Ich!!! Need Suggestions Quickly

[phishman1]

35 gallon, everything fine, water fine, etc.. One of my cycle Damsels has developed ich, last week I made a beginner mistake, treated the tank and mistakenly killed a peppermintshrimp and all snails. Learn as you go....so fixed my mistake, treted the ammonia spike from the dead snails etc., stress zyme, a jumpstart from a friend, bacteria load to combat the ammonia spike, worked in 3 days, tank is in perfect water condition now again..But back to original question. The local "expert" here in Daytona advocates using the" holistic " method for curing ich, peppershrimp, wrasse, keep light on for 3 days in a row. That sort of thing, I should probably take out the damsel, discard and getsomething else, but problem is, if I do that how do I "clean" tank of ich remnants remaining. I feel an allegiance to the damsel actually he survived the cycle process. I have about 40 lbs of LR, LS, clown, wrasse, 2 pep shrimp, 1 CB shrimp, tiny horseshoe crab, 1 other cycle damsel. This is a fish only tank, not a reef, filtration is a 330 bio wheel, till tank completely seasons, up only 2 months now. Then add prizm skimmer in about another month or so. Tank does not have back room for both filter and skimmer!
Thank you,
Jim

 

[beth]

Where is the damsel now? In the main tank? Do you have a quartentine tank?
If all your fish are in the main tank, at this point, your friend's recommendation regarding the "holistic" method may be the only option. Unless you are prepared to remove all exposed fish to a separate hospital tank. However, no need to leave the lights on for 3 days.
Destroying the damsel would be pointless. Ich is very treatable, and, besides, if you have this fish in your main tank, then all fish in that tank have been exposed to the disease and should be treated.
Treatment of choice is hyposalinity, which you will need to do in a separate hospital tank.