My fish have ich - Need help please!

[vrlover]

OK, first time I jave to deal with Ich.
Yes, I know.. IT is all my fault for not goign the extra mile and putting my new fish on a QT.
Here is what I got. One Singapore Angel fish and one Clown (clarkiie) fish with Ich. Other fish in the tank are, a second clarkiie, a blue damsel and a Rusty Angel.
I have a fish only tank. Fish and rocks, that is it. Here is my setup.
55 gal Acrylic tank
Penguin Emperor 400 (1) with 2 bio wheels.
and a 250W heater.
Crush coral at the bottom
Last readings were:
PH 8.0
Specific Gravety: 0.120-0.121
Temp 78-80 degrees
Alkalinity at Normal (green)
NItrate = at 20
Nitrite = at 40
Because the nitrites were so high, I did a water change (about 10-15 Gal) I added new water - mixed with the red sea marine salt to the same salinity level, before puttign it in. The water extrated from the tank was basically syphoned out from the bottom.
The Nitrite and Nitrate levels seems to have gone down.. The ones above are the lastest ones. I understadn that the Nitrite level it is stil high, but it was off the chart (over 100) before I changed the water.
To treat the ICh I purchased something callred GREENEX. I mainly got this because the fish in question also have a popeye.
MOre info, I noticed that the fish are trying to scratch against the rocks.. Guessing that they are tryign to shake the parasites.
Does anyone have any suggestiosn as to how I can treat my display tank? I dont have nother tank to use as a QT at the time and I really cant afford one. Can I just add some Copper to the main tank to treat thsi problem? if I see that this stuff I bought doesnt work?
Also, I read about garlic on fish food, i will be doing this as preventive way.
Thank you all..

 

[beth]

Just to clarify, when you say FO, you mean that you have NO Live Rock, right? No inverts, meaning snails, hermits, anything at all except fish?
If so, you can safely use hyposalinity to treat the ich. Hyposalinity and copper are the only 2 viable treatments, both equally effective. However, copper is a toxic substance to both fish and tank, thus the use of hyposalinity is the preferred method.
There is a good deal of info on here about the procedure. Do a serach using our Search Feature, specifically in the Disease Forum. If you have any questions, post back.
Don't use the GreenX.
By "popeye", what do you mean? Is the eye actually protruding, or is it just clouded over, or both cloudy and protruding?

 

[vrlover]

No, I do not have any live rock at all..
I will try the hyposalinity method.. Unfortunatly, I already used GREENEX... (first doseage only)
Looks like both, cloudy and protruding...
Any specific reason why not to use GREENEX.. besides that it turns everything blueish? Is it to be used as a preventive method only?
Just asking, maybe be you had some bad experiences with it.
Thanks

 

[vrlover]

BTW, foudn the case for the ich..... Nitrite levels are unsafely high last reading after water change is between 3.0 and 5.0 cant tell the color well, I am leaning more towads 5.0 Yes, I know.. Extremely Toxic. I do know what could have caused it to spike again... In any even live and learn. This is why I started a fish only tank first.
Is there anythign else I can do besides changing the water to lower the level?
As I mentioned below, today I changed about 10-15 gal of water. When can i do the next water change?

 

[vrlover]

Guys, I am going throw the hyposalinity process. I got the Specific gravity down to 1.012 at 75-77 Degress. The specific gravity -salinity test reads Salinity at 16, which is what it is suggested to keep it at.. Do I proceed with another change of water (adding more freshwater) to lower itt o 1.009 or do I leave it were it is at and start the 4 week cout down after I dont see any more signs of ICH?
I jsut want to be sure, I dont want to lower the salinity too much.. I am affraid that I might have a drop on PH if I keep on going. I should keep on eye on it.. and when making up doe evaporated water - i shoudl add water with a specific gravity of 1.009?
Feedback will be appreciated.. Thank you all that replied and for all of your help.
PS: The fish are looking better and they seem to have more color, too?

 

[beth]

If you are using the refractometer, you can use the ppt, but if you are using a glass hydrometer, then go with the 1.009.
Remember, don't use a swing arm to measure, it is way too inaccurate [even for everyday use].

 

[vrlover]

you mean those plastic hydrometers are no good? I guess I better go buy another one.. suggestions??

 

[srossi]

Take a regular 5 gallon bucket and add half your water to half brand new salt water and let the fish sit in there for an hour before you release them. Do alot of small changes to your tank to get rid of your ick problem I would do 5 per week until it is gone.

 

[vrlover]

I will keep that in mind; however, now I am treating my display tank - since it is fish only.