[chief]

well, Ick has finally struck my tank... I knew it was too good to be true. My 3 blue reef chromis have it and my yellow tang has it now I think. all other fish so far are clean I think

I don't have a QT nor do I plan on getting one (no room). What's the best treatment for this? will it go away on it's ow? will it kill the fish eventually?

[RJDudek]

Unless you pull the fish to a Qt tank it will never go away completely. You can help the fish build up their immunity with a variety of addatives, a good number of people use garlic with good results, but it does not eliminate the ich. Next time the fish are stressed the ich will return.

If you do nothing there is a better than average chance you will loose at least the tang.

[NHLIVES]

There seems to be a divergence of opionion of whether or not ich is in everyone's tank. The research shows that to get rid of it the tank must lie fallow of fish for at least six weeks. That is why some say QT everything wet. However, it is unclear to me that the normal 3 weeks is 100% effective. You would have to QT the full six weeks to be sure including inverts. Hypo wuld seem to help with fish in order to make the 3 weeks work but would about inverts? The water from the FS could easily contain the ich parisite in its free swimming stage. Anything less than six weeks seems to have a risk of introducing the parisite.

[chief]

how much Garlic do I add? I'm gathering I have to go buy the garlic that is made specifically for fish right? I can't just use the garlic juice from my minced garlic. lol.

all I know is the cleaner shrimp are getting paid time and a half. It's soo funny watching them clean the fish now. I see it happen almost every day now.

[blader123]

Yes you do use regular garlic juice. I scoop some water from my tank and add the garlic juice to that and then into the tank. Hold your nose for about 3 days because it STINKS>.>

[graveyardworm]

Inverts are not a host for ick. In order to erradicate ick from your tank I would go 60 days fallow. The best treatment for ick is hyposalinity in a QT. Like Rob said you can build your fishes immunity, but as long as fish remain the ick will be present, and when the fish get stressed it will come back.

[NHLIVES]

Originally Posted by graveyardworm

Inverts are not a host for ick.

So true but most require saltwater which could contain the free swimming stage of the ick parasite. At least that is what I read.

[chief]

has there been any research on if water temperature plays a roll in getting rid of Ick? It's like at the hospital... they keep the temp very cold because it helps fight off bacteria.

would keeping tank at like 74 compared to 80 make any difference in the Ick? corals can survive in 74 fine (at least mine can because my tank gets that low if i forget the fans on at night).

[graveyardworm]

True Ick could be introduced with inverts in the water they were shipped in, but inverts in a tank will not host the ick parasite so its life cycle is broken.

Chief I have not read that temp plays any role with ick to the extent that changing it would kill it.

[chief]

ok... no biggie... I'm not too worried about it for some reason. It is what it is. Only the strong stay alive in my tank baby. lol. no time for the weak

The yellow tang doesn't even look like it has ick anymore and the chromis at least aren't big bucks worst case scenario... I'll add some garlic juice to their food for alittle while at least

[NHLIVES]

Originally Posted by blader123

Yes you do use regular garlic juice. I scoop some water from my tank and add the garlic juice to that and then into the tank. Hold your nose for about 3 days because it STINKS>.>

There are several dry foods with garlic. Mega One Marine Flakes (with GARLIC)

[chief]

actually the fish goo that we made has garlic in it so should I even bother with the garlic?