does my tang have ich?

[timsedwards]

Hi Guys,
I was just feeding my two fish (Regal/Hippo Tang and false Percula) and i noticed what APPEARED that might be Ich. Ive had it before, lost a couple of fish to it in the past year but also the clown has survived 2/3 outbursts of it.
I set up a QT about 6 months ago that is on the go now and ready if necessary. But, I did QT my tang before he came into the tank about a month ago. How has he got Ich? Ive just included some garlic in his food, what should I do? Leave it 24 hours?
Beth and Terry know that I do not and cannot get hold of a refractometer, so would I be best treating with copper?
Thanks guys,
Tim.

 

[beth]

Seachem's Cuppramine is the best copper treatment, and very effective. Treatment must be in a QT. SWF.com sells this so you can take a look in the dry goods section for details.
I also note that this site is now selling a lab grade hydrometer. Haven't tested it yet.
Unless all your fish are treated and your tank is allowed to go at least 3 wks wo fish, you will continue to have ich problems.

 

[timsedwards]

hi beth, live in england but i will look for it today at LFS.
I treated both fish for it 6 months ago, tank was fishless for 3 weeks. I dont understand Ich.
Thanks for your help,
Tim.

 

[beth]

Ich is a pretty simple parasite.
I remember the problem you had before but I don't remember how you ended up treating it. What did you do? Are you QTing all your fish BEFORE they go into your display? If so, for how long?

 

[beth]

Have you tried to contact onsite vendors to see if someone will ship to you in England?

 

[timsedwards]

hi beth,
Well I lost a royal gramma to it, but the clown was fine after being in the QT for 3 weeks. Yes everything is QT'd for 10 days before it comes into my tank.
Yes there is an online vendor that does ship, but freight is $40 so it has to be worth it.
Tim.

 

[timsedwards]

ok I came home from university today, and its died. Very frustrating, that means it took less than 2 days to kill it. I had the copper treatment in my hand too ready to help it.
Trying to find out what went wrong, about 2 weeks ago my heater failed and it went a little chilly, not for too long though, maybe 8 hours max, and not too chilly, down to about 64 or so. Anyhoo, could the stress of that cause the Ich in the last few days?
Thoughts would help me recover from my loss
Tim.
ps. im going to test all variables now, but i dont expect anything strange.

 

[beth]

Tim: 10 days is not enough time in QT. A month would be best.
Get a LARGE supply order up to make the shipping worth it. Does that vendor sell refracts, hopefully???

 

[timsedwards]

ok will QT for longer next time.
Could it be the time when my heaters failed that caused the stress on the tang and hence the ich/death?
All levels are zero and appropriate. Although the first time i tested for Ammonia it said 0.5! Ive retested and it is zero, although I am testing again, plus my shrooms are out and perfectly healthy, which would be unlikely if it was 0.5. Im hopefully putting the first reading down as an error.
Thanks Beth,
Tim.

 

[timsedwards]

right yes tested ammonia for a third time, it is definately zero.
Tim.

 

[beth]

If the temp dropped suddenly, yes the stress could have resulted in the all-out ich outbreak. But don't be confused. A drop in temp is not going to cause ich. The ich was there. A stressor only enhances an underlying problem [ich]. It doesn't cause it.
What about the refract? Does the vendor you checked out sell them?

 

[timsedwards]

it does sell them yes, but they charge $42 posting to the UK. Im struggling a bit financially at the moment being a student, and seeing as copper is meant to work well, its not at the top of my shopping list at the moment.
Be encouraged that it is at least on there at some point!
Tim.

 

[beth]

Copper is fine if you do it correctly. You must have a copper product and a test kit that are compatible with one another and maintain the copper at theraputic levels.