ick

[Serpantkeeper]

Ok so I’m having an issue with ick. I’ve now lost 2 tangs to it. What I’m asking is what is the best way to deal with it. I’ve read copper works but kills inverts. Is there anything that won’t take out corals or inverts? What are my best options. Thanks

[CHEAPREEF]

You'll need to QT your fish (all your fish) and treat them to properly rid Ich. Here is a good read on what you can/need to do.
http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forum/index.php?threads/marine-ich-myths-and-facts.23132/

[Slayer33]

Microbe-Lift Herbtana and Garlic Guard.

I'm on day 6 of the 10 day treatment and my clown which was very infected with ick is not almost completely clear of it. It boosts all other fishes immune systems as well.. none of my other 12 fish are infected and all my corals and inverts are all happy.

I've read it works for some but not everyone, some will say my fish will all die if I don't QT and go fallow for 60 days etc... perhaps that is the only way to completely remove ick from a tank.. but tearing apart my aquascape and stressing out all my fish/inverts/corals in the process just seems like a disaster also waiting to happen.

[CHEAPREEF]

Microbe-Lift Herbtana and Garlic Guard.

I'm on day 6 of the 10 day treatment and my clown which was very infected with ick is not almost completely clear of it. It boosts all other fishes immune systems as well.. none of my other 12 fish are infected and all my corals and inverts are all happy.

I've read it works for some but not everyone, some will say my fish will all die if I don't QT and go fallow for 60 days etc... perhaps that is the only way to completely remove ick from a tank.. but tearing apart my aquascape and stressing out all my fish/inverts/corals in the process just seems like a disaster also waiting to happen.

This will not kill Ich, it might help the fish live through the life cycle but it will not rid the tank of Ich. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1852814

[Serpantkeeper]

That’s an old article on reefcentral

[kyl]

Do you want to completely eradicate it, or just live with it? The former requires a level of dedication that not many are willing to do.

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/ich-eradication-vs-management.45/ best summary on it in the hobby imo.

[ReefMadness]

it isn't going to solve an already present outbreak but i do believe there is some truth to running uv as a preventative measure provided the wattage and flow are scaled properly to the system volume.

[CHEAPREEF]

That’s an old article on reefcentral

Yes sir you are 100% correct that's what it is, also a lot of feedback on the product you are using/advising. Doesn't work.

[Slayer33]

Yes sir you are 100% correct that's what it is, also a lot of feedback on the product you are using/advising. Doesn't work.

Well it worked for me and 3 others here in town that recommended it to me. Maybe it doesn't kill it like I said but going the fallow/qt method isn't an option for everyone.

[DorySaid]

Get a cleaner wrasse. There's another product on the market that is supposed to be reef safe called 'Kick Ich'. I've tried it before and didn't really hurt any coral but some people don't advise putting anything in their tanks which i don't disagree. At the same time, I believe that products like kick ich are safe for reef tanks. Kick ich is supposed to work in such a way that prevents the protozoa from repopulating, not exactly killing the parasites directly. It works almost the same as a UV sterilizer, so if you believe they help aquariums then likely kick ich would too. But I don't think it would be magical either.
I understand you would rather not tear down a whole tank to QT fish etc. Your only option is to raise temperature, use or not use reef safe medication, and let the Ich run its course. If some fish live through then they should continue to live through it. If it wipes out all your fish then let the tank be empty for at least 6 weeks before adding them again. And, if you don't have a UV sterilizer already then invest in a big enough one for your tank for some future preventitive piece of mind.
It's always a trial and error, lucky/unlucky bout when it comes to aquatic diseases led by a lot of anectodal debates.

[CHEAPREEF]

Well it worked for me and 3 others here in town that recommended it to me. Maybe it doesn't kill it like I said but going the fallow/qt method isn't an option for everyone.

Right I get that, just this is not ridding the tank of Ich it's just letting your fish live through the cycle. Still in the tank.

[kyl]

There are only two ways to 100% eradicate ich from a tank: remove all the fish for 76 days or treat it with copper / chloriquine phosphate (and kill all the coral / inverts in the process). Hypo can't claim complete effectiveness anymore as strains have been shown in journal studies that are resistant to ultra low salinity levels, and all it takes is one theront to survive. Everything else is either a temporary band-aid to knock down the infectious theront population and weaken the reinfection cycle severity (kick ick/medic/UV), or at worst snake oil. If you want to live with ich and don't feel like spending thousands on additives to try and manage it per year, a correctly sized and installed UV system is the best option.

Unfortunately livestock isn't a viable method to keep ich in check. Any cleaner wrasses, gobies or shrimp observed picking at "ich" spots on a fish are just eating the dead skin from where a trophont detached. Ich itself isn't visible, and usually resides mostly in the gills unless a severe outbreak is occurring.