- Location
- The Big City
Problem with that is it doesn't do anything to kill the Ich or keep it from reinfecting the fish, and neither does hoping for the best.......
how to get rid of ich when you cant get the fish out of the tank
- Thread starter mxracer761
- Start date
Problem with that is it doesn't do anything to kill the Ich or keep it from reinfecting the fish, and neither does hoping for the best.......
- Location
- Westchester NY
yeah but I have NEVER had an outbreak that affects the entire tank. Have you? usually what is observed is select fish that get ich even though it is present in a tank. Namely tangs because they lack a scaly defense like most other fish.
What I see is that Ich is closely tied to stress in fish. This is the reason that freshly transported fish that are placed in a tank that get Ich is commonly mistaken to be the culprit to introducing ich. This is the most elementary mistake in the hobby and one that is attributed to a beginner.
If you take a stressed fish and stress it out some more, it does not help the fish any and one would have been better off just hoping for the best instead of taking drastic hypo option.
You are much better off just keeping the fish feeding and nothing wrong with a natural garlic extract... fish love it and its just as good for them as it is us.
What I see is that Ich is closely tied to stress in fish. This is the reason that freshly transported fish that are placed in a tank that get Ich is commonly mistaken to be the culprit to introducing ich. This is the most elementary mistake in the hobby and one that is attributed to a beginner.
If you take a stressed fish and stress it out some more, it does not help the fish any and one would have been better off just hoping for the best instead of taking drastic hypo option.
You are much better off just keeping the fish feeding and nothing wrong with a natural garlic extract... fish love it and its just as good for them as it is us.
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- Location
- Westchester NY
what do we know about Ich? several stages of which free swimming is one of them right? well, if you have a reef than any hypo that you think you might do to prevent intro. of ich is out the window.
take a coral for example. unless you are bone drying every piece of coral that you get (in other words killing the coral in the process) you can forget about trying to prevent an ich intro into your tank. I mean seriously, its funny to me that so many people here arent seeing this. a single drop of free swiming ich into the tank and you got ich living in your tank.
so, go ahead an hypo nukebomb your fish, but after you do throw out every single coral in your tank and that goes for every piece of live rock too. after you do this be sure you never mix another drop of water from anywhere, including your tap as it might and more than likely will contain ich at one point or another. sooner rather than later you will be at square one again.
The name of the game here is NOT prevention, that's for beginners and is futile and is nearly impossible. Unless you are keeping a fish only tank with no live rock.
take a coral for example. unless you are bone drying every piece of coral that you get (in other words killing the coral in the process) you can forget about trying to prevent an ich intro into your tank. I mean seriously, its funny to me that so many people here arent seeing this. a single drop of free swiming ich into the tank and you got ich living in your tank.
so, go ahead an hypo nukebomb your fish, but after you do throw out every single coral in your tank and that goes for every piece of live rock too. after you do this be sure you never mix another drop of water from anywhere, including your tap as it might and more than likely will contain ich at one point or another. sooner rather than later you will be at square one again.
The name of the game here is NOT prevention, that's for beginners and is futile and is nearly impossible. Unless you are keeping a fish only tank with no live rock.
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- Location
- The Big City
You still have outbreaks, and they may not affect the whole tanks but they do affect fish in your tank. So, what you're doing isn't working. I don't get outbreaks in my tanks, as I have taken measures to make sure that any fish that I place into my tank doesn't have Ich, or other parasites and diseases for that matter. I also make sure that there isn't Ich in my tank to start with. I'm also not sure why you're singling out Tangs, as there are plenty of other fish that are Ich magnets, like large Angels, the Queens being one of them, that get Ich at a drop of a hat.
Also, stress has nothing to do with Ich. Ich is a parasite and healthy non-stressed out fish can get it, and die from it too. If you place a healthy fish into a tank full of Ich there is a good chance it will probably be infected with the Ich. Now maybe a healthy fish maybe better able to fight it off, but plenty of healthy fish die from Ich.
And lets looks at stress. First, fish are being placed in small tanks, for most way smaller than what they're use to in the wild. They're being placed with tank mates that they normally wouldn't be around, let alone sharing the same small space with. Second, water conditions aren't as good as they would be in the wild. Third, the surrounding, like light going on and off all of a sudden, people walking by and looking into the tanks, and just general vibrations. All of these things cause stress but unless you have Ich in the tank the fish aren't going to come down with it.
As for stressing out the fish more with Hypo, well the fish are infected in a closed system, one in which they can't get away from consistently being reinfected, to the point where many die. They are heavily stressed out at that point. So in the end it's better to treat a fish, either with Copper, Hypo, or using the transfer method, then to leave the fish alone. The relief that you are providing them with greatly reduce the stress once the Ich is reduce and then finally killed off.
From your posts I don't think you understand what Hypo is and how it works.
Also, stress has nothing to do with Ich. Ich is a parasite and healthy non-stressed out fish can get it, and die from it too. If you place a healthy fish into a tank full of Ich there is a good chance it will probably be infected with the Ich. Now maybe a healthy fish maybe better able to fight it off, but plenty of healthy fish die from Ich.
And lets looks at stress. First, fish are being placed in small tanks, for most way smaller than what they're use to in the wild. They're being placed with tank mates that they normally wouldn't be around, let alone sharing the same small space with. Second, water conditions aren't as good as they would be in the wild. Third, the surrounding, like light going on and off all of a sudden, people walking by and looking into the tanks, and just general vibrations. All of these things cause stress but unless you have Ich in the tank the fish aren't going to come down with it.
As for stressing out the fish more with Hypo, well the fish are infected in a closed system, one in which they can't get away from consistently being reinfected, to the point where many die. They are heavily stressed out at that point. So in the end it's better to treat a fish, either with Copper, Hypo, or using the transfer method, then to leave the fish alone. The relief that you are providing them with greatly reduce the stress once the Ich is reduce and then finally killed off.
From your posts I don't think you understand what Hypo is and how it works.
- Location
- Westchester NY
Marrone... do you have a reef? if so how do you prevent any introduction of free swimming ich with a new coral???
I would really like to know. always willing to learn.
If you have a reef I would bet any money that ich is present in your tank right now and you are completely wrong about stress being unrelated to ich.
I would really like to know. always willing to learn.
If you have a reef I would bet any money that ich is present in your tank right now and you are completely wrong about stress being unrelated to ich.
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- Location
- The Big City
As been posted many times, you need to be careful what you place in your tank, that goes from fish to corals to live rock. You need to QT all of your fish, coral or live rock before you place them into your tank, and with corals if you can't QT them then a good rinse, or even scrub with a tooth brush on the rock or plug, with water will also help remove spores and such.
And to answer your question, I don't have, nor have I even had, Ich in my reef tank, which has been running in the same place, though different size tanks, for over 20 years.
And to answer your question, I don't have, nor have I even had, Ich in my reef tank, which has been running in the same place, though different size tanks, for over 20 years.
- Location
- Westchester NY
I was asking about your methods... how do you QT your corals? LR? fish?
- Location
- The Big City
I have tanks that I use to QT my fish, depending on the size of the fish I use different size tanks. I only treat with I determine the fish has something, then I treat based on what it has. As for LR, it's all rinsed off and scrub with fresh water before I place in it containers to sit for about 2 month before I place it in my tank. As for corals, I posted that above.
- Location
- smithtown, long island
All lot of info on here that terrible... we aren't helping the op much.. You will never ever get ich unless u introduce it.. now ive said this 5000000 times... take any of my tangs.. place it in a cup or a half gallon, but an air tube in and scare it to death and stress it out... It will not get one spot of ich.... not a chance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
back to the op... take the fish out and treat them.. in the tank u are taking a chance... do you run filter socks?
back to the op... take the fish out and treat them.. in the tank u are taking a chance... do you run filter socks?
- Location
- smithtown, long island
btw why cant you catch him? unless he sleeps in a rock at night.. just wait an hr after lights are off, put the net in and bam.. easiest thing in the world.. fish cant see at night (our tangs) this is the best way.. then hypo every tang u ever get, its cake,,, prevention works almost 100% dip every coral, inspect, qt every fish and wait a couple of weeks.. yes mistakes happen, but u cant prevent a high percentage
so go catch him and get to it
- Location
- Westchester NY
Marrone... that's what I thought! You have multiple tanks you use to QT fish. Your corals and LR you rinse. I'm thinking by rinsing you mean dipping solution?
I take very similar steps as you but its unclear if dips actually kill ich. I'm unsure how I infected one of my fish recently. what I'm sure about (to my surprise)Microbe-Lift Saltwater Herbtana worked for me in my full blown SPS reef and it worked like a charm. I didn't expect to get rid of ich... I wanted to buy soime time until I get a chance to QT all of the fish and corals seperately. but I didn't need to do this with this product. It worked!
so you don't need to take any fish out and break down your reef. Microbe-Lift is all natural and didn't harm my reef or inverts. I'm wondering if anyone else used the stuff?
I take very similar steps as you but its unclear if dips actually kill ich. I'm unsure how I infected one of my fish recently. what I'm sure about (to my surprise)Microbe-Lift Saltwater Herbtana worked for me in my full blown SPS reef and it worked like a charm. I didn't expect to get rid of ich... I wanted to buy soime time until I get a chance to QT all of the fish and corals seperately. but I didn't need to do this with this product. It worked!
so you don't need to take any fish out and break down your reef. Microbe-Lift is all natural and didn't harm my reef or inverts. I'm wondering if anyone else used the stuff?
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- Location
- The Big City
None of the tanks are currently running. I setup them up when I need to. I rinse, not dipping, people dip to get rid of other type of parasites. I also will scrub the rocks and plug that the coral is on if possible. I do this many times before the coral gets place into my tank.
As for using Microbe-Life Saltwater Herbtana, well that doesn't have anything in it that kills Ich, or keeps it from reattaching to the fish. So, it's basically snake oil.
As for using Microbe-Life Saltwater Herbtana, well that doesn't have anything in it that kills Ich, or keeps it from reattaching to the fish. So, it's basically snake oil.
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- Location
- Westchester NY
- Location
- Westchester NY
have you used it Marrone? Oh wait you said you NEVER had ICH. you must be speaking from experience.
- Location
- The Big City
I haven't used it, then again just reading from what it does, or is suppose to do, I know it doesn't work. In the end, unless it either kills the Ich or some how stop it from reattaching to the fish, it doesn't work. As for not having Ich, I've never had it in my reef tank, as I take great care of what I put in the tank, and don't really have a lot of fish in it anyway. My other fish tanks I haven't had Ich for years, as I take measure to make sure I don't introduce it into the tank. I have treated Ich and velvet in my QT by way.
- Location
- Westchester NY
thanks that answers my question. You should try it b4 you knock it.
I've tried hypo
Ive tried copper
- Location
- The Big City
Don't need to, as it's no different then all of the other products that claim the same thing, which is to build up the fish immune systems, but just like them, it doesn't kill the Ich or stop it from reinfecting the fish again.
Face it, Ich isn't easy to kill and there are only a few things that will do it. In the end it's best to QT all your fish and such.
Face it, Ich isn't easy to kill and there are only a few things that will do it. In the end it's best to QT all your fish and such.
- Location
- Westchester NY
her is what they say on thier product:
"Microbe-lift Herbtana is a 100 percent natural herbal, immune-enhancing stimulant, which reduces the number of parasitic organisms that can cause ill effects on your fish such as: skin flukes (gyrodactylus), gill flukes(dactylogyrus), Ich(ichthyophthirius multifillis), oodinum, costia (ichthyobodo necater), chilonella and trichodina. Though parasites are present on most fish in very low levels at all times. When fish are stressed, the ability of the immune system to control the natural level of parasites can decrease, allowing parasites to increase in number and weaken or kill your fish. Herbtana supports the immune systems of your fish, driving off the excess parasites which starve without a host to feed on. Herbtana doesn't kill parasites directly, it plays a vital role in controlling their numbers, giving your fish a chance to recover. Will not harm beneficial bacteria in biological filtration."
Interestingly they speak about stress as it affects the immune system of the fish. It also states that parasites are present in small numbers at all times. this is true and is a fact of life. where there is life there will be parasites. So again Ich is probably in your tank in small numbers and you just don't see it. It may not be affecting your fish but a stressfull event can/will trigger this.
"Microbe-lift Herbtana is a 100 percent natural herbal, immune-enhancing stimulant, which reduces the number of parasitic organisms that can cause ill effects on your fish such as: skin flukes (gyrodactylus), gill flukes(dactylogyrus), Ich(ichthyophthirius multifillis), oodinum, costia (ichthyobodo necater), chilonella and trichodina. Though parasites are present on most fish in very low levels at all times. When fish are stressed, the ability of the immune system to control the natural level of parasites can decrease, allowing parasites to increase in number and weaken or kill your fish. Herbtana supports the immune systems of your fish, driving off the excess parasites which starve without a host to feed on. Herbtana doesn't kill parasites directly, it plays a vital role in controlling their numbers, giving your fish a chance to recover. Will not harm beneficial bacteria in biological filtration."
Interestingly they speak about stress as it affects the immune system of the fish. It also states that parasites are present in small numbers at all times. this is true and is a fact of life. where there is life there will be parasites. So again Ich is probably in your tank in small numbers and you just don't see it. It may not be affecting your fish but a stressfull event can/will trigger this.
- Location
- The Big City
Once again, it immune-enhancing stimulant, just like when people say they use garlic for, but that doesn't kill the Ich, which it even says so. That's all you need to know. It's snake oil wrapped in a pretty package with a fancy name, one of the many out there.
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- Location
- Westchester NY
In theory if you are able to reduce the number of parasites for a long enough period of time you would essentially starve out the parasite. same as hypo method but more natural and less stressful to fish.
"Herbtana supports the immune systems of your fish, driving off the excess parasites which starve without a host to feed on. Herbtana doesn't kill parasites directly, it plays a vital role in controlling their numbers, giving your fish a chance to recover. Will not harm beneficial bacteria in biological filtration."
"Herbtana supports the immune systems of your fish, driving off the excess parasites which starve without a host to feed on. Herbtana doesn't kill parasites directly, it plays a vital role in controlling their numbers, giving your fish a chance to recover. Will not harm beneficial bacteria in biological filtration."
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