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Does Ich attach to star fish

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Tickyty, Feb 27, 2012.

  1. Tickyty

    Tickyty Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    I am removing a Hippo and 3 damsels to QT sinced the Hippo has ich.  I know that if I leave the DT free of fish for 30 days it will let the ich die out and I can start QT'ing reguraly and prevent this from happening again.  My question deals with the removal of a serpent star and coral banded star, does ich attach to them and continue the infestation or will it be ok to leave them in the tank?
     
  2. Jamie

    Jamie Well-Known ReefKeeper Vendor

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    Ick will not affect starfish or any inverts and will die off without any fish host in the aquarium in about 6 weeks, 8 weeks is better though to be safe. The fish will need to treated with copper or hypo to get rid of the infection on the fish. QT'ing them alone will not get rid of it. Good luck I've been there.
     
  3. Tickyty

    Tickyty Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Thanks for the info. I am planning on treating with Cupramine since I have no experience with hypo yet. I am currently setting up the QT tonight and would like to know if I should use 50/50 DT/RO water?
     
  4. Jamie

    Jamie Well-Known ReefKeeper Vendor

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    If you can I would recommend 100% DT water. If you just setting it up you will need to monitor ammonia and nitrites closely as they are likely to show up and be prepared to do large water changes to keep them in check. What type of filter do you plan on using for the QT? Be sure to have a copper test kit that is compatible with Curpamine also. To high of level can kill fish and to low will not be effective against ick.
     
  5. Jamie

    Jamie Well-Known ReefKeeper Vendor

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    If the fish are severely infested it may be beneficial to do a fresh water dip before putting them in QT this will kill some of the ick cysts attached to the fish. (Match temp, ph and alk in the fresh water bath first though). The copper will only kill the ick when it is in the free swimming stage. You may also want to be prepared with some Maracyn Plus for secondary bacterial infections that may show up caused by the ick leaving open wounds.  If you need anymore help let me know.
     
  6. Tickyty

    Tickyty Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Thanks for all the suggestions. I have an Aqueon hangon filter that I am planning on using. This has both a carbon pad as well as a bio piece. I will of course remove the carbon and use pads from my sump for biological filtration. I have a magnum 350 that i use for polishing the DT and also used for carbon and phospur use. Would prefer not to use the magnum since I will be dosing copper in the Qt.

    BTW my QT is a 29 gal.
     
  7. Jamie

    Jamie Well-Known ReefKeeper Vendor

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    That should work fine if you take the pads out of your sump and into the QT with copper do not put them back in your sump after treatment you could get residual copper into your display which would not be good.
     

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