how do I know if my fish has ich?

That's the answer to the question. I agree w/SWGuy, if you're going to use this treatment, use a cheap tank (or even a cheap bucket!) for a few weeks. It's not worth the damage you do to the invisible life that really keeps the display tank running fine (bacteria, worms, microscopic organisms, etc.).

Your sand is not dead. If it is, then you have not yet cycled. We don't literally mean the sand, but the bacteria that lives in it (along w/the other micro organisms). If you haven't cycled yet, ich isn't your biggest concern right now.

But, for a different point of view. Your original post said "couple of spots".

I've had just a "couple of spots" before too and all I did was mix a little garlic extract with some food to get the fish to eat better. That, alone, improved the fish's immune system enough to take care of it and the ich went away. An effective treatment for a non severe case. (I would also use this treatment in conjunction w/the above if you do that as well).

It also may be you haven't cycled yet and this is stressing the fish reducing its' immune system. I'm not aware of the details of your setup.

Good luck.
P

 

its just two little spots on the back of the clown, and he is eating. so it might go away on its own then?

but then i can't add any fish for 8 weeks?

 

I don't know if you've said or not, I've been reading a lot of threads ;D

What, exactly, is it eating? It may not be getting the kind of nutrition it needs. Which could cause illness to flare up.

ich doesn't ever really go away. Fish have active immune systems similar to us. That keeps stuff like this at bay, usually

 

new life spectrum marine formula.

 

As in pellets? That's all your feeding it, right?

With that premise, I would say that's your problem. Nutrient deficiency weakening the immune system leading to a small outbreak of ich.

This is a perfect example of how diet adjustments can treat ich.

If you're not keeping the pellets frozen, they'll last a few weeks before the vitamins and what not deplete naturally (they're just not stable). You can overcome this by soaking them in a vitamin formula for fish. I forget what it's called, but several folks on here will know.

If you are freezing it, after about 3 months, time to trash it and buy a new one. I really wish they sold much smaller bottles, it's such a waste. (I keep mine in the freezer)

First, I'd say get a new bottle of food. Going forward, I'd say to start soaking it first. Also I would recommend varying the diet a little. Mysis shrimp, krill, are all things you can buy frozen from the LFS. This food is good for the fish's health.

Putting a little garlic extract in the food will encourage the fish to eat it.

So while I'm not a big fan of your seeking the easy way out here (this hobby is a pain in the butt sometimes) or your 'not feasible' statement earlier; I'd say you have a good chance of actually getting a relatively pain free solution to work here.

Good luck.

 

I'm not trying to be mean, but if he wants to be stubborn and risk killing off his tank and then having to pay all that money to start over from scratch. vs. paying $13 at walmart for a 10g tank and a few dollars for a aerator stone to keep the water moving and save his DT, then let him do so. Obviously he's asking for 3reefers advise, but doesn't like our advice. The only thing I can say is to let him be and good luck to you robl45

 

and should i blow through the air stone? do pumps come free? heater for that tank, etc. but anyway, its not that simple, my neighbor owns the tank, but all they do is look at it. I get the job of actually dealing with it and they aren't going to all that extra expense unfortunately, so I have to do what I can do with the limits I have.

 

yes, pellets, they sit in the store on the shelf, so would freezing them actually help? what kind of vitamin formula, would the local fish store have this?

 

They sit on the shelf vacuum sealed. You pop that top and the countdown begins.

Most LFS have it yes. I still don't remember what it's called. Search the forum, there are several threads that mention it.


I don't understand this situation of it being the neighbor's tank... This hobby is expensive. Frankly, if you/they can't afford a $3 bucket and a $5 air stone/pump from wal-mart to do this right, you/they can't afford this hobby. The costs that are being suggested right now are nothing to what you will be coming up against in the future... This is just the beginning.

 

i agree with everything said above... copper should only be administered in a QT tank and if you don't have one a bucket will work. SW fish need a variety of foods not just pellets. i would buy frozen food and add garlic and other nutrients to it. the ich will always be in the tank so i would take the fish out and treat him and if you can wait 6 to 8 weeks before adding the fish back into the tank.