Recommendations please, I think this is ich

[Snoopdog]

I have had a Red Sea e-250 for around 2 years now, pretty heavy fish population but they have been extremely healthy until March 18. Around that date the seam busted on the tank, because of the situation of having to dismantle the tank, you can imagine the fish really got rattled around. Everything seemed fine after the move but around a week later the Royal Gramma, I thought I saw something on him and I was right. I also noticed he began flashing against the rock. My best guess it was ich. I waited and watched and whatever it was seemed to come and go, I was trying to approach it as it could go away on it's on and around that time I added a hefty UV light. Some days he looks okay, others days it is worse. Up until this week the other fish seem unaffected but just yesterday I think I see ich on the 6-line and a smaller clown fish. The tail on the gramma is looking more ratty now. We were hoping to get live food in and supplement their diet but there is just no way I can do that in time. We also purchased a fish trap but low and behold the gramma is the one fish that will not get in the trap.

I was trying to avoid spending even more money, this tank busting cost me 4k but I think I am just going to have to do it. I am beyond annoyed at Red Sea right now, my tank was gorgeous and beyond having to start over now my fish are sick. What I could do is lay down some pink foam on the floor and my thought was to purchase two 40 gallon breeders from Petco, my tank purchase options are limited today. If I do this what do you do for biological means during this? Add dead rock or nothing? I have powerheads and air pumps to move water and I can pickup another heater. Skimmers needed?

I am at my wits end, this blows chunks. Oh and I have yet to get a picture of the gramma until just now, I caught him sleeping and this is the worse I have seen this disease on him. And all the fish including him are eating fine. The others are showing no distress.

Fish tally...

2 clown fish
6 line
Yellow watchman
Yellow Tang (no, I did not buy him, came with the Red Sea)
Royal Gramma
Azure Damsel

 

[fishguy242]

#fishmedic

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I have had a Red Sea e-250 for around 2 years now, pretty heavy fish population but they have been extremely healthy until March 18. Around that date the seam busted on the tank, because of the situation of having to dismantle the tank, you can imagine the fish really got rattled around. Everything seemed fine after the move but around a week later the Royal Gramma, I thought I saw something on him and I was right. I also noticed he began flashing against the rock. My best guess it was ich. I waited and watched and whatever it was seemed to come and go, I was trying to approach it as it could go away on it's on and around that time I added a hefty UV light. Some days he looks okay, others days it is worse. Up until this week the other fish seem unaffected but just yesterday I think I see ich on the 6-line and a smaller clown fish. The tail on the gramma is looking more ratty now. We were hoping to get live food in and supplement their diet but there is just no way I can do that in time. We also purchased a fish trap but low and behold the gramma is the one fish that will not get in the trap.

I was trying to avoid spending even more money, this tank busting cost me 4k but I think I am just going to have to do it. I am beyond annoyed at Red Sea right now, my tank was gorgeous and beyond having to start over now my fish are sick. What I could do is lay down some pink foam on the floor and my thought was to purchase two 40 gallon breeders from Petco, my tank purchase options are limited today. If I do this what do you do for biological means during this? Add dead rock or nothing? I have powerheads and air pumps to move water and I can pickup another heater. Skimmers needed?

I am at my wits end, this blows chunks. Oh and I have yet to get a picture of the gramma until just now, I caught him sleeping and this is the worse I have seen this disease on him. And all the fish including him are eating fine. The others are showing no distress.

Fish tally...

2 clown fish
6 line
Yellow watchman
Yellow Tang (no, I did not buy him, came with the Red Sea)
Royal Gramma
Azure Damsel

Yes, this is not a good situation. The gramma does have a pretty severe case of ich, but it also has severe tail and skin damage. I'm not sure what caused that - from catching and moving it, another fish biting it?

This is past the point where UV and a good diet can manage the infection, and even starting a treatment now may not be soon enough for the gramma.

Your choices would be either hyposalinity or coppersafe in a treatment tank. Don't use live rock with coppersafe, but you can use it in hypo to provide beneficial bacteria.

Jay

 

[Snoopdog]

Jay, I have a bottle of cupramine is that okay? I have limited options on a weekend. I can go tank shopping today.

 

[Filipino Reefer]

Sorry that fish is a goner and the rest of your fish will catch it too...your system has ich. Since your system busted you better off quarantine all your fish in the first 40breeder then second breeder setup your new tank ... just saying I had ich, brook and velvet...not fun

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Jay, I have a bottle of cupramine is that okay? I have limited options on a weekend. I can go tank shopping today.

Cupramine is a bit harsher than coppersafe, but it works pretty well. The full dose for that is 0.50 ppm

Jay

 

[Snoopdog]

Sorry that fish is a goner and the rest of your fish will catch it too...your system has ich. Since your system busted you better off quarantine all your fish in the first 40breeder then second breeder setup your new tank ... just saying I had ich, brook and velvet...not fun

The new tank is a planet aquarium and has been setup nearly a month, they are currently in it. I am sure ich was in the tank the entire time, the stress of the move is what got them sick.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Get yourself a Hanna marine copper kit and treat with your cupramine at .45 with added oxygen using air stone. You can run salinity in QT at 1.023 which is a little lower but will help. If fish is doing well in the .45 copper, you can bring to full .5 level in 24 hours But assure you are using a reliable test kit to reach therapeutic level.
Your options for a quarantine tank is a starter tank kit from walmart or I believe you just missed $1 a gallon sale at Petco but some LFS will set you up with a Package deal.

 

[Uncle99]

The new tank is a planet aquarium and has been setup nearly a month, they are currently in it. I am sure ich was in the tank the entire time, the stress of the move is what got them sick.

I’d Hypo him in QT. (Bucket) Ick not a fast killer like velvet.
1.009 steady, and matched temp.
Daily small water change.
Try and feed, even a little is good, but remove uneaten stuff afterwards.
The lower salt will help him with respiration.
Yup, Cupramine is another alternative.
He’s got quite a bit, but always try.
Keep us posted.

 

[Snoopdog]

Get yourself a Hanna marine copper kit and treat with your cupramine at .45 with added oxygen using air stone. You can run salinity in QT at 1.023 which is a little lower but will help. If fish is doing well in the .45 copper, you can bring to full .5 level in 24 hours But assure you are using a reliable test kit to reach therapeutic level.
Your options for a quarantine tank is a starter tank kit from walmart or I believe you just missed $1 a gallon sale at Petco but some LFS will set you up with a Package deal.

I already have the copper test kit (Hannah), I think it said high level? I just purchased it last week just in case. I picked up a 75 gallon at a local pet store and just got home with it. I also found copper safe which Jay said use, so now I have two options.

 

[Snoopdog]

I’d Hypo him in QT. (Bucket) Ick not a fast killer like velvet.
1.009 steady, and matched temp.
Daily small water change.
Try and feed, even a little is good, but remove uneaten stuff afterwards.
The lower salt will help him with respiration.
Yup, Cupramine is another alternative.
He’s got quite a bit, but always try.
Keep us posted.

Thanks and I will try to post every few days.

 

[j.falk]

Fo shizzle!

 

[Snoopdog]

Hey guys, I notice under protocols for ick it says sponge filter, can anyone recommend one? Will I be okay for a few days with no sponge filter? What about a skimmer add one or is that a no?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hey guys, I notice under protocols for ick it says sponge filter, can anyone recommend one? Will I be okay for a few days with no sponge filter? What about a skimmer add one or is that a no?

You can also use a Hang on back filter for more effective water movement and sediment entrapment. Just take a scissors and cut along the top of the cartridge and empty out the carbon for use later where you can pour it back in to cartridge. I side with Jat and go with copper which will be effective and less stress on the fish. Not every fish endures Hypo well. Skip on skimming for now
Sponge filter utilize a lift and pull method where the bubbles pull in sediment but not highly effective

Sponge filter

 

[Snoopdog]

You can also use a Hang on back filter for more effective water movement and sediment entrapment. Just take a scissors and cut along the top of the cartridge and empty out the carbon for use later where you can pour it back in to cartridge. I side with Jat and go with copper which will be effective and less stress on the fish. Not every fish endures Hypo well. Skip on skimming for now
Sponge filter utilize a lift and pull method where the bubbles pull in sediment but not highly effective

Sponge filter

Thanks, I went to wal-mart in a pinch and picked up one of their sh!tty HOB filters.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks, I went to wal-mart in a pinch and picked up one of their sh!tty HOB filters.

Just cut the carbon out of cartridge and you have very effective water movement and filter

 

[Snoopdog]

Just cut the carbon out of cartridge and you have very effective water movement and filter

I am just going to ditch their filters and put in some sponge.

So guys million dollar question. All of the fish that are eating, clear and showing no issues. Quarantine those too? Isn't that a huge risk of stressing those fish out and killing them?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I am just going to ditch their filters and put in some sponge.

So guys million dollar question. All of the fish that are eating, clear and showing no issues. Quarantine those too? Isn't that a huge risk of stressing those fish out and killing them?

Well. . . . Is it a risk of stressing them - Yes
is it a risk that they will suddenly contract something - Yes

You make the call , but ich has a life cycle in which they have the ability to reproduce and need a host fish to survive. When gramma is removed > IF any eggs, they will hatch and seek a host being the next fish and start their reproduction

 

[Snoopdog]

Well. . . . Is it a risk of stressing them - Yes
is it a risk that they will suddenly contract something - Yes

You make the call , but ich has a life cycle in which they have the ability to reproduce and need a host fish to survive. When gramma is removed > IF any eggs, they will hatch and seek a host being the next fish and start their reproduction

Yeah that is why I am stressing out here. The others seem to be eating great and on occasion I think, not positive but I do think I see something on one and later that week, it is gone. Like my yellow tang, about 10 days ago he clearly had ich, but it has not popped back up on him. I am going to feel like **** if I move them to quarantine and wipe out healthy fish in the process. I am emotionally tied to my critters.

 

[Uncle99]

I am just going to ditch their filters and put in some sponge.

So guys million dollar question. All of the fish that are eating, clear and showing no issues. Quarantine those too? Isn't that a huge risk of stressing those fish out and killing them?

Best to do all but I see your point. Go ahead with the gramma and keep careful watch on all others. It others start showing infections

low light, tiny flow, say 10% WC every day or two should keep ammonia in check.

As you know ick falls off, replicates, then looks for fish.
Some fish seem to more resistant than others.

Some elevate water temp to reduce fallow period to 45ish from 72 ish days.