jayjay_bui
New Member
i just got a salt water tank and one of my clown fish have what do i do i have never had ich before?
help ich
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polarpooch
Active Member
Ich sucks. No worries, though. Clowns are fairly hardy (mine have always been). Set up a small Q tank with a copper remedy (I like "Copper Safe", follow directions EXACTLY--do not use Novaquel, or anyother fish protector in your Q tank--they leach out the copper, rendering it ineffective for fish), then remove the fish to the tank for 2 -3 weeks. DO NOT treat your display tank with copper. It kills inverts (live rock, too). You could also do a freshwater dip before putting him in the Q tank. Marine Ich can't survive in freshwater--and it helps shorten the treatment time. 4 minutes should be long enough. Just make sure you match the Ph in your freshwater to your saltwater.
OR--you could do what I do whenever I get ich (which is rarely if ever anymore) in my reef tank. Capturing and treating a fish in a reef tank is a special torture, so I've opted for a UV sterilizer in my tank (which kills the free-swimming form of the ich parasite). Since I've used the UV, I've had only one short-lived ich problem, and that was because I didn't properly quarantine my Majestic Angel. I fed the angel, and the other fish a combination of Tetra Anti-parasite food and Tetra Anti-bacterial food (hard to find the anti-parasite food, but worth the effort! it worked for me, and two friends suffering the Ich nightmare. The stuff WORKS). A few days later, no signs of ich. The problem hasn't returned since. (and now I NEVER skimp on the quarantine of new animals!) I don't care what the naturalist-aquarists say, UV sterilizers are the best thing since sliced bread.
When I first set up my tanks, I battled and lost to Ich. Don't be like me! ALWAYS follow proper quarantine procedures, and you'll reduce your problems ten-fold.
Email for any other info you need: polarpooch@yahoo.com.
Great site for advice on marine disease/parasites: www.wetwebmedia.com. I swear by it.
(PLEASE NO SPAM!)
OR--you could do what I do whenever I get ich (which is rarely if ever anymore) in my reef tank. Capturing and treating a fish in a reef tank is a special torture, so I've opted for a UV sterilizer in my tank (which kills the free-swimming form of the ich parasite). Since I've used the UV, I've had only one short-lived ich problem, and that was because I didn't properly quarantine my Majestic Angel. I fed the angel, and the other fish a combination of Tetra Anti-parasite food and Tetra Anti-bacterial food (hard to find the anti-parasite food, but worth the effort! it worked for me, and two friends suffering the Ich nightmare. The stuff WORKS). A few days later, no signs of ich. The problem hasn't returned since. (and now I NEVER skimp on the quarantine of new animals!) I don't care what the naturalist-aquarists say, UV sterilizers are the best thing since sliced bread.
When I first set up my tanks, I battled and lost to Ich. Don't be like me! ALWAYS follow proper quarantine procedures, and you'll reduce your problems ten-fold.
Email for any other info you need: polarpooch@yahoo.com.
Great site for advice on marine disease/parasites: www.wetwebmedia.com. I swear by it.
(PLEASE NO SPAM!)
jayjay_bui
New Member
i al so have a decorator crab that just got ich can i do the same thing for that?
polarpooch
Active Member
I have never heard of a crab getting ich! I didn't think inverts could get it, but never really looked into the question.
You CANNOT use copper on inverts. Very bad things happen
Remove your ich-ridden fish to a Q tank--probably the best plan for you since it sounds like you don't have a tricky reef setup-- leave the crab alone or check out www.wetwebmedia.com for more info on inverts and disease treatment. AGAIN, do not treat your display tank with copper. The above website has advice on setting up and using quarantine and hospital tanks... Pretty easy to do...it just takes a while to get rid of the disease. Pay attention to the kind of copper you get...there are two kinds and the copper tests are type-specific.
Also, a good thing to do is look up the marine ich lifecycle. It'll give you an idea of why you have to treat your fish for so long.
The Tetra food won't hurt the crab, though--if that's the way you're going to go. That particular food is pretty hard to find, though. Tetra no longer produces the anti-parasite food. Check around your local fish stores, though. Lots still have some on the shelves (at least they do around here). If the only kind you can find is the "stick" form (flakes are tougher to come by), grind some up in a coffee grinder and feed somewhat sparingly for a couple of weeks. But if you do not have a UV sterilizer to kill the free-swimming parasite, then you'll have to do daily water changes and gravel cleanings to help control the free-swimmers. Which is not fun
You can also check into raising your temps and playing with your salinity to help control the ich parasite while it's free swimming. That I've never done, though. So again, info can be found at wetwebmedia.com.
There are a lot of ways to treat ich. The sure fire and easiest thing is copper. Copper copper copper. You'll get so you hate the word!
Best of luck...!
You CANNOT use copper on inverts. Very bad things happen
Remove your ich-ridden fish to a Q tank--probably the best plan for you since it sounds like you don't have a tricky reef setup-- leave the crab alone or check out www.wetwebmedia.com for more info on inverts and disease treatment. AGAIN, do not treat your display tank with copper. The above website has advice on setting up and using quarantine and hospital tanks... Pretty easy to do...it just takes a while to get rid of the disease. Pay attention to the kind of copper you get...there are two kinds and the copper tests are type-specific.
Also, a good thing to do is look up the marine ich lifecycle. It'll give you an idea of why you have to treat your fish for so long.
The Tetra food won't hurt the crab, though--if that's the way you're going to go. That particular food is pretty hard to find, though. Tetra no longer produces the anti-parasite food. Check around your local fish stores, though. Lots still have some on the shelves (at least they do around here). If the only kind you can find is the "stick" form (flakes are tougher to come by), grind some up in a coffee grinder and feed somewhat sparingly for a couple of weeks. But if you do not have a UV sterilizer to kill the free-swimming parasite, then you'll have to do daily water changes and gravel cleanings to help control the free-swimmers. Which is not fun
You can also check into raising your temps and playing with your salinity to help control the ich parasite while it's free swimming. That I've never done, though. So again, info can be found at wetwebmedia.com.
There are a lot of ways to treat ich. The sure fire and easiest thing is copper. Copper copper copper. You'll get so you hate the word!
Best of luck...!
jayjay_bui
New Member
i have one live rock and 10 lb of live sand but no coral
polarpooch
Active Member
Most fish tolerate the copper treatments very well--clowns do fine. It's the quickest and most effective way to rid your fish of the disease.
Please see this link: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/martrthyposalfaqs.htm .
Then read the general info on marine parasite diseases. The marvelous Bob Fenner ("Conscientious Marine Aquarist", etc., etc...) is the host of the site. You should find all the info you need. And if you're still confused, use the "ask a question" link. They ALWAYS answer. They WON'T steer you wrong. These guys know practically everything about anything when it comes to aquarium science. If they don't know, they find someone who does. It's the best fish site I have ever found--and I'm a web surfin' monster! I can't say enough about this site. Go there, then bookmark it.
Please see this link: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/martrthyposalfaqs.htm .
Then read the general info on marine parasite diseases. The marvelous Bob Fenner ("Conscientious Marine Aquarist", etc., etc...) is the host of the site. You should find all the info you need. And if you're still confused, use the "ask a question" link. They ALWAYS answer. They WON'T steer you wrong. These guys know practically everything about anything when it comes to aquarium science. If they don't know, they find someone who does. It's the best fish site I have ever found--and I'm a web surfin' monster! I can't say enough about this site. Go there, then bookmark it.
jayjay_bui
New Member
i dont no but losts of people still say copper is the best way .?
and does it realy do any thing to add garlic to there diet??
and does it realy do any thing to add garlic to there diet??
jayjay_bui
New Member
i have no other tank wpuld doing a water change work or would it not do any thing?