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tad2q · #1 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007, 10:53 PM

is there any true tale signs. one of my damsels has three spots on him, but the other is fine. my trigger is swimming crazy all over the place scratching himself on the sand but my blenny is fine and so are my snails and crabs. please help.

kh6sat · #2 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007, 11:08 PM

Sounds like Ich to me. All the fish don't necesarily have to show syptoms. I'd QT all of them in QT tank with copper treatment. I'm just ending that process now with my tank.

rlcline76 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007, 11:12 PM

white dots, increased respiration, pale color, rubbing up against rocks and so forth, sometimes lack of appetite, lethargy...
If you have a QT(not the main tank), copper treament for the damsels, probably the trigger, but I would double check (I do not have triggers). If your blenny gets ich, it cannot handle copper and I believe that I have read that they do not take well to freshwater dips.

tad2q · #4 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007, 11:14 PM

ok i will set up a QT tank tom. and anything else can i do. I need help like a step by step guide will be great.

rlcline76 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007, 11:28 PM

Boost their diet with garlic (Kent's garlic extreme or Garlic Guard) and vitamins, like Zoe.
This process could take awhile. Ich has a cycle. What fish you can get to pull through, you need to be patient enough to make them sit in QT for at least 3 weeks ich free. Since your main tank has ich, I would suggest leaving it fallow for 6 weeks.

rlcline76 · #6 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007, 11:29 PM

Some like hyposalinity and a good temp raise. I don't mess with either.

kh6sat · #7 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007, 11:31 PM

Be sure your display tank is totally fish-free for the 6 weeks.

tad2q · #8 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 12:15 AM

ok this sucks..... how did i get it

tad2q · #9 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 02:33 AM

just one damsel has spots if i get him out. would the rest of the tank be ok or is it too late?

ElizabethPou · #10 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 06:29 AM

I think I would QT the whole tank because it's better to be safe than sorry. Did you notice any changes in the temperature in the tank? Also, overcrowding the tank can cause ICH.

Salt-lick · #11 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 06:51 AM

Can Ich be a brownish color and can ich be like a bump?

tad2q · #12 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 11:24 AM

my tank is a little cold around 76, but not any big flucuations. i have a 75 gallon with two damsels, one blenny, and one trigger that is about two inches. so i think overcrowding is not a problem.

scubagirl · #13 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 04:04 PM

ich is usually just scattered white spots... these are small bumps and will burst and release the parasites that cause itch into the aquarium, and the parasites will find other hosts. from what i've read, pretty much every fish contains these ich parasites but the disease just flares up when the fish is stressed - for example moving fish to a new tank or overcrowding.

rlcline76 · #14 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 04:08 PM

Really, Salt-Lick, what you will find is that you can pretty much treat fish illness in the same way. I have seen green clown gobies with nasty looking bumps that were not white, but could have easily been ich. A bump could also be an injury from another fish! QT is always a good idea.

jimw369 · #15 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 07:53 PM

Here is some info to read up on that might help you. Good Luck! Keep us posted.

ATJ's Marine Aquarium Site - Reference - Marine "Ich"

ATJ's Marine Aquarium Site - Reference - Hyposalinity Treatment

tanked001 · #16 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 08:15 PM

Just make sure you stick with your ick treatment for atleast 6 weeks....
I went thru the same bs. I QT all my fish w/ copper for 4 weeks and emptyed the main tank. It wasn't long enough the ick came back in 2 weeks. Right now I'm running hypo in 75 gal and I think I'm gonna leave it that way for 7 weeks... (it a fowlr tank) I know it may not be that good for the LR but atleast my fish will live.

jgo1973 · #17 (**permalink**) 08-03-2007, 09:17 AM

18-20 months ago I had 3 ich outbreaks. The only treatment option that worked long term for me was HYPO. Almost 1 full year w/no ICH (knock, knock on wood). Good luck!!!

tad2q · #18 (**permalink**) 08-03-2007, 12:33 PM

hypo? what is that

DoLceNBeLLa · #19 (**permalink**) 08-03-2007, 12:47 PM

hyposalinity

tanked001 · #20 (**permalink**) 08-03-2007, 08:45 PM

when you guys ran hypo.. what did ya set your sg to? I have mine at 1013 now... you think thats low enough?

jimw369 · #21 (**permalink**) 08-03-2007, 09:14 PM

Read the post I made earlier in your thread. It has 2 hyperlinks about Ich and the treatment of Hyposalinity.

You need to take your SG down to 1.009. You will also need refractometer to measure your SG and not a hydrometer as they are not accurate enough to maintain the exact SG needed for hypo to work.

The articles hyperlinked in my previous post would be a good read now.

Ich is no fun. Good luck and keep us posted.

jimw369 · #22 (**permalink**) 08-03-2007, 09:15 PM

In regards to my last post. SG at 1.009 is done in a quaratine tank and not your main tank.

tanked001 · #23 (**permalink**) 08-03-2007, 09:59 PM

Thanks for the info... I have already ordered a refractometer... I'm going to leave it for now untill I can accuratly measure the SG. I'm not to worried about running hypo in this 75 gal. tho.. it's a FOWLR.. most of the rock is diy and I can always "seed" it later.

Thanks again

Tonz of fun · #24 (**permalink**) 08-03-2007, 11:10 PM

I do my hypo at 1.012 that is plenty low enough to kill all parisites. I would not do it for longer then 3 weeks because it is stressfull for the fish in the long run...