Ick In Reef

[TruonkQ]

Hey guys! I've had a stable reef for about 8 months and i just purchased an Archilles tang and he has ick, but eats. Couple days later blue tang got it. Now Sailfin, white cheek, Kole eye, and purple tang has it. I'm Running a UV and tanks always at 80 degrees. Feed with garlic extreem. All fish eats fine and cleaner shrimp/ goby seems to help, but problem seems to get worse. Any chemicals safe on reef that anyone of yall has used?

[Reef69]

..Dont know of any chemicals since i would never use any. Some people have had success with Parasite Free ®, dont know who makes it..Achilles are notorious for Ick, same family as powder blues..

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_medications_ruby_reef.asp?ast=&key=

[cbianco]

I am not a fish expert by far but...

If I am not mistaking the ick needs a host to survive. First, is it possible for corals or live rock to host the ick? If the ick can only survive by by living on the fish (and not the coral) then you could do a fresh water dip on the fish. Hopefully the fresh water dip would cause the ick to fall off of the fish.

Could someone help me out here? lol :lol

Christopher

[alton]

I would remove the fish that started the trouble and put him in a quarantine tank. Maybe then the stress level will go down in your tank and the other fishes immune system may take over?

[hobogato]

i have used kick ich in the past, but i dont know where you would find it. i used to get it at aquarium sales. ultimately, the ich would return, but the cleaner shrimp seem to help most.

[demodiki]

Maybe this article will help.

http://wetwebmedia.com/ichartmar.htm

[TruonkQ]

I don't understand why freshwater dip would help? 1st of all there's too many fish to dip and they will get a 50/50 chance to live. How would removing their stress coat and putting them back in the tank help? Wouldn't it shock them even more? Ick will always exisits, but fish only get that when their stressed right? So whats the point of doing a fresh dip?

[TruonkQ]

Should i try to lower the Salinity in the tank to 1.017 in a reef? Clams can't take that right? I've seen some reef safe chemicals, but don't want to try on these clams.

[GreyWolf]

What size tank do you have?

[cbianco]

TruonkQ

I am not sure if you are being rude or if you are just wanting to sincerely know some additional information. I know what it is like to have a problem with my tank and the fustration I feel when there is no simple answer. I am going to give you the benefit of a doubt and help you out here.

Here is a thread that talks about the use of freshwater dips to cure ick. A fresh water dip will cause the parasites to fall off of the fish.

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?p=1216403#post1216403

In this thread there is a long post that refers to hyposalinity. This is the lowering of your SG to get rid of the ick. You mentioned this above but I don't suggest that you lower the entire main display tank. Use a hospital tank or something similar.

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8632

Here are various questions and answers to a section called, "All about dips and baths" at web wet media. There are additional links at the top of the page to find out more about dips and the like.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/dipsfaq2.htm

Webwetmedia.com is an excellent resource to find out information. Most guys here on MAAST would have no second thoughts about suggesting it.

Seeing that you have a reef tank, I would try and stay away from the chemical "fixes" if possible. They may cause more problems than good.

I hope that this information helps you out! Good luck with the ick.

Christopher

[Andrew]

Freshwater dip will not kill "ick" (the cysts are imbedded in the skin). The best you can do in a reef tank (besides moving all fish to a quarantine tank for hyposalinity and/or copper sulfate (CuSO4)), is to feed frequently (some use garlic in the food) and hope for the best.


Corals and most Invertebrates will not tolerate salinity level of 1.017 or below. To effectively erradicate Crypocaryon (ick), you must bring salinity down to between 1.008 to 1.010 for an extended period of time, often a week or more.

HTH
Andrew

[CD]

I'll have to agree with Andrew on the FW dips...won't do much good other than stressing the fish out even MORE at this point. In the past, the only time we have experienced severe Ich breakouts in our tank(s) is when the stress levels were too high (especially territory issues). I don't know what size tank you have all these tangs in (six tangs, right?) but depending on what order you put them in the tank, and how long it has been since everybody "staked out their territory", with the information you've given, I would say the addition of the Achillies is what is causing your problem. Not b/c the Achillies had ich, but because there is no longer sufficient room for all your fish to feel comfy/have their own territory. You may feel you have enough water volume, but where are they all sleeping at night? What spot do they run to in the daytime when they are spooked? Do all fish have PLENTY of hiding space without encroaching on another tang's "space"? Have you noticed any of them display increased aggression (tail slapping/chasing)? Not to mention that Achillies are ich magnets anyway >_<

Cleaner shrimp will "help", but they won't be able to keep up with the outbreak of all your fish.

I had this very same thing happen before my hubby and I upgraded to our current 210G display...added an Atlantic Blue tang to a tank (75G) that was a tad crowded, but I knew we would be upgrading soon so I thought everybody could co-exist for a month before the upgrade took place. To make a long story short, we lost SIX fish due to that incident.
To be quite honest, I'd say you have two options at this point...upgrade to a bigger tank with more room for your fish, or get rid of the Achillies. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. :(
Hope everything turns out OK. ;)

W. :)

[Reef69]

Hey Wendy, nice to see you are back!!. ;) :)

[CD]

Hey Wendy, nice to see you are back!!.


Thanks, Diego! :D
Wish I had more time these days...been working a lot of hours lately. :wacko

W.