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Cleaners can help relieve the fish of matured trophonts (parasite) that attack the gill tissue of the fish & then the exterior body of the fish (fins, ect). Cleaner shrimp won't rid your tank of the parasite (ich) or prevent the free swimming parasites from re-infecting the fish. When just one parasite drops off the fish it begins to reproduce and the life cycle lives on.

If you have no plans of getting a QT tank to do treatment (Only two options; 1. Hyposalinity or 2. Copper.) to rid the parasite.

Then here is some suggestions that you could use to help control it at best.
1. Soak food in garlic (Garlic Extreme liquid - Sells BA $10 bucks)
2. You can also try Ginger, the newest claim of fame.
3. UV Sterilizer - Comes a variety of watts, the larger watts, the better. It will help kill free swimming parasites. Remember only help control. Although some have claimed it cured their problem. I found it definately controlled it and also helped kill other algaes but also kills pods. So pro's and cons like everything.
4. Water Quality - More water changes.

Other things to consider - Make sure you know its ich. It can easily be confused with Velvet and often shows the same signs. The only difference is the salt like speckles with Velvet become larger and when heavily infected with show a smudge appearance through the fins. The fish also will take on a shiny appearance.

Another thing to consider when dealing with Ich or Velvet, the free-swimming parasites are indeed attracted to light. They swim up to the light to attack to the fish. If you notice one day your fish are showing more salt like speckles (ich), keep your lights off for 24hrs. Keep your tank dark. This way the free-swimming parasites will have a hard time finding the fish & most parasites if they don’t find the host (your fish) within 24hrs die (exception - the fish that sleep in one spot, like Gobies, the parasite drops below them & quickly finds them as they lay in the same spot.) Now although keeping the lights off is not ideal for corals, it’s a judgment call you make since you’re not in a position to setup a QT tank. But to note I have never heard of anyone losing their corals yet that have tried this and have indeed said they believed it helped.


Hope this info above helps,


Lee