Perculas with ICH

[Charlie]

Unfortunately, I added two Perculas to the display tank which developed ich. I removed them from the tank and put them in a temp QT. I lowered the SG to 1.020 and will gradually lower to 1.015.

How long do the Perculas need to remain in the QT with a SG of 1.015 before they can be returned to the main tank?

I know - I know, I should have put them in a QT to begin with but the display tank is in my office with very limited space.

 

[ccCapt]

You want to drop it to 1.009 using a refractometer. The swing arm type is not accurate enough for hypo and 1.015 is not an effective hypo treatment. Once you are at 1.009, leave it there for a min of 4 weeks.

 

[Charlie]

I am using a refractometer but did not think the Perculas could survive in .009. I also thought that the parasite would be killed quickly in hypo. Bummer! The place that sold me the infected fish said that hypo works in 2-3 days!!!!!

Is there any reason to not use copper treatment in the QT? I think the lfs does it periodically because I've heard them talking about it. Would copper treatment work faster?

I hope the ich does not appear in any of my other fish. Looks like I'm off to a rough start.

 

[big baga]

You should just use cuprimine.It is alot easier than hypn the fish and you.1cc per 10 gallons.This tuff works wonders.Check out the seachem website for it.

 

[Charlie]

big baga,

I stopped at the lfs before I saw your post. They recommended using "Quick Cure" for the fish that are in QT. The package sais that it is for "Fast relief for ick & other parasites" can be used for SW or FW fish. It contains Malachite Green, Formalin. (whatever that is)

I'll check out the Cuprimine that you recommended.

Thanks

EDIT : I checked the Seachem site and it seems that ParaGuard will also kill ick as well as take care of bacterial & viral problems. Is anyone using this product? How about in a new fish QT tank?

 

[big baga]

Ive used paragaurd before it does'nt really kick ich.The only thing that has ever worked is cuprimine.I have also heard of a cuprimine paragaurd mixture.But not quit sure how much to mix.So I would just use cuprimine.I will try to post picks of my fish when they were sick and now 1 week later.

 

[melosu58]

Most of those remedies dont work. The cupramine I heard will work but the best treatment was mentioned earlier was hypo at 1.009. This will kill the ich that is in the QT. But you still have a problem in that you still have ick in your main tank. This must be fishless for 8 weeks to break the life cycle of the parasite. Alot of times you mentioned Quick in your post. Patience is a virtue in this hobby.

 

[ccCapt]

Malachite green or formalin won't kill ich. If you go with hypo, your looking at 4 weeks with fish in qt but you still must leave the main tank fishless for at least 6 weeks.

If you go the medicated route, I suggest either Cupramine or CopperSafe, but which ever you use get the appropriate test kit. One is chelated copper sulfate, one non-chelated and each use a specific type of test kit. I use CopperSafe and AP Copper test kit and keep the level between 1.5 - 2 ppm. The fish will be "clean" 2 weeks after you see the last spot on them if the proper copper level is maintained. The main tank still needs to be fishless for at least 6 weeks again.

If you had other fish in the main, they should also be put into qt.

edited: I can't spell...

 

[Charlie]

What about snails, crabs, & shrimp? Do they also need to go in the QT? Aren't all inverts subject to injury from copper? Are inverts subject to ich?

 

[FishFrik]

No, inverts are not subject to ich. No need to QT them

 

[roka64]

Aren't all inverts subject to injury from copper?

Copper will, kill inverts. Fishfrik is correct, ich will only host fish.