Help! My fish have Ich!

[kouriki]

I noticed that my domino damsel fish had cloudy eyes and stopped using one of his fins a couple weeks ago. I thought it was just because one of the other fish was picking on him. Lately the cloudiness went away and he's using his fin. I also noticed almost microscopic worm-like things wiggling around in the water. I thought they came from the brine shrimp I've been feeding my fish. Well it turns out its ich. At least I think so. My fish get white spot that only last for about a day and then go away. I've heard of a lot of ways to treat ich. I know about using copper but I have no idea how to do that. Some other ways I've heard of is to use a diatom filter to get the larva out of the water, dipping fish into freshwater for a minute to kill parasites, and using medications. I have some stuff called "Ich away". I used it previously on freshwater fish and it seemed to work. On the bottle it said for "coldwater and tropical aquariums". Would this medicine work? Would I have to take the fish out to use it or is it safe to use with invertebrates and live rock? I don't want to hurt my fish but I need to do something before they die.

 

[sepulatian]

Welome to the boards! First, never add any medication directly to the display tank unless it says reef safe on it, even if you do not have a reef. The other meds are not safe for your rock or inverts. Please describe these white dots. You said, "I also noticed almost microscopic worm-like things wiggling around in the water." You cannot see ich free swimming in the tank. These were likely copepods, which come out of your rock and are beneficial. If you do have ich there are only two proven methods to kill ich in marine tanks. They are hyposalinity and copper treatment, neither of which can be done in a display tank. Please take a look at Beth's Common Treatments FAQ located at the top of the disease and treatment board. She describes ich, it's life cycle, and how to properly treat it. Feel free to ask us any and all questions that you may have.

 

[new salt guru]

What size tank do you have?
Is it a reef ?
How much $$$$$ do you have in invertibrates?
An easy choice for you is Garlic extract, I had the same problem with ick in my tank but my tank is a reef. i did not want to add medicine to the water because it will kill all your inverts. I went over to The Fish Place in Tonawanda NY the told me to mix the garlic extract with thier food. i lost 3 fish but the ick is gone. my reef is back to normal and i have kept my fish on the garlic diet. it takes about 3 weeks to work. You also want to double your water changes. vacuum your crushed coral, or sand 2 times a month. Let me know how it does ! I swear by garlic extract!

 

[kouriki]

I just have a small 10 gallon tank with 3 anemones, a horseshoe crab, a snail, 2 small hermit crabs, and a feather duster. I don't know what the worm things are but i don't think their copepods. They look just like a wiggling line.

 

[nano reefer]

heres what you do. Take out each fish one by one and scrape off the ick. Then sell the fish. Then buy new ones!
just kidding, hyposalinity works the best.

 

[juice_1080]

Correct me if I am wrong but isn't a 10g WAY too small for 3 anemones and a horseshoe crab? I would go hypo if you have a refractometer and a Quarantine Tank....If not I would get those two.....They are a necessity to Saltwater Tanks

 

[new salt guru]

you need a bigger tank thats why your fish are stressed. its kinda like 5 humans stuck in a elevator. you need a bigger tank nothing less than 30 gallons. good luck!

 

[kouriki]

Everything I have is very small. The horseshoe crab is only about the size of a quarter. When it gets too big I'm going to give it to the hospital. They have a giant tank.