Please help- ich

[LKemp712]

I am in desperate need of help. I bought a 120G tank that came with a couple fish, when I looked at the tank it seemed that all the fish were healthy and happy but after getting the tank home and put back together I believe I may have stirred up ich that was previously in the sand. I immediately put my fish that came with the tank in my QT tank and attempted to treat them with copper. I had horrible luck and lost two fish, so I let the copper dissolve from the water, kept salinity normal for a couple days in hopes of helping the fish not stress and put them into hyposalinity. I kept them in hyposalinity for 4 weeks after the last spot went away and put them back in my 120G main tank. Within 4 days there started to be spots again. I don't know what to do now, I have a cortez sting ray, that lives in my main tank along with all the infected fish. Does anyone have ideas on how to help me?
I heard it may be benificial to scrap the live sand in the tank but my stingray needs it.
All my levels are normal.
Thanks,
Lindsey

 

[JsQuid]

I just went through a difficult time with ick as well. I lost all 4 of my fish, so saddening. I let the tank sit fallow for over a month, but the parasite can live for about 6 weeks with no host!

 

[navaljonf]

Hypo for 6-8 wks. That is the most natural way to do it and should take care of it. Not sure if you can hypo a ray though...

 

[Fishman007]

Rays cant get ich, put the others in QT, treat, and leave the ray in the DT.

 

[Stlrockguy]

I have ich right now also. I've read that leaving your dt fallow for 10 weeks is the best way. I'm treating my fish in hypo for 6 weeks and staying fallow for 10 weeks.

 

[Fishman007]

I have ich right now also. I've read that leaving your dt fallow for 10 weeks is the best way. I'm treating my fish in hypo for 6 weeks and staying fallow for 10 weeks.

Fallowing for 10 weeks eradicates all forms of ich, but 8 weeks does 99% if i remember correctly? Couldnt hurt though.

 

[Stlrockguy]

It's better to be safe then sorry. A couple more weeks to be sure is better then chancing it and having to start from the beginning IMO

 

[Fishman007]

It's better to be safe then sorry. A couple more weeks to be sure is better then chancing it and having to start from the beginning IMO

Agreed.

 

[Stlrockguy]

It really sucks having a tank with no fish in it. I'm about a month in right now

 

[Mebbid]

All you need to know about it and how to treat it.

Marine Ich/Cryptocaryon irritans - A Discussion of this Parasite and the Treatment Options Available, Part I by Steven Pro - Reefkeeping.com