More sign of ich!!! - Aquarium Advice

kwan · 06-04-2004, 12:15 PM

Having battled with ich for the past 3 months is really not the way to introduce [acronym:3a74fd14fd="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:3a74fd14fd] to a newbie. I am totally devastated. I have moved my fish back in the main tank for about a week after 6 weeks in hypo. I have kept the salinity to 1.009 daily when they were in [acronym:3a74fd14fd="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:3a74fd14fd] and the main tank had been left to fallow for 6 weeks. I have not added any new stock during this time, but I don't understand why my yellow tang is showing signs of ich. My regal and clarkii is still fine. But now I am worry they might catch ich as well.

So, what should I do? I am tempted to just leave him in the main for a couple of days to see if it is really ich and whether the cleaner shrimps can help out. I am not keen to [acronym:3a74fd14fd="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:3a74fd14fd] him again since he has been in hypo for 3 months now and is certainly not good for his health.

What could have gone wrong? I think the hypo treatment worked fine. Is more likely that my main still has some ich parasite. But I thought 6 weeks was enough to get rid of it.

quarryshark · 06-04-2004, 01:23 PM

Sorry you are having so much trouble. I had similar problems when I got started, but mine was with velvet, there may have been ich as well.
Have you considered copper, specifically cupramine.
After a cupramine treatment and a 8 week fallow period, it did the trick. Perhaps if the tang is stressed, you could remove him to [acronym:df00b813fa="quarantine or quart depending on context"]qt[/acronym:df00b813fa] and leave normal tank water for a few days to allow him to rest. Then start the copper treatment.
Just a thought.

kwan · 06-04-2004, 01:51 PM

Thanks QS!

I used copper before, but the tang was so stressed out that I had to use hypo again. Cupramine is very difficult to get hold of in the UK. However, I have managed to find a stocklist and bought a bottle of this highly rated medication.

Moving him off to [acronym:d69f305d11="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:d69f305d11] with normal tank water might be an idea. I think I shall just leave him tonight and check him again tomorrow before I move him off. And then I'll try out Cupramine. I think it would be better to leave the main tank to fallow for at least 8 weeks.

quarryshark · 06-04-2004, 02:07 PM

Agree with the fallow period. With the cupramine, you really need to get the Seachem multitest kit for copper. At proper levels the med works great and is relatively mellow on the fish.
I believe http://www.marinedepot.com
Carries the test kit. Not sure about UK delivery.
Its a nightmare I know.
Good luck!!

06-04-2004, 03:22 PM

What was used to measure the salinity and if a refractometer, when was it calibrated last?

Cheers
Steve

kwan · 06-04-2004, 04:23 PM

I used a refractometer and I calibrated it before I started hypo. I have just calibrated again and it is consistent with measurements taken before and after.

06-04-2004, 07:03 PM

How often is the salinity checked throughout the process?

Sorry for all the Q's, I'm just trying to figure out your issue. Hyposalinity performed accurately rarely (if ever) fails. Especially after 6 weeks at 16 [acronym:310d4e8ae9="Parts per Thousand"]ppt[/acronym:310d4e8ae9].

Cheers
Steve

kwan · 06-04-2004, 07:18 PM

I checked salinity everyday. I think hyposalinity was fine. It could be the tank not left to fallow long enough. But surely 6 weeks should have done the job.

06-04-2004, 07:31 PM

6 weeks usually does the trick, that's why I am at a loss unless something during the process was amiss.

Cheers
Steve

kwan · 06-04-2004, 08:21 PM

Well Steve, I don't think I have missed anything out. It is my second attempt at hyposalinity. The only thing that could have gone wrong is the fallow period might have been too short which both of us think should be sufficient.

So having started the [acronym:15f4f4b1e8="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:15f4f4b1e8] tank six months ago, my fish have spent 3 months in [acronym:15f4f4b1e8="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:15f4f4b1e8] and more on the way. The additional work required to maintain the [acronym:15f4f4b1e8="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:15f4f4b1e8] is very demanding and I am about to throw in the towel. Since I have these [acronym:15f4f4b1e8="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:15f4f4b1e8] and inverts I can't just strip down the main tank and start over again. Any suggestions?

06-04-2004, 12:15 PM	#1
kwan Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: London UK Posts: 362 Images: 2	More sign of ich!!! Having battled with ich for the past 3 months is really not the way to introduce [acronym:3a74fd14fd="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:3a74fd14fd] to a newbie. I am totally devastated. I have moved my fish back in the main tank for about a week after 6 weeks in hypo. I have kept the salinity to 1.009 daily when they were in [acronym:3a74fd14fd="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:3a74fd14fd] and the main tank had been left to fallow for 6 weeks. I have not added any new stock during this time, but I don't understand why my yellow tang is showing signs of ich. My regal and clarkii is still fine. But now I am worry they might catch ich as well. So, what should I do? I am tempted to just leave him in the main for a couple of days to see if it is really ich and whether the cleaner shrimps can help out. I am not keen to [acronym:3a74fd14fd="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:3a74fd14fd] him again since he has been in hypo for 3 months now and is certainly not good for his health. What could have gone wrong? I think the hypo treatment worked fine. Is more likely that my main still has some ich parasite. But I thought 6 weeks was enough to get rid of it.

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06-04-2004, 01:23 PM	#2
quarryshark Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 5,377 Images: 53	Sorry you are having so much trouble. I had similar problems when I got started, but mine was with velvet, there may have been ich as well. Have you considered copper, specifically cupramine. After a cupramine treatment and a 8 week fallow period, it did the trick. Perhaps if the tang is stressed, you could remove him to [acronym:df00b813fa="quarantine or quart depending on context"]qt[/acronym:df00b813fa] and leave normal tank water for a few days to allow him to rest. Then start the copper treatment. Just a thought.

06-04-2004, 01:51 PM	#3
kwan Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: London UK Posts: 362 Images: 2	Thanks QS! I used copper before, but the tang was so stressed out that I had to use hypo again. Cupramine is very difficult to get hold of in the UK. However, I have managed to find a stocklist and bought a bottle of this highly rated medication. Moving him off to [acronym:d69f305d11="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:d69f305d11] with normal tank water might be an idea. I think I shall just leave him tonight and check him again tomorrow before I move him off. And then I'll try out Cupramine. I think it would be better to leave the main tank to fallow for at least 8 weeks.

06-04-2004, 02:07 PM	#4
quarryshark Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 5,377 Images: 53	Agree with the fallow period. With the cupramine, you really need to get the Seachem multitest kit for copper. At proper levels the med works great and is relatively mellow on the fish. I believe http://www.marinedepot.com Carries the test kit. Not sure about UK delivery. Its a nightmare I know. Good luck!!

06-04-2004, 03:22 PM	#5
steve-s Guest Posts: n/a	What was used to measure the salinity and if a refractometer, when was it calibrated last? Cheers Steve

06-04-2004, 04:23 PM	#6
kwan Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: London UK Posts: 362 Images: 2	I used a refractometer and I calibrated it before I started hypo. I have just calibrated again and it is consistent with measurements taken before and after.

06-04-2004, 07:03 PM	#7
steve-s Guest Posts: n/a	How often is the salinity checked throughout the process? Sorry for all the Q's, I'm just trying to figure out your issue. Hyposalinity performed accurately rarely (if ever) fails. Especially after 6 weeks at 16 [acronym:310d4e8ae9="Parts per Thousand"]ppt[/acronym:310d4e8ae9]. Cheers Steve

06-04-2004, 07:18 PM	#8
kwan Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: London UK Posts: 362 Images: 2	I checked salinity everyday. I think hyposalinity was fine. It could be the tank not left to fallow long enough. But surely 6 weeks should have done the job.

06-04-2004, 07:31 PM	#9
steve-s Guest Posts: n/a	6 weeks usually does the trick, that's why I am at a loss unless something during the process was amiss. Cheers Steve

06-04-2004, 08:21 PM	#10
kwan Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: London UK Posts: 362 Images: 2	Well Steve, I don't think I have missed anything out. It is my second attempt at hyposalinity. The only thing that could have gone wrong is the fallow period might have been too short which both of us think should be sufficient. So having started the [acronym:15f4f4b1e8="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:15f4f4b1e8] tank six months ago, my fish have spent 3 months in [acronym:15f4f4b1e8="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:15f4f4b1e8] and more on the way. The additional work required to maintain the [acronym:15f4f4b1e8="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:15f4f4b1e8] is very demanding and I am about to throw in the towel. Since I have these [acronym:15f4f4b1e8="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:15f4f4b1e8] and inverts I can't just strip down the main tank and start over again. Any suggestions?