How to use Formalin for Ich

[Lisha]

I lost 2 tangs to Ich. My Foxface and Flasher Wrasse are acting sluggish and I'm afraid they may get/have it too. I want to use Formalin dips to cure. I know I need a quarantine tank. Should I put all the fish in it? 2 Chromis, Squirrel, Blenny and the aforementioned? or only the ones that appear sick? Will my Sand Sifter Starfish be affected by Ich? Should I leave it in the DT?
To quarantine them, do I use the original tank water? If so, and I use the HOB filter, I believe I read to not use carbon. So I should use filter floss? Once they are separated into the QT, what do I do with the original water in the DT? What brand of Formalin is the best and will it explain how to do the proper dipping technique?

I am not a total newbie, but this is my first interaction with sickness. I have tried looking for these answers, but it is difficult to find what I need to know. Any help would be much appreciated. I am worried about my fish. :-(

 

[lmforbis]

Formalin won't kill ich. You need to quarantine ALL fish and treat with copper. This will also treat velvet. There are 2 copper treatments. Cupramine and chelated copper like copper safe. Chelated is easier to use. Just follow directions. You will need a copper test kit as well. For cupramine use the SeaChem test for chelated copper use API. I believe you need to treat for 30 days. that is just the first step. It deals with your fish. Only fish are affected by ich.
The second step is your tank. Your tank is infected. You need to keep it fish less for 72 days to allow the parasites to die off.

 

[Lisha]

So any ICH that is left in the DT won't bother my starfish?

 

[lmforbis]

No it only affects fish.

 

[Lisha]

I appreciate you helping me on this. I am going to set up my QT.
This is what I have been able to figure out to do:
It should be bare-bottomed, have pvc pieces for the fish and not to use carbon in the filter.
Add DT water to the QT. Then add fish and medicine.
Leave my fish in the QT for 3 months while continuing to medicate them.

Questions I have are:
Can my Fox Face, Squirrel, Scooter Blenny, Chromis, 6 line Wrasse and Flasher Wrasse all be treated with Copper Safe?
Will my DT with my starfish be fine during this and be parasite free after 3 months?
In my DT I have a HOB filter with filter floss, carbon filter and a pura-filtration pad in it. Should I leave the old ones in or put new ones in?
In my QT I will also have a HOB filter. What type of filter material should I use in it?
Should I add any other creatures to the DT to help clean up the parasites?
Will my starfish go hungry without as much detritus from the fish?

 

[beth]

I would not use copper in a newly set up QT. The QT will be uncycled and medications will make attempting to keep good water quality impossible. Better to go with hyposalinity. Here is the procedure:
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/c/index.php/articles/content/formalin-bath.102

Ich only effects fish, not inverts. In the absence of fish in the DT, the ich will die-off. a month of proper treatment is all that is needed.

How big is your DT and your QT?? It may be better to treat the fish in DT with hypo, depending on if you are willing to move live rock and inverts to holding areas. This would not be recommended if you have a reef.