arrgh...ICH...please tell me I have a good plan

[marktg]

I'm pretty sure my fish have ICH. My 55 gal tank has been set up and running since 9/04. Last fish were added 11/04 (except I added two clowns today before spotting the spots--I know...I'm an idiot). Anyway, the only thing that's been added since November is 1.8 pounds of live rock and 5 snails which were added on 3/3/05...so following the life cycle of ICH, the current infection seems about right? I didn't add any LFS water, so I'm not sure how it got in.... So right now, in addition to about 35 pounds of live rock and plenty of snails, I have 4 fish in my tank: 1 yellow tang, 1 coral beauty, and 2 oscellaris clowns. The tang and the angel both have white spots..like raised salt crystals--mostly on fins and some on body. Of course, nothing is on the clowns yet. Here is water info: sal-1.022, pH-8.2, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates all at 0, temp is 76.
I read the info about treating ICH and want to confirm that I have it right:
1- establish hospital tank immediately
2- put fish in it
3- treat with copper
Without hosts in the main tank, will the ICH die? Beth's post I read says so...I think---that the theront state must locate a host fish or die trying??? So if the fish are in the HT long enough for the remaining bugs in the Main tank to cycle and die--that will be it?
Last, could this be something else, and if so, what do I do?
THANKS!

 

[comet_nut]

Sounds good. The only other thing that you may want to try is reducing the salt level in the hospital tank. It helps break the life cycle.
If the spots get really bad on your fish you can try fresh water dips. Doesn't cure it, but it does relieve the symptoms on the fish.
Good luck!!

 

[lefty]

Like comet_nut said, hyposalinity would be an equally effective and safer treatment. I have heard that tangs often don't respond well to copper. Beth has this procedure outlined in the FAQs thread at the top of this page.
-lefty

 

[marktg]

Thank you both!
I'll let you know how it goes.
Mark