I think I have an ICHy tank :( (1 Viewer)

[trb]

I noticed a couple of days ago that a couple of my fish had cloudy eyes, one must be so cloudy that he has run into the rocks a few times. Well, late last night when I got home after my daughter's soccer game, I noticed all the tell tale white spots on my two clowns and scopas tang. So I have a total of 5 fish that are obviously sick, but they are still eating and moving about just fine. I also had a couple of fish die last week, the two latest fish additions of a red stripe angelfish (got back in Nov) and a lawnmower blenny (got at the Christmas party at FG).

I have to work all day today, but I am running 30 gallons of fresh water for a 25% water change tonight since I know my nitrates are high, but is there anything else I should do? I don't have anything set up or that is big enough to transfer them to. My 120 is sitting in the garage and won't be ready for a couple of months. I know some people say garlic, but what is the best way to do it? I may just have to find a 55 gal cheap to try the hyposalinity treatment or copper if I can catch all the little buggers out of the rockwork.

Thanks.

 

[cliner]

There are several options,(you probably already have researched) I have used a product before in a reef tank, at 1/2 strengh with success.(no clams, shrimp, snails, misc. inverts as they cannot handle the toxins that kill the spores), But most are not reef safe. I would increase oygen to the tank, maybe run a UV sterilizer, but the UV is questionable. Keep them fed well if your system can handle the load. There are several garlic containing food products out there: Kent, Ocean Nutrition flakes and sheets(I use the sheets regularly). You can also find a crushed or minced garlic product that you could pre soak food with. However, we never really know what else is in the grocery store products that could impact our tank health. Unfortunantely, if you cannot transfer them to a treating tank, they may or may not be able to fight off the bugs. Sorry I couldn't help more, hope it works out for them.

 

[cliner]

I think what I used was Ich Cure made by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. But, use extreme caution with any Ich remedies, most have copper.

 

[trb]

I had some stuff I got from Aquarium World that they said was "reefsafe" that I used about a year ago when I had a couple of fish die, they thought it could be ich. But I have a lot more inverts and coral now, so I don't think I will chance it.

I may just try and set up something temporary tonight with a big plastic drum I have. At least then I can get treatment started. If these fish all die, my wife will not be happy if I try to start the tank up again.

Thanks!

 

[TexanReef]

Hey.

I've an empty 40 gallon tank I could bring over as a hospital tank. I've an Ehime canister filter and a heater for it too. Let me know and it is yours for as long as you need it.

 

[fishboyt]

I have some garlic pellets if you need them.

 

[trb]

Big thanks to Scott for the loaner tank!

I have it set up and moved most of the fish last night, but we lost the domino damsel and the 4 bar damsel too. Oh well. Then the dang Midas Blenny saw the net coming and permanently hid in one of the rocks, so I was not able to find it until today when he was just laying on the sand behind the rocks, panting like crazy. So I caught him and did a pretty much FW dip (~1.008 salinity) and am now temp acclimating him to the tank. I have slowly lowered the salinity in the tank by adding a few gallons of fresh RO/DI an hour, I'm now at about 1.015 and will continue to work it down. The fish are looking much better, so hopefully they will pull through this OK.

I guess this will give me a chance to get the new tank set up and make sure it is running over the next 8 weeks before I move everyone to their new home!

 

[TexanReef]

Happy to help!

Glad to hear things are on the mend. Save that Midas! Awesome fish, that one.