My first encounter with the dreaded ICH!!!! HELP!

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spoiledogz

Guest
I am setting up a hospital tank as I type. I went and got an Eclipse all in one tank to use...I hope that is ok. I am currently making some saltwater now as well. My royal gramma, clown and sandsifting goby all have ich. Other three fish, yellow tang, flame hawk and sixline not showing any signs. I will admit, that I think they had this for a few days now but I didn't realize what it was and only tonight noticed them on the goby. So, when the water is ready and I set it all up I will move those fish over to that tank. My question is about all the rest in the DT and my LR/LS and inverts. What do I need to do for them....a few mushrooms and zoo's also. Do I need to treat the DT after I get the infected fish out. I have been reading a lot of posts and I am really confused. I guess I am supposed to hypo them in the hospital tank.....Please help!! Thanks in advance!
 
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spoiledogz

Guest
thanks Mess....also, what about shrimp and craps? I have a cleaner shrimp, peppermint shrimp and 2 emerald crabs.....will they be okay?
 
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spoiledogz

Guest
Have the three worst fish and one of the others in a qt tank now. I have to set up another one as that one is too small for all my fish. How stressful!!! How long do I have to leave the SG low??? Thanks for all the help!
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
All fish need to be treated. Do you have a refractometer? Have you read Beth's FAQ about hypo? If you only have a few mushrooms and some zoos, you may want to think about putting your rock, that has mushrooms and zoos, into the uncycled tank. Then remove the rest of your rock into a rubbermaid tub with a heater and a powerhead. You don't want all of those fish in an uncycled qt.
 
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spoiledogz

Guest
Originally Posted by sepulatian
All fish need to be treated. Do you have a refractometer? Have you read Beth's FAQ about hypo? If you only have a few mushrooms and some zoos, you may want to think about putting your rock, that has mushrooms and zoos, into the uncycled tank. Then remove the rest of your rock into a rubbermaid tub with a heater and a powerhead. You don't want all of those fish in an uncycled qt.

I have a hydrometer, but I am ordering a refractomer. I have read Beth's post and trying to follow without being too confused!! I didn't think I was supposed to put LR or LS in the qt tank?? Did I miss something? Also, why would I need to put the rest of my rock into a rubbermaid?? My DT is empty now except for inverts and the above mentioned shrooms and zoo's.....Thanks!!
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by spoiledogz
I have a hydrometer, but I am ordering a refractomer. I have read Beth's post and trying to follow without being too confused!! I didn't think I was supposed to put LR or LS in the qt tank?? Did I miss something? Also, why would I need to put the rest of my rock into a rubbermaid?? My DT is empty now except for inverts and the above mentioned shrooms and zoo's.....Thanks!!

You cannot perform hypo without a refractometer. I suggested moving your rock so that you can hypo the display. A tank will not cycle with rocks and inverts in it. It will cycle HARD with fish in it. If you already have your fish in the qt then that is good. You will have to be on top of water changes though.
 
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spoiledogz

Guest
I am sorry......I posted that I only had the 3 sick fish and one other in QT...but I actually was able to remove them all. So NOW my DT is indeed empty!
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by spoiledogz
I am sorry......I posted that I only had the 3 sick fish and one other in QT...but I actually was able to remove them all. So NOW my DT is indeed empty!
What sized qt is this?
 
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spoiledogz

Guest
Okay......all my fish are in QT, but the tank is not REALLY big enough for them. I will be setting up a larger tank and ultimately the official QT tank for the future, tomorrow. The water in the QT now is part new and part water from my DT. Tomorrow when I set up the larger tank, I am assuming I can put the QT water I have now into that and then add....what?? New and more from the DT??? I am not really sure and I have read so much the last few days that my brain is frazzled!! Since this is a new tank....how often should I change water while treating the fish? As far as the DT is concerned...it just sits as it is..correct??
Whew!
 
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spoiledogz

Guest
Originally Posted by sepulatian
What sized qt is this?

TOO small, but only 6 fish and only for less than 24 hours!! All of them SEEM to be doing well right now...the clown, which was the worst, looks pretty good. I gave the 3 infected ones a quick fw dip on the way to the qt.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
It is my pleasure to help you. You have no idea how hard this qt that you have, and are setting up, is going to cycle. I am telling you now that it is going to be almost constant water changes. Can you move your rocks and inverts into a tank, it will not cycle with them, and hypo the display?
 
sac10918

sac10918

Member
So Sep, just to clarify...
I believe that you are suggesting that spoiledogz remove his live rock, shrimp, snails, etc and place them in another area (either antoher tank, a large bucket with power heads and heater, etc.)
Then, spoiledogz should place all the fish back into the now essentially empty display tank (which is already cycled) and perform hyposalinty on the fish while they reside in the DT...
Is that correct?
 
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spoiledogz

Guest
Originally Posted by sepulatian
It is my pleasure to help you. You have no idea how hard this qt that you have, and are setting up, is going to cycle. I am telling you now that it is going to be almost constant water changes. Can you move your rocks and inverts into a tank, it will not cycle with them, and hypo the display?

What about the live rock in my refugium? Do I need to remove all that and the macroalgae into another container with all the rock from my DT??
 
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spoiledogz

Guest
And can the starfish go in the tub with all the rock as well? What about the LS and the cleaner clams in the sand?? I can get started on this shortly (took the day off work for this). I also think I have found a place local to buy a refractometer..I don't understand why more LFS don't carry them?!? Anyway, I just want to do this right and I am kicking myself for not having my qt already prepared!! Thanks again!
 
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spoiledogz

Guest
Originally Posted by spoiledogz
What about the live rock in my refugium? Do I need to remove all that and the macroalgae into another container with all the rock from my DT??

Okay...that was a silly question....obviously if the rock in the DT can't sustain then neither can the rock in the refugium!
 
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spoiledogz

Guest
What if I were to set up a QT with ALL water from DT? Would that be too much of a cycle??
I wish there was a "Hotline" number!!!!
 
earlybird

earlybird

Active Member
Yes she's telling you to take everything out of your DT and put into your other tank or a rubbermaid bin. Your rock and inverts (snails, stars, crabs etc.). If you don't have any coral then you won't need to light the rock. Just put a powerhead or two in there and don't forget to do water changes and consider ghost feeding the rock to keep bacteria levels up. Now, place all your fish back into your DT and perform hypo there. Lowering the salinity, moving the fish, dipping the fish, and ich are all very stressful on the fish. If you add to this an uncycled QT and minute levels of ammonia and nitrite and you are lowereing your hypo success rate. So she's suggesting and I agree, that you should hypo the DT where you already have nitrifying bacteria to prevent ammonia and nitrites. If you keep them in an uncycled tank you would have to work very hard and would be looking at daily water changes. Good luck.
 
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