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moving rocks during Ich outbreak?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Netofficer3710, Apr 9, 2011.

  1. Netofficer3710

    Netofficer3710 Inactive User

    86
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    I am currently dealing with a minor flare up of ich on my coral beauty.
    if it were not for the constant cleaning from the cleaner shrimp and the micro specks on his head I would not know anything was going on, he is acting normal.
    I have been dosing him with garlic and merely observing him, he does not appear to have gotten better or worse yet.
    would this be a bad tome to start moving rocks?  after I went to AC&C yesterday and saw their new nano tank I have been considering a re-aquascape to try to make a large arch and get my rock higher so my fish use more of the tank (it only goes up half the height of the tank)
    should I hold off?  I'm bored and looking for something to do...
     
  2. MXC207 Well-Known ReefKeeper

    634
    Cedar Rapids
    Ratings:
    +7 / 0 / -0
    If it was me I wouldnt. If they have ich you dont wanna stress them out anymore than they probably already are. And tearing apart their home and redesigning it would just add more stress to them. I'd hold off.
     
  3. Eric Experienced Reefkeeper

    West Des Moines, IA
    Ratings:
    +33 / 0 / -0
    Actually, now might be a good time to change your tank.
    If your Coral Beauty does have ich, the only way to get rid of it would be to move the specimen (as well as any other fish you have) to a hospital tank for treatment.  This would give you the opportunity to re-arrange the rock or add more if needed.  During treatment your display tank will need to fallow for at least 6 weeks (opinions vary on amount of time) as ich can not live without a hosting fish.  The parasite doesn't host on corals or invertebrates so they don't need to be removed but ich treatments will kill them therefore the need for a hospital tank.
    Hospital tank doesn't need to be anything special - plain bare bottom tank, simple filtration and heater along with hiding places (pieces of pvc work great!).
    Do some research on the various treatments for ich as they all have their pros and cons.
    Regarding the current status of your Coral Beauty, it may live for quite a long time with the cleaner taking care of it.  Long term concern is that without eradicating the parasite, it may eventually kill the Coral Beauty and will certainly infect future fish that you introduce to the tank.
    -Eric
     
  4. Shayna

    Shayna Well-Known ReefKeeper

    425
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    I'll share my experience as it may help you....

    When I started stocking a tank a few months ago, I had 3 fish showing ich. Nothing severe, but they each had a few of those unmistakable white dots on them. I imagine from the stress of getting adjusted to a new enviroment, it enabled the ich to get them. I freaked out, because I know how harsh the chemicals are, and it's very hard to treat them. Plus, getting them out of the rocks and into quarantine was going to be a disaster. The fish were swimming and eating normally, so I took some frozen shrimp they loved, and put it in a little container with some water and piece of fresh garlic I pulled off a clove and crushed. I let that soak in the sealed container in my fridge for a day until it started to smell REALLY garlicy, then I pulled out those pieces of shrimp and dropped them in. The fish gobbled them up as usual and within two days all spots were gone. I kept feeding them that for a few more days and I haven't had an issue since! Just my experience, but I'd definitely do it again. I figure with garlic extreme and thera A foods out there, what I did wasn't much different, but a lot cheaper, and maybe more effective.
     
  5. Netofficer3710

    Netofficer3710 Inactive User

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    it seems like at least one of my fish has tiny spots at any given point, my new yellow tang has it now.
    I'm not concerned about it when they start showing it because it never makes them act or eat any differently, and it only lasts a couple days but I'm affraid one of these days it will go crazy like I hear about when people get these huge outbreaks that wipe out the tank.
    oh... and I'm getting tired of smelling garlic extract (tanks at the foot of my bed)
    if I calmed down on the stocking (I add new corals and inverts or fish almost weekly) and I started remembering to feed before lights out so I don't have to turn them back on to feed it might cut down on the stress a bit.
     
  6. Shayna

    Shayna Well-Known ReefKeeper

    425
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    I'd just soak their food in garlic, feed them that as long as they're eating good, and keep up on it for at least 7 days straight so the ich won't attach to them. Then keep up on water changes to help removed the parasite from the water that hasn't attached to the fish in the white cysts you see. Avoid making any other changes that may further stress the fish. Hopefully that helps. I'm not an expert by any means, but I've never had a serious ich problem in any of my freshwater or saltwater tanks when I did this when I noticed spots on any fish. After beating it, it doesn't seem to return. Good luck - hope you get rid of it soon!
     
  7. Eric Experienced Reefkeeper

    West Des Moines, IA
    Ratings:
    +33 / 0 / -0

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