Your thoughts on "Ich-Free" tanks - IS IT POSSIBLE?

[Hustler]

Ive only seen ich as a result of high stress... a move, a fight, bad water ect anything ive ever had could get it but wouldnt

[NastayNatron]

Alright I understand there are many different views as to what ich is. I also realize it is basically impossible to keep out of your aquarium entirely. So I have a copperband and leapord wrasse in my quarantine right now. I noticed a few ich cysts on the copperband. A couple on his fins and one on his body. I have also seen him flashing a few times. If this was your quarantine would you:

A: Keep feeding them and keeping them healthy. In 6-8 weeks if they are healthy and the ich has subsided(fish has became more healthy and the ich has faded-not left the tank or fish per-say) - move them to the display.

B: Treat with hyposalinity

[MarkoD]

i bought a copperband that had ich.... i put it in my display and its now fine. it didnt eat frozen food for first few days but since it was in a display tank that had plenty of live food for it to hunt, it survived and is now doing great

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by NastayNatron

Alright I understand there are many different views as to what ich is. I also realize it is basically impossible to keep out of your aquarium entirely. So I have a copperband and leapord wrasse in my quarantine right now. I noticed a few ich cysts on the copperband. A couple on his fins and one on his body. I have also seen him flashing a few times. If this was your quarantine would you:

A: Keep feeding them and keeping them healthy. In 6-8 weeks if they are healthy and the ich has subsided(fish has became more healthy and the ich has faded-not left the tank or fish per-say) - move them to the display.

B: Treat with hyposalinity

Hmmmmm... I personally would just put them in the Display tank, but that is probably not what you want to hear. So I would go with option A.

[NastayNatron]

Alright I have added a poll to the thread. I am really curious to see what people are doing. Everyone has different opinions on this so lets see how this turns out. . . Thanks for all the information so far

[Madreefer]

Without getting in to alot of explaining just soak all feedings with garlic. Simple "ich repellant" that works great. It's worked for me since I lost a tank full of fish due to ich about 8-9 years ago. Ich is in every tank but as others said a healthy fish should'nt get it. I've never quarantined either, just too lazy and have enough water in my house. Tank is enough work and dont need anymore tanks to worry about.

[NastayNatron]

Is this what you have been doing for the last 8 years with no other known losses due to ich?

Originally Posted by Madreefer

Without getting in to alot of explaining just soak all feedings with garlic. Simple "ich repellant" that works great. It's worked for me since I lost a tank full of fish due to ich about 8-9 years ago. Ich is in every tank but as others said a healthy fish should'nt get it. I've never quarantined either, just too lazy and have enough water in my house. Tank is enough work and dont need anymore tanks to worry about.

[Madreefer]

Originally Posted by NastayNatron

Is this what you have been doing for the last 8 years with no other known losses due to ich?

Yes sir or miss. Trust me it works great.

[NastayNatron]

I find it interesting to see that people are just relying on garlic. I have always fed garlic as I read that it does help with the fishes immune system. Clearly if people have kept fish for 8+ years without treating every fish they see have ich, treating every fish probably isn't the way to go. Very interesting results so far. I will always quarantine to prevent things like velvet as I don't no what id do if I lost all my fish to something like that. But if the fish are doing fine after a 6 week quarantine than it sounds like they would be good to hit the display. Haven't made my final decision yet . . but im already leaning toward the garlic and healthy feeding route. O and its sir. Haha

[Aquattro]

I believe adding a fish to a Q tank simply stresses them more. I buy a fish that appears healthy and eating, I add it to my tank. I've seen ich 3 or 4 times in my tanks over 10+ years, I fed extra garlic, everyone recovered fine.