
Bmwm235i Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 45	Going through the same thing at the moment. I have 42 more day until my dt will be fish less for 72 days. My qt tank is getting treated with copper which ends this coming week. I perform a 3 gallon water change on a 15 gal qt tank every 3 days. Get an ammonia badge helps some. It does suck but the upside is you have time to buy more corals! Qt every new fish and treat with copper and prazipro before they go into a dt tank, if they show signs of anything.