Blue Regal with Ich

[t_nix]

Well we have our first bump along the road of salt water tanks. We noticed that our tang has ich due to stress. (she wasn't so happy when the blenny and anemone were in her sleeping spot-they have since moved on.)
We do not have a qt tank set up yet and I know that we need to set one up to put her in to treat her. She is small, approx 1.5" in length. I have an old 1 gallon tank with a air stone and light- would that be sufficient or should I bite the bullet and stop by the store on the way home and pick up a 20 gal tank? Also, if I get the 20 gal what kind of filtering system do I need? (We have a 20" power compact light we could use.) What else would I need to put in the qt tank?
What is the best ich treatment formula?
How long should I keep her in the qt tank?
Thanks in advance for your help!!
Tiffany

 

[texhorns98]

This is why I don't think I'll ever keep a tang again!

My advice would be to get a 10 or 20 gallon tank, your light is fairly unimportant but it's nice to have. You'll need a small heater and something to keep the water moving a bit. I believe you do not want any filter media if you are going to medicate.

I have never personally tried any of the ich related products out there, but I have been told that Ruby Reef products have had some success. It may have been cooincidence of course because if there REALLY were a reef safe ich treatment, it would be widely known.

Good Luck!

 

[smallblock]

You could prob find a cheap Fluval filter that would do great I have one on my bros tank I'm babysitting. It has plumbing that goes over the back and the filter box is in the stand.

 

[fish scales2]

Qt now is worthless as the system is now infected. You will do more harm moving the fish to Qt as he weill get stressed out. Is he eating?

I would recomend doing a search for ICH and you will find some of the most informative threads on the web right here in these this database.

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/tags.php?tag=ich">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/tags.php?tag=ich</a>
[IMG]http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=3661">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=3661</a>
Two great threads for you. I am of the opinion that ich does not kill fish. Feed properly and keep the stress down.

What size tank is this?

 

[t_nix]

I have a 92 gallon corner tank. The tang is eating green algea and mysis shrimp like a pig!

 

[fish scales2]

Read those links, please.

Feed red algea as well. Try soaking in garlic if he quits eating and you may consider using Metro and Focus but you first need to understand the life cycle of ich as well and a general understanding of it as well.

 

[texhorns98]

Good points, Chris!

The only way now to assure your system is ich free would be to pull all the fish out and let the tank run fallow for a period of time (2 months, maybe?). As Chris said, however, you'll stress the fish out more by moving him at this point. Food is your friend right now for sure!

 

[t_nix]

The second link you sent was awesome! When I said it got ich from stress, I meant that the stress of the blenny and anemone made it more suseptable to the parasite. I really did not want to try to catch the tang( which would be quite an under taking in our tank) because I didn't want to stress it out even more and end up killing her in the process. I just didn't think there were any other options.

 

[fish scales2]

I sometimes wonder whos stress level is higher, the fish or keeper. I used to get stressed out so bad when I saw ich on one of my fish. Now I just act like it is a cold the needs feeding. Good luck, just shut out the lights and feed small amounts often.

 

[t_nix]

I think the keeper stresses out a lot more than the fish!!! :doh: Thanks again for your help!

 

[t_nix]

We bought everything small. We have two oc clowns, the regal and a black sailfin blenny. We are supposed to pick up a yellow watchman/shrimp combo on Friday.

 

[tony_caliente]

+10...no more tangs for me. I know others "boasts" of their success and have no reason to doubt it, but I think they are all ticking time bombs.

 

[tony_caliente]

Having resigned myself to eschew blue tangs (or other tangs), I would love to add something dark blue to my tank, but not spend $150. Any suggestions?

 

[jdabs]

My blue regal has had ich outbreaks several times since I got it when it was about 1 inch big! It's pulled through all of the outbreaks with no issues. Keep it well fed like it has already been pointed out here. If it's eating then it should pull through just fine.