Sortakindanoob 9 Report post Posted February 21 My coral beauty has been pretty shy the last few days, I came home and saw this. Is it ich? Recommendations? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joe 452 Report post Posted February 21 Looks a lot like it to me. If that’s truly what it is you’ll need to treat it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muttley000 2,456 Report post Posted February 21 Bummer, what else is in the system? Do you have an empty tank around to use for a hospital tank? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sortakindanoob 9 Report post Posted February 21 1 hour ago, Muttley000 said: Bummer, what else is in the system? Do you have an empty tank around to use for a hospital tank? I have inverts and coral in there. Luckily, I still have the 40g to use as a QT. Problem is catching him, too many hidey holes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crimsonvice 882 Report post Posted February 21 There are a bunch of DIY fish traps out there. The key is patience. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muttley000 2,456 Report post Posted February 21 If you can get him out and leave it fushless that is the best way in my opinion. What medication are you thinking? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sortakindanoob 9 Report post Posted February 21 Well, the tang and everyone else are good so far. As far as meds, this is all new to me. I was reading that copper or leverquin(?) does the trick but still unsure what to use. 1 hour ago, Muttley000 said: If you can get him out and leave it fushless that is the best way in my opinion. What medication are you thinking? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sortakindanoob 9 Report post Posted February 21 Well call me crazy, butter my butt and call me a biscuit. All the spots are gone. I came home after school to try and get him out, and everything was clear. I did read that one guy had a coral beauty that would get dirty with tank dust, maybe that's what happened. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muttley000 2,456 Report post Posted February 22 The life cycle of Ich requires the cysts fall off the fish. I hope your right but the second wave is what often kills because it comes back many times worse than the first. Keep a close eye out and I would use copper or chloroquine phosphate myself. Copper seems to still be the more successful of the two, but buy yourself a good copper test kit if you do, I think that is really helpful the first time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Craig 487 Report post Posted February 22 Doesnt mean you're home free. If it is ich it has a lifecycle. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crimsonvice 882 Report post Posted February 22 This is good information! It also doesn't mean that you are doomed either. I have had the same thing happen, but have never had a massive outbreak of ich. Every fish has probably come into contact with the protozoans that causes ich, and it most likely is in our aquariums already. The problem comes when the immune system of the fish is compromised in some way that ich presents itself. Usually, the weakened immune system of the fish is due to stress (ie: new environment, water quality, being picked on, that kind of thing...). So unless you remove all the fish from your system and do a QT and medicate them all at the same time for 14-30 days, QT'ing is not going to benefit you at this point. What I would do, is use some food additives to help boost the immune systems of your fish something like Selcon or garlic oils, and maybe try and ride it out. I know Watdachuck is having a similar issue and he is using Seachem Metroplex and Focus to help remedy the issue. Basically medicating from the inside out using foods. Link to his thread here. Hopefully, things will go well and this will be the end of it for you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sortakindanoob 9 Report post Posted February 22 40 minutes ago, crimsonvice said: This is good information! It also doesn't mean that you are doomed either. I have had the same thing happen, but have never had a massive outbreak of ich. Every fish has probably come into contact with the protozoans that causes ich, and it most likely is in our aquariums already. The problem comes when the immune system of the fish is compromised in some way that ich presents itself. Usually, the weakened immune system of the fish is due to stress (ie: new environment, water quality, being picked on, that kind of thing...). So unless you remove all the fish from your system and do a QT and medicate them all at the same time for 14-30 days, QT'ing is not going to benefit you at this point. What I would do, is use some food additives to help boost the immune systems of your fish something like Selcon or garlic oils, and maybe try and ride it out. I know Watdachuck is having a similar issue and he is using Seachem Metroplex and Focus to help remedy the issue. Basically medicating from the inside out using foods. Link to his thread here. Hopefully, things will go well and this will be the end of it for you. I tried to get him out last night and spent nearly an hour trying with no luck. I may go along this route and remove my cleanup up crew and maybe dose with copper in addition to the immune boost. Just concerned how the copper might affect the corals I have. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redevil13 60 Report post Posted February 22 3 minutes ago, Sortakindanoob said: I tried to get him out last night and spent nearly an hour trying with no luck. I may go along this route and remove my cleanup up crew and maybe dose with copper in addition to the immune boost. Just concerned how the copper might affect the corals I have. NOOOOOOOOOOOO if you put copper into that system it will kill every invert and will be toxic to any put into it forever or until completely sterilized Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redevil13 60 Report post Posted February 22 https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ich-eradication-vs-ich-management.188775/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Craig 487 Report post Posted February 22 Dont put copper in your main tank. The rock and silicone will absorb it and you will never be able to keep inverts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muttley000 2,456 Report post Posted February 22 If you want to treat in tank look at the chloroquine phosphate route Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sortakindanoob 9 Report post Posted February 23 Ok. So I get the impression I don't want to dose copper in the main tank. What about some of the so called reef safe options? I saw a few at the lfs when I was getting garlic additive. Found these on the internet: https://www.thespruce.com/external-fish-parasite-treatments-2924995 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redevil13 60 Report post Posted February 23 do you want to get rid of it or manage it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muttley000 2,456 Report post Posted February 23 7 hours ago, redevil13 said: do you want to get rid of it or manage it? This is exactly my understanding to. I would not expect any of the reef safe options to completely eradicate it. That being said there are many systems out there where it is succesfully managed for long periods of time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr.Fraggenstien 210 Report post Posted February 23 11 hours ago, Sortakindanoob said: Ok. So I get the impression I don't want to dose copper in the main tank. What about some of the so called reef safe options? I saw a few at the lfs when I was getting garlic additive. Found these on the internet: https://www.thespruce.com/external-fish-parasite-treatments-2924995 Please read here. Lots of misinformation out there on this subject. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forum/index.php?threads/marine-ich-myths-and-facts.23132/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sortakindanoob 9 Report post Posted March 1 So, a bit of an update. I took a bit of a wait and see since everything came and went so quickly, added garlic to the food. In the last few days the tang has been pestering the skunk shrimp to be cleaned, and the shrimp has been going to town on the goby. I am setting up a hospital tank and will tear the display down temporarily to get the fish out, let the display sit w/o fish for about 60 days. The inverts will still be there. I will likely dose w/ copper in the hospital. Thanks for all the help and advice/information, definite;y better than Reddit/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muttley000 2,456 Report post Posted March 1 @Sortakindanoob Please keep us posted! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sortakindanoob 9 Report post Posted March 3 Update day 1. Dosed the recommended amount of cupramine yesterday morning. Patient Zero, the coral beauty, did not fare well. Laid on the bottom of the tank on his side and his fins were shredded. Got him out and put him out of his misery. Started to see spots on the tang, clownies and strawberry chromis. Starry blenny, who the heck knows with all his spots... This morning everybody looks ok, blenny is hanging at the bottom like a grumpy teenager, but moving. 1 jeff70 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redevil13 60 Report post Posted March 3 Always start with half dose and ramp up Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
