Hello all, been lurking since the arrival of my new 100g. FO tank about 2 weeks ago(still learning the lingo, so bare with me). Been cycling for this time with 8 damsels. My tank is brand new and has a wet/dry filtration system built in with those bio-balls and 2 foam filters. Waiting on a uv sterilizer until I get the tank ready for other stock as I was told not to run a sterilizer during the cycling period. I don't have a water test kit yet and didn't figure it mattered until my first test in a couple weeks at my LFS. My question is I am terribly paranoid of getting ick or ich(are they the same or different) in my tank. 3 or 4 of my damsels have been going around the coral and sides of the tank and scratching their gills. Been looking at them until my eyes bugged out of my head for white spots. Called the LFS and they said to treat with copper, added the copper 4 days ago and they are still scratching themselves periodicly. One has started to wear the scales on his gill away. Fron everything I have read, these diseases are almost always accompanied by white spots, which none of the fish have. They all eat well and look healthy with good color and clear eyes. Should I give it some more time? Do fish sometimes scratch for no reason? Can my LFS test my water for parasites? Could it be a different type of parasite? Sorry for all the questions, but you all seem to be quite helpful and I just want a healthy tank. Thanx