Ick on Atlantic tang, quick question

[bigbills]

I recently bought a juvenille Atlantic tang, and it developed ick within a few days. I know I can quarrantine and treat it with hypo or medication, but for reasons I don't want to get into, I can't set up another tank. So, I decided I'd try the "keep them well-fed and see if they pull through" method. I started adding Kent's Garlic Extreme to the food, which is a mixture of brine, mysis, table shrimp, and veggie cubes all cut up into bite-sized pieces. The tang has been eating like a pig since day 1. The tang has had signs of ick for about a week to ten days, but is still as active and hungry as he was before showing any symptoms.
I'd like to know if there are any other vitamin additives or supplements I could/should be adding to the food. Anyone have any good suggestions?

 

[richl]

I think the garlic acts as an appetite stimulant so they eat more, but it doesn't necessarily result in better nutrition. Several companies sell liquid vitamin supplements often labeled as "Zoa". I currently use Kent Zoa. I heard Selcon is also good. I add several drops when I thaw frozen fish food and allow it to soak for a while before feeding. While I think this helps, I think it's unlikely that you can control Ick with nutrition alone. I'm fairly new to the hobby, but I'm a firm believer that hypo is the best way to go based on my experience so far. It's a lot easier than I thought it woudl be and the results are almost immediate. Best of luck, but look into hypo as soon as you can.

 

[florida joe]

So, I decided I'd try the "keep them well-fed and see if they pull through" method.
In my opinion that method has absolutely no validity. Please look into documented proven cures

 

[bigbills]

So every fish that has ever caught ick and not gone through hypo has died?
I don't really buy into that. Regardless of whether or not trying to boost their immune system through adding vitamins and garlic is documented or not, it is currently my only choice. It will be at least another ten days before I could set up a QT. Then I'd have to cycle it, catch my tang, and reacclimate it to my 10 gallon tank. I would think that the stress of all that would finish him off.
The theory behind it, at least as I understand it, is that ick manifests itself on weak or stressed fish. Adding vitamins and nutritional supplements and keeping it well fed keeps it "healthy" aside from the presence of the parasite. Then, as the parasite goes through its life cycle and drops off the fish it doesn't reattach because the fish isn't stressed or weak.
I don't think I'm making this up. Maybe I am, but that would mean I'm losing my mind. Which, I guess, is also possible. There may be no proven evidence or documentation of this, but its all I can do for the time being. Maybe it will keep him going until I can set up a sufficient QT.