Recommendations of ich medication...

MikeP · #1 12-17-2006, 04:16 PM

Whats a good ich medicine that is reef/invert safe? Or is there such a thing?

Der_Iron_Chef · #2 12-17-2006, 04:45 PM

Some ich meds claim to be reef safe, but I would doubt either their efficacy or the truth of their claim! I wouldn't want to risk my corals' health.

daddy01 · #3 12-17-2006, 04:47 PM

Hi,
I had a Sailfin Tang that was ich infested and I just lowered my salinity (gradually) to 1.014 or there abouts for three weeks. Then done a partiall water change, then slowly brought it back up but not to what the original salinty was I kept it at 1.019. That seemed to work for me
Jim

marie · #4 12-17-2006, 04:56 PM

There are only 2 sure fire ways of getting rid of ich, neither of which are reef safe. Hyposalinity, where you get the specific gravity down to 1.009 (a refractometer is a must) or copper.

The main tank should be left fallow for at least 6 weeks and for ever after, everything wet should be quarantined or else the above measures are pointless

justinl · #5 12-17-2006, 07:09 PM

If you read up a bit on the lifecycle of ick, the solution becomes (at least to me) failry clear

. lifecycle in a nutshell: ick floats around in the water column, attaches to FISH and parasitizes it. It reproduces and it's spore-like offspring fall onto the substrate and grow into more ick. yay fun, fun.

So how do we get rid of these ****ers? Well what I would do is give all the fishies a short freshwater dip (5-10 minutes should do it). this will basically explode the ick off the fish due to their intolerance of hyposalinity (lack of saltiness). After that I would throw the fish into QT for a month, add meds if you want.

Why the month long QT for all the fish? Because it takes away the hosts from the ick lifecycle and they die without a proper host (fish). From what I understand ick cannot infect corals or inverts so those can stay in the display tank. PLus I dont think inverts and corals deal nearly as well with freshwater as the fish. If something IS infecting your inverts/corals, it probably isnt ick.

Keep in mind though that before you do any meds or drastic measures, make sure that your diagnostic is correct. Also not all disease-kill procedures are suitable for your particular tank. You have to think before you act.

Psyire · #6 12-17-2006, 11:59 PM

I've read where they've found ich to survive 8 hours in freshwater...

Geofrog · #7 12-18-2006, 03:47 PM

A while back my tangs had a bit of an ich infestation. Got a cleaner shrimp, and since then haven't had a problem. Won't necessarily get rid of the problem but it should help keep it at bay.

daddy01 · #8 12-18-2006, 05:39 PM

Hi,
I would like to know what is necessary in a 'Hospital" tank. I too have an outbreak ich and I am setting up a small hospital (quarantine) tank. what is needed in tank, I was thinking using water from established tank and just lowering the salinity, and running just a carbon filter and lights. I bought a mini 3Gal system including light and filter plastic.
Jim

muck · #9 12-18-2006, 05:41 PM

Don't forget a heater.

marie · #10 12-18-2006, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daddy01

Hi,
I would like to know what is necessary in a 'Hospital" tank. I too have an outbreak ich and I am setting up a small hospital (quarantine) tank. what is needed in tank, I was thinking using water from established tank and just lowering the salinity, and running just a carbon filter and lights. I bought a mini 3Gal system including light and filter plastic.
Jim

I found it handy to use one of those hang on back filters and I keep the foam inserts in my sump. when I need the quarantine tank I fill it with tank water, put the foam in the filter and it's good to go