Hey OCDP,

I'm thinking because your flame was the new addition he was probably stressed, thus most vulnerable to ick in the system. Your other fish are not neccessarily immune, but healthy enough to withstand the parasite for now. While he probably didn't appear to have full blown ick, he sounds like he was suffering on and off with it for a while. I'd keep an eye on the rest of your fish. 3 possible actions.

1. QT the rest of your fish for 6 weeks.. don't bother if you are moving into your new tank
2. Feed garlic and watch dilligently for 8 weeks to see if any other fish gets ick. If so, treat accordingly with QT, HYPO, UV, Garliand water changes. If you see ick on more fish do not just leave them in the tank, feed them food soaked in garlic and hope for the best. It doesn't work. Prayer and faith might turn water into wine, but it doesn't turn cure ick.
3. Do nothing.

Mmm I also hear that vacuuming the sandbed helps... never tried it but doesn't hurt to try when you do your next water change, ya?

Oldguy,

I'm afraid you're wrong. Obviously the first thing I did after the fish died was check paramaters. And to clarify, I do weekly and sometimes even more than once a week water changes of 5g. I also skim on the heaviest setting with an AquaC Remora.

And well let's put it this way... if I can have a 20g tank full of thriving SPS , then that should be a somewhat good indicator to me that the paramaters in my tank are pretty good.

Definitely no ammonia spike. Everyone in my tank get's along very well... I have never had any problems.

Xtasia,

What do you mean QT your fish unless switching tanks, then dont bother?? You mean if I am switching tanks, do not QT at all?

I was thinking of QT'ing all fish regardless when I switch to a new tank.. all fish right now are fine and showing no ick at all.

I feed garlic regularly, and since the addition of my new Flame, I fed garlic every day I had it (maybe I missed one day max) I always soaked mysis and various flakes. It ate every time but Tuesday evening.

I usually clean my sandbed weekly as well, not vacuuming though, although I only have a 1-2" (max) sandbed.

I for say use quarantine for sure!! It does not have to be set up all the time just when you get new live stock and the following 6-8 weeks. Your old 20g or even a 10g would work fine.

Ick is not always in your tank!

Here is a good link to read on QT tanks.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php


For a cool small fish I like purple file fish, maybe some smaller wrasses but I don't know what ones off the top of my head can go in small tanks.

Dave

Thanks guys. I am going to do the QT , I just need to find a spot to setup a tank.. and that could be quite the challenge in my house.

I'll keep you guys posted,

The 6-Line is actually suppose to be a disease resistant fish, but they are aggressive.

Although I'm a HUGE fan of fairy wrasses and I think they'd do fine in certain smaller setups (I had a pair in a 20g), the problem is if you're going to stay open top, I'd actually recommend against these (and other jumpers). Firefish, jawfish,.. oh the list is large, sadly.

The problem is, they have this defensive strategy of "an incredible big burst of speed" if something startles them (and they tend to startle easily, just entering the room is enough). In a small tank, there's nowhere to go in a situation like that, except for "out." In a small open-top tank, sadly, I think their days will be numbered.

I don't think a 6line has the same tendency though. I've never tried mine in a small tank but he's a much calmer fish than any fairy wrasse I've ever kept.

Hate to rain on the parade like this but it just happens too often, i.e., hearing about fairy wrasses meeting their end as carpet jerky.

Yuck!

What about open top with eggrate over it?

I agree with jumping being an issue, I lost have lost anthias and clowns from jumping, now I run eggcrate to keep them in.

I imagine eggcrate would work well.