Ich aftermath... what to do now?

[monza]

Hardly the end of the world or dooms day just a parasite.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1992196

Have read. Ignore the facts if you choose.

[intarsiabox]

Ich normally will go completely un-noticed on healthy fish and you would never know if it was in your system or not. Tangs can be very aggressive and territorial and probably stressed your fish out which caused a huge decrease in their immune system. Removing the fish now in their immune compromised state to an unfamiliar tank to treat them may have the exact opposite of the desired result and kill them. As others have said I would just let them be and don't add any new fish to the DT for a few months so the fish can regain their strength and security.

[fishytime]

Originally Posted by Madreefer

Garlic Extract. Raeid is right on track. IMO removing them all will just cause a whole lot more stress and before you know it there's Ick in your quarantine. Not chunks of garlic. Kent Garlic Extreme is good stuff. I've heard you can get garlic extract at health food stores but I have not checked. Probably way cheaper.

actually its the other way around....the medicinal ingredient in garlic is allicin....the compound breaks down very quickly reducing the effectiveness....if you want the medicinal qualities, fresh garlic is the best way....garlic extracts are more of an appetite stimulant....it smells good....
http://www.ehow.com/about_5262161_an...in-garlic.html

[Reef Pilot]

Well, sadly, the damage is done... The only real cure for ich in your tank is prevention. But I want to stress that QT without treatment is not good enough. I did that once, and still ended up with ich in my DT, even though the fish did not show any symptoms while in the QT. But they obviously were still carriers.

However, when I have used this method, I have been 100% successful. And as described, there are many other benefits, too, with getting your new fish strong and healthy before going into your DT.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/6/fish

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...t-process.html

[Madreefer]

Originally Posted by fishytime

actually its the other way around....the medicinal ingredient in garlic is allicin....the compound breaks down very quickly reducing the effectiveness....if you want the medicinal qualities, fresh garlic is the best way....garlic extracts are more of an appetite stimulant....it smells good....
http://www.ehow.com/about_5262161_an...in-garlic.html

Oh I didn't know that. My bad. I just call it garlic extract. I've used the Kent Garlic Extreme for years and it has worked great for my fish. The ingredients say 99% Allium sativum extract (garlic juice)
So are you saying that by using this it is not working for Ick and just a food stimulant?

[daplatapus]

I find threads like this very interesting. First of all, let me emphasize that I am a huge proponent of QT'ing. I do it with all of my fish. After months of reading about ich and the best way to treat fish in QT for it, I choose the tank transfer method. I tried some of the others (Hypo, copper etc.) but killed fish doing it so they weren't for me.
But I completely understand the inability for some to be able to do it, either because of space constraints, time or whatever else people have reasons for not doing it. Plus I also completely understand the unwillingness to empty a display tank for 3-4 months. But here is a truth: If you look back at all the fish that people have talked about on here that have died, I bet you'd see more have died in QT than from ich. If someone does not have a standing QT protocol and a system to deal with sick fish, then I would also recommend garlic and trying to boost immune function rather than try a QT set up that they've never done before. But I would also encourage them to research proper QT'ing and if at all possible implement it in the future. Yes, I know ich would still be in the tank, but there are far worse illnesses out there for fish than ich. Marine velvet to name one.
Anyways, not that anyone asked for it, but that's my $0.02

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by daplatapus

Anyways, not that anyone asked for it, but that's my $0.02

Sorry 0.02 doesn't exists any more. Maybe its your 0.05?

Funny how ich always gets so many debates :P I consider ich as simple cold. Drink lots of water, honey and rest Same for fish, lots of food with garlic and clean water...simple as that

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

Funny how ich always gets so many debates :P I consider ich as simple cold. Drink lots of water, honey and rest Same for fish, lots of food with garlic and clean water...simple as that

Unfortunately, it is comments like these that often mislead newbies into taking the easy route and not QT'ing new fish properly. You can compare it to a cold if you like, but I'm quite certain that more fish have died in home aquariums due to ich (and velvet), than for any other reason.

Read this, and then tell me that healthy fish can't be killed by Ich.
http://www.reefland.com/forum/marine...ths-facts.html

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

Unfortunately, it is comments like these that often mislead newbies into taking the easy route and not QT'ing new fish properly. You can compare it to a cold if you like, but I'm quite certain that more fish have died in home aquariums due to ich (and velvet), than for any other reason.

Read this, and then tell me that healthy fish can't be killed by Ich.
http://www.reefland.com/forum/marine...ths-facts.html

Ofcourse ich an velvet are responsible for maximum death because they are very common in the hobby and people always look for cure after things have gone terribly wrong. There are many great tank owners who don't QT and there are many extremely poor tanks whose's owners QT. At the end, it depends on the individual and nothing beat's good husbandry. And if good husbandry is "the easy route", then so be it. I have fought ich myself and I did nothing but feed and feed and feed and I am yet to see any ich in my tank.

I strongly believe that in the end, nothing beats good husbandry And fish's immune system. And I do believe that "comment's like these" part was a bit harsh since there are some experienced hobbyist who did agree to my previous post

Honestly, nothing is "wrong" or "right" in this hobby other than few basic rules (like keeping marine fishes in saltwater ). It all comes down to individuals. Some have success with hypo and copper while others don't....did they do it wrong? Maybe, maybe not....but I would say its all part of the nature's game.

And healthy fish can't get ich.....healthy fish, when stressed, can get ich

I just don't get it; how can a sick fish which is stressed already is further stressed by catching it, putting it in a small tank and doing things like jumbling between tanks, making it live in a hyposaline water or passing strong medicine like copper through its gill can help. Sure a surgery can be performed with no anesthesia but how would it feel? Maybe I am over-pessimist and rely overly on good husbandry.....

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

I just don't get it; how can a sick fish which is stressed already is further stressed by catching it, putting it in a small tank and doing things like jumbling between tanks, making it live in a hyposaline water or passing strong medicine like copper through its gill can help. Sure a surgery can be performed with no anesthesia but how would it feel? Maybe I am over-pessimist and rely overly on good husbandry.....

That's why I advocate quarantine as prevention with a standby QT already cycled and ready to accept fish. I agree that transferring fish already infected to a hastily set up QT has a good chance of failing.

You should read this article, too. It further explains how hypo reduces stress in fish and is a good proactive routine with new fish.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/6/fish