2 weeks fishless.

barbianj · Oct 6, 2009

JJK said: ↑

Ok, gotta take a step back here. I agree that this has, perhaps, not been handled in the most ideal way from the get-go, but we have to deal with things as they are.

First off, the so-called Reef Safe ich meds are not very effective, in general. So if they have dyed your water green, run carbon and clean things out as best you can. Change the carbon after a couple of days to rid your system of the stuff.

Regarding your fish, my recommendation is as follows (and others may disagree). They will stay in your quarantine/hospital tank for a total of 8 weeks, while your display tank (DT) will remain TOTALLY FISHLESS for those 8 weeks. Inverts and corals can stay in the DT.

While your fish are in the quarantine tank (QT), I would treat them for 3 weeks with copper. You will have to test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates daily to be sure that the water isn't getting toxic, and will need to do very frequent water changes (and top up your copper accordingly, using a copper test to be sure you don't overdose copper).

After 3 weeks of copper, I would run carbon and do a total (100%) water change to totally get rid of the copper. Let your fish go for a week with absolutely no medication. Then, if you want, you could treat for another 2-3 weeks with Seachem Paraguard, which will clear up any bacterial/fungal/secondary infections your fish may have.

At the end of 8 weeks, slowly re-introduce your fish to your DT a few at a time so as not to overwhelm the system with a new bioload.

Sound complicated? It is! But it will work if you do it meticulously. By the way, I speak from personal experience, as this is how I defeated ich in my own tank. Been totally ich-less since then.

EDIT: Oh, by the way, regarding garlic....any form of garlic juice is fine. All it does is increase apatite - immune effects are arguable. Personally I prefer to soak my fish food in Selcon, which is a vitamin supplement that increases the nutritional value of the food.
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I agree with you 100%. I went through the same learning curve. Any new fish that I put in my system will have 3 weeks of copper and two dose of Prazi. You can't see ich on a fish's gills.

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2 weeks fishless.

barbianj Hammer Head Shark

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2 weeks fishless.

barbianj Hammer Head Shark

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