PARASITES IN REEF TANK??? HELP PLEASE

[frenchman]

Sorry to ask this (maybe) stupid question but it seems that I have parasites in 2 of my reef tanks! I thought that I would never have parasites in a reef tanks because of the live rocks, corals... but
- in my 50gal tank, one damsel has ick and fishes are scratching. The tank is full of live tocks, leather corals, mushrooms, one cbs, a feather duster, a tang, a pigmy, a gramma, 2 damsels and a cardinal.
- in my 30gal tank, the coral beauty (who has been there for a couple of months) is now scratching and the mimic tang has funny movements and seems to "choke" (?) I have a bit of LR and some corals.
WHERE IN THE WORLD DID I GET THESE PARASITES FROM ?
I checked the water recently and the readings are OK. What do you suggest? I got the garlic "tube" (looks like a tooth paste). Is it safe in reef tank? Will it help? Will anything else help?

 

[gobylover]

Ick can be caused by lots of things,as all fish carry it.Was there a sudden increase in temp,or a picky fish?Anyway,you have ick.I assume you don't have a quarantine or hospital tank.If your going to have anything in your tank besides fish,they are almost a must.I'm not sure about a garlic tube,but if you soak the food in garlic juice,it is supposed to help cure the ick.Never tried it,but others have been sucessful.Since you have corals and such you know how hard it is with ick.You might want to look in to a UV sterilizer to help you.I use greenex.It is supposed to be used as a prevention,but I used it as a cure and it worked fine.As with anything,others will say different.But I like it and it works for me.If it gets too bad,you might try afreshwater dip,but that won't help your tank,just the fish.Feed the garlic and set up a hospital tank.If you want to do greenex,well,thats up to you.Those are just a few suggestions.

 

[frenchman]

Well, I suspect my fishstore to have a lot of parasites in their tanks. But... I always and only purchased fish on the day or the next day after the fishes' arrival (and of course when they are and look healthy). In one tank, it is possible that there has been a change in temp but not in the other. FOR SURE, I'll make a hospital/quarantine tank before I put any fish into my reef tanks. I'm now tired of losing fishes like that! About hte UV, it's kind of an expensive equipment isn't it? And is it OK with corals?

 

[karl]

As far as using garlic for a cure, I have read a few articals on it. The garlic will just keep the parasite off the fish,will not kill the parasite,you must use it for a minimum of 30 days,soak it in there food.
The reason for this once the parsite is off the fish it will take this long for the parasite to die off can not live with out a host but will take thity days for the dye off to take place. If you stop the treatment of garlic before this it will come back to the fish imedatly,sometimes worse than before. You will first need to idenify the problem why did the fish come down with the parasite. Another form of treatment that i have had luck with is hyposalinity.

 

[pufferlover]

As I have said before I never ever buy a fish the first day or second the store gets it. Most wholesalers medicate the fish so they look clean but they have been moved, bagged, jostled at least 3 to 4 times before they get to the store. Again I say the best store I ever bought from did not sell any fish for at least a week and until they were eating.