Regal with ick

[wickedwes]

Hey all. i noticed this weekend that my regal tang started showing signs of ick. i have been feeding garlic for the past three or four days but it does not seem to be getting better. it actually seems a little worse. how long should it take for garlic to start working and is there anything else i should do? he is in a 25 gal quarantine tank.

 

[jimi]

If he is already in a quarantine tank I would highly suggest starting a hyposalinity treatment. Garlic is not a cure by any means for ich. It may help in some mild cases or with fish that have a higher resistance to ich and a regal tang definately is not one of those fish. Drop your salinity over a three day period to 1.009 keep it there for atleast 30 days but be sure to monitor the ph closely. Also have your hydrometer if that is what you use checked for acurracy.

 

[wickedwes]

thanks for the quick response. how do i check the hydrometer for accuracy?

 

[jimi]

The best way short of buying a refractometer is to try and find a lfs with one. You can still begin dropping the salinity until you find an lfs but it can be critical once you have reached the target salinity area. Again watch the ph.

 

[beth]

You use the same means to check for reduced salinity that you use for mixing up salt, only your readings should be progressively less over the course of a couple of days as you drop salinity. You want to aim for 1.009.

 

[wickedwes]

i have lowered my salinity to 1.009 now. he just started rubbing on things yesterday. how long should it take before i start to see the ick disappear? or how long should i wait until i try something else to cure him?

 

[beth]

You shouldn't have to try anything else...this will be it. Give it time, continue with garlic food [letting the food soak, perhaps for a couple hrs]. You many want to ensure that the salinity level is 1.009 by using 2 hydrometers as saline levels above this mark will not work for ick.

 

[wickedwes]

thanks for the help. the sg has been at 1.009 since thursday night now. will it look like the ick is starting to "fall" off the fish after a few days. hopefully this will finally help.