Need Help with ICH

[khaiduk]

Hi - I have a powder blue and a chevron that have both come down with ICH. I have treated with cupramine as directed on the bottle. It's been five days, and not much of a change. Does anyone have experierence with this product and the cycle time? Also - how do I re-test to check if I need to apply more. Thanks very much!

[MikeDeL]

Try raising the temp to 83 or 83. If this isnt a reef tank you could lower the salinity in the tank. Ich is very common with Tangs, especially when they are first introduced or stressed out. Are these new editions? Has anything changed relecently that would cause some kind of stress? What is your water quality like (ammonia, nitrates)?


Mike

[GaryP]

Did you treat your main tank with cuprmaine or a quarantine tank?

You need to get a copper test kit and monitor the copper levels in the water. Copper only works on one stage in the ICH life cycle. As I recall there is something like 14 stages. You are trying to break the life cycle of the disease. Raising the temp speeds up the life cycle.

The main thing to remember about ICH is that its usually brought about by stress. You need to evaluate the physical, behaviorial, and nutritional factors that may contribute to the stress of the fish. Adding a garlic extract to their food can also be very helpful.

Gary

[wtrujillo]

What does you water test show?
What else do you have in the tank?

How long have you had them in the tank? What other fish are in the tank?

[Instar]

As MikeDel said, you gotta keep your temperature stable, even at night when these fronts move through. Raising it will help keep it stable as the heater is more likely to be less influenced by house temp, doors open, forgot to adjust the heat and lights off. The thermal cooling that takes place as night is much more dramatic than you feel when its cold and damp outside. That combined with the increase in CO2 production will cause enough sudden change to start ick in fish that are not completely acclimated to artificial diets and/or diets that are a bit imcomplete. Adding copper based meds to the main tank can complicate the issues as the bacteria that keep nitrogen cycle going will at best go dormant. Refugiums seem to help combat ick issues and feeding the tangs things like caulerpa from the fuge is good for their vegitarian palate. Ick issues are less of a problem in balanced tanks with lots of life growing on the rocks and when acclimation is sufficient. Skimmers, refugiums, stability and diet all play a role in resistance. If the fish are well fed and the water is good with sufficient calcium and buffers, then the temperature will likely solve your issue. Tangs do not keep their mucous membranes up well if they are under nourished, so if they are skinny then feed them.

[khaiduk]

Thanks - I will try and turn up the temp a little. It is at a constant 78 right now. It is a stable tank that has never had this problem. I will check the amonia - I check it about every other week - and it always comes up 0. I did at the chevron about a month ago - so I guess he may have brought it in. Strangely enough, he gets along great with everyone except my lemon peel angel. I feed Formalu one and Formula two. I will let you know how it goes. Thanks!

[Reef69]

Powder Blues are ich bombs..I would try hyposalinity on a qt tank...Honestly, i tried a PB once..long story short, some fish are better left on the reef..good luck..

[khaiduk]

I measured my amonia this morning and it is at .4! Should I put some bacteria in or just let it settle down. This is main my main tank btw, I don't have any invertebrates in their now. Thanks!

[alexwolf]

Powder Blues are ich bombs




some fish are better left on the reef


I have seen many powder blues in many different tanks that have been there for quite a while. It is a gorgeous fish, and just because you need to be a little more gentle while working with them doesnt mean they are bad fish. All they need is to be taken care of and you can get lots of years of enjoyment out of them.

[wtrujillo]

Powder Blues are ich bombs




some fish are better left on the reef


I have seen many powder blues in many different tanks that have been there for quite a while. It is a gorgeous fish, and just because you need to be a little more gentle while working with them doesnt mean they are bad fish. All they need is to be taken care of and you can get lots of years of enjoyment out of them.

I have to agree with alex on his comments. some species just need a little more TLC than others.

[Instar]

Since you medicated the tank, you need to get the cupramine out with carbon and then add a viable marine bacteria culture to get the ammonia (nitrogen cycle) up and running again. The cupramine will damage the bacteria you had. It might recover, but, if its climbing already, it can shoot up real fast and cause blood poisoning. If did come to that, its not reversable 9 times out of 10.
Agree with Josh, feed caulerpa and nori too.

The dilemas with powder blues are no different than any other fish we get that is branded as hard. I've caught fish myself and brought them home and had the healthiest fish ever. Totally different than what we get from our fish stores. Thats why I like buying from Sam. Fresh caught and never starved for weeks until we get them. I can hardly wait till he starts into the fish line. His stuff is awesome and its a night and day difference by comparison!