Ich in a reef?

[57chev]

In a 150 reef I have two tangs A purple and a blond naso, I'm suspecting they have ich. The naso is hidding in the reef which is not normal for him, so I cant get a good look at him, but the purple is swimming around and has some ich like spots on him. He is acting mostly normal, he is eating and picking at the reef. The naso however is hidding and wont come out of the reef I'm not sure if he's eaten today or not but he did eat for sure two days ago. I have noticed that his color has darkened some. Ive never had a problem with ich, ever, I've always used an UV sterilizer and unplugged it e few weeks ago, I wonder if that was a mistake. My spec/grav is 1.025 Nh4 0, No2 0. Is it even possible to treat ich in a reef, my guess is no? The q/t tank would work well if it was possible to get the fish out of the tank, in a reef with alot of live rock it would almost be impossible without dismantling the entire reef. Any Ideas anyone????????

 

[who dey]

this is why you quaranteen a fish before you put it into your reef. i would plug the uv back in and feed your tangs some food pumped up with vitamins. try some frozen mega marine angel soaked with zoecon. mega marine is loaded with immune building vitamins also dose w/garlic and pray. or otherwise tear apart your reef and go with medicines. i don't believe in the reef safe medecines they just seem to be a temporary fix

 

[57chev]

I agree q/t tanks are a good idea, but that deosnt garentee that the fish wont contract something months after quarenteen. I've kept tangs for years but no naso's I question at this point if its such a good idea at all to keep the naso tangs. They are different for sure, and with a little research I'm finding that it seems that most folks have trouble with them even under perfect water parameters and little stress

 

[mr. angelfish]

According to some source that I have researched recommend to Quarantine such as Live Rocks, Corals, even Live Sand! It fail to explain the produrce how to Quarantine those.
This is because of such as Parasite, some critters, and other unwanted objects in those inhabiants.
Maybe Dr. Beth can establish how to Quarantine those inhabiants beside fish.
:scared: Isn't it?

 

[beth]

Go ahead a plug the UV back in, though this is really not a good choice for maintaining a reef tank. Feed the fish 3-4 X a day with food heavily soaked in real freshly minced garlic, perserving the juices from the cut garlic. Let it soak covered in the fridge for 20 mins, then target feed the fish with a turkey baster to make they get a lot of garlic soaked food.
It may work, but may not. The only other thing to do is rip apart the tank to remove the fish for treatment.

 

[57chev]

Thanks for the imput, I more than likely will plug the UV steralizer back in. I've heard both pro's and con's on them over the years. My own personal experience is that I've used one for about six of the eight years I've had this reef up, and only shut it off recently as an experiment to see whether there was a noticable difference in the reefs health or growth. I havent really noticed anything as of yet and its been a few months. On a budget to a newbie I'd say save the money for some thing else. But, if you can run one in a reef with fish in it, I'd advise it. Sometimes it easy to forget that even with the most elaborate set-ups with all the fish and coral we all jam into our tanks lets face it they really are toilets, if you think your water quality is perfect just because your cheap-charlie test kits say zero, well, that may be good, but the truth is there's more stuff floating around in our tanks than we know. Its true the UV can and will kill some benifical bacteria, but the trade off is worth it. Ive never heard of anyone killing anything by adding UV. The question I have on ich or parasites is that if either one of the conditions can manifest itself in a tank on its own, or deos it have to be introduced. In other words come in on a fish or bad water. Does anyone know for sure without guessing??? If introduction is the only way then q/t tanks really make sence. When I originally posted this thread I thought my fish may possibly have ich as it turns out I was wrong. Some times in a reef situation its hard to even tell what the problem is with a fish because they hide in the reef and wont come out

 

[hippotang]

i have had a naso tang for 7 years and never had a problem with him. i had a yellow tang as well. two weeks ago i brought in a blue hippo tang. now all my fish have ich! i have already lost my naso and yellow tangs, so all i have left is the blue hippo tang and a porcuppine puffer.
i have read alot about blue hippo tangs having stresss issues over simple things and being a big problem with ich! boy do i wish i would have know that before i got it, now i have lost two fish of 7yrs.