most of my fish died

MWCF is an EXCELLENT store, and the only one that I'm aware of that QT's their fish. Although, I believe it's my responsibility to quarantine my fish. Don't blame the fish store, that's just the way it is. Corailline is giving you the straight scoop. Unfortunately there is a lot of disinformation about ich.

 

LOL, Corailline here I go again!

Read this article Marine Ich - Myths and Facts - Reef Sanctuary it explains allot about Marine Ich. Pay particular attention to this line which explains how long the MI cycle can last.

"4. Cycle can be completed in less than 7 days, but usually within 24 days BUT can go as long as 72 days. Literature usually quotes ‘average’ number of days. 72 days is rare; 60 days usually encompasses more than 99.9% of the observations and research."

Sorry man I really don't mean to be an A$$ but you just lost how much money in fish? And you can not afford what? No what you should have learned from this is the need to quarantine new fish for several weeks before adding to your display tank. And you are right MWCF is a great store, I consider Sissy a good friend but I would be willing to be that she would tell you to quarantine thier fish before putting it in your display tank.

As I said above I really do not mean to be a jerk but there have been so many posts just like your's and so many fish lost just in the last couple of days that all could have been avoided if proper quarantine procedures had been followed!

The reasons for Quarantining a fish are manyfold:

Quarantining a fish allows the fish to de-stress in an environment were it isn't being chased around the tank by other fish that have already established a pecking order and that will surely chase it causing even more stress to an already stressed out fish.

Quarantining a fish allows you to make sure that your new fish is eating properly which sometimes is all that is needed to make a fish healthy again. In a quarantine tank the fish isn't competing for other fish for its food and it gets the proper amount of food needed for it to regain its heath. And if a fish isn't eating it is more likely to start eating again if in a quarantine tank for the same reasons above.

Quarantining a fish also allows you to make sure that the fish your bringing home does not have some unnoticed disease and it keeps your fish that are already in the tank disease free. And treating a fish in a Quarantine tank is also much more precise because there are no rocks or sand that can and do absorb the chemicals that are being used to treat the fish. It is also much more precise because you know that there is 19 gallons of water in that 20 gallon tank because there isn't rock and sand displacing 2 or maybe 3 gallons of water.

And a Quarantine tank need not be a elaborate or expensive affair, Mine is a 20 gallon long, I use the longer tank because it allows fish like tangs more horizontal swimming room because they swim from side to side not up and down. For filtration I use a Foster & Smith top skimming HOB filter with Foam filter pads. When I am not treating with med's I run a bag of carbon in one side of the filter. The tank is bare save for a small black plastic flower pot and a 3" black PVC fitting that afford some places for the fish to hide which is very important. My light is a standard Perfecto single T12 bulb light and I have a small Stealth heater.

I MTY the tank after every fish that I quarantine, clean scrub it and all the other parts really good and let it dry until needed again. Putting a new fish in water that had a sick fish in, even if it has been treated is IMO not a good idea. Your quarantine tank need not be Cycled as some believe, all that is needed is while the fish is in there you change a small amount of water out every couple of days and monitor the ammonia levels closely.

Lastly did I say that that Quarantining a fish KEEPS YOUR BEAUTIFUL REEF DISPLAY FISH, you know the ones that are so BEAUTIFUL, you have had for so LONG, have been so HEALTHY and the ones that you paid SO MUCH MONEY FOR......still HEALTHY, BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY & SWIMMING around your tanks not going round and round in that Porcelain Throne in the bathroom

I have been quarantining fish in this manor for nearly 40 years, both fresh water and salt water, both for other people and myself also, and can honestly say that I have lost very few fish including some very sick ones.

I will get off of my soap box now..sorry.

 

LOL gazap,

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

IchArt2Mar

Marine Ich

so 3 - 7 days that seems to be the ball park, no.;D

 

Can I get a H3ll no!

I'd have to say that its between 57 and 53 days short wouldn't you...

 

;D

I am only speaking to the stage when the parasite is actually feeding on the fish. Because I keep seeing " well I do not see it anymore " therefore it was treated or gone.

Yes I totally agree with the over all time frame.

I am now hearing it actually be as long as 90 days in some rare cases, yukes.

 

The other fish that aren't infected have fought off the ich by their natural immune system. Many aquarists don't know that ich is always present and fish that are healthy, unstressed and well fed will naturally keep ich at bay. I always recommend Marine-Max by Tropical Science. It is all natural strains of bacteria that boost and maintain the fishes immune system. It works.

 

After showing some pictures of my deerly departed clownfish, and the fact that they were allmost white and the stripes were barely noticible, the smart guys at MWCF told me that I probably had (forgive the spelling) Brookanella. Which is a disease most common with Clown Fish, but probably what also killed my Royal Gamma. They said that alot of times it comes with Wild Caught Clown Fish. I plan on buying a pair of Captive Bread Clown fish in a month or so. I hope they do better, and dont get picked on by my bully Six Line, because they will be small.