Ich!!!

raker · #1 12/31/2007, 01:10 AM

I'm pretty sure i have an ICH problem.
I have some minced garlic, how should i mix it with the food?

kawicivic · #2 12/31/2007, 01:12 AM

hmmmm.... not sure how to use the minced garlic but they do sell a vitamin mixture called garlic guard that you can just soak the food in... you could probably blend up the garlic and mix it in with your food?

raker · #3 12/31/2007, 01:15 AM

Thanks, in all of the years that i have had SW i've never had an ICH outbreak. So this is a new one for me.

kawicivic · #4 12/31/2007, 01:18 AM

I actually know the garlic guard from FW piranhas. They use it to entice them to eat. I guess they are not vampires and like the smell of garlic.

raker · #5 12/31/2007, 01:20 AM

LOL! I'll have to pick some up tomorrow. Thanks.

Pufferpunk · #6 12/31/2007, 01:20 AM

Did you QT that new fish you got? Minced guarlic is the same thing as Garlic Guard. Just crush it up & soak it. This may help raise the fish's immune system but rarely will it get rid of Cyrpt (Cryptocaryon irritans--SW fish do not get ich).

http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/...ospital/swich/

raker · #7 12/31/2007, 01:28 AM

I received a porcupine puffer from a friend about a month ago.
QT'ed it for about 3 weeks, it looked fine to me.
Also my friend's tank shows no signs of any problems.

Pufferpunk · #8 12/31/2007, 02:34 AM

Does the puffer have the parasite?

You must be very careful using meds on him. Please read the link I gave you.

raker · #9 12/31/2007, 02:46 AM

Yes the Porcupine showed signs first. then my yellow tang and Valentini (sp) puffer. Now my pair of Percula clowns are starting to show. The only ones that aren't showing signs are my Lawnmower Blenny, Engineer Goby and a yellow damsel.
I fed them some frozen brine and mysis shrimp mixed with finely minced garlic.
All of them ate except the clowns.

slave-of-rock · #10 12/31/2007, 02:56 AM

You can buy garlic extract at a grocery store, or you can smash the gralic and soak your food in the garlic. It helps raise their immune system alot, but if the ich is already very far into its cycle it can kill the fish. It is always a good idea to soak your food in garlic tho, it keeps them healthy, I soak my food 3 times a week to keep my fish healthy. Good luck!

Pufferpunk · #11 12/31/2007, 02:58 AM

I wouldn't keep a porc w/a toby. How big is the tank? Parameters? If it gets any worse, you're going to have to hypo all your fish.

raker · #12 12/31/2007, 03:26 AM

It's a 75 gallon. When i tested this afternoon everything was normal and i haven't done anything to it since i tested.
Also the Toby was supposed to go in my 46 bow front, but it cracked down the back about 2 weeks ago.

kimha · #13 12/31/2007, 03:53 AM

Try Kick-Ick. It worked really well for me and other reefers. Garlic doesn't kill Ick. You can order it from premiumaquatic. But if you can't wait for the order to arrive and need it now, I will sell you a bottle.

DgenR8 · #14 12/31/2007, 05:46 AM

My experience tells me that any "Reef Safe" ICH cure won't work. What you need is to be armed with information. Knowing your enemy, and it's weaknesses is the best way to beat it. I didn't read Puffer's link yet, but I recommend reading this one, as well. [ich]

wolf pup · #15 12/31/2007, 07:45 AM

I personally wiped out 99% of my stock trying to find a "reef safe" cure. I failed to accept the fact that while such products might "control" ich, you need to cure it if you do want to not ever worry again. QTing my last fish (in hypo) and leaving my tank fallow for 2 months cured it. If you are looking for the answer you may want to hear...try the miracle cures...if you are looking for the answer you need to hear please listen to DgenR8. Check through the threads in the Fish Disease treatment forum. Sorry if I seem calous but I don't want others to make my mistake.

zoebeaglezoe · #16 12/31/2007, 08:26 AM

your best bet is a hyposalinity

here is a link that with instructions I used them and it worked

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/tr...marineich.html

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/tr...osalinity.html

Pufferpunk · #17 12/31/2007, 11:41 AM

I linked him to all this info in my 1st post. Written by the top pufferkeeper in the world...

poo-tang · #18 12/31/2007, 12:15 PM

Kimha- i used kick-ick and bought 2 bottles of that crap...it worked great until i stopped using it, have you discontinued use yet? soon as i did...ich was back

i think everyone is right about the hypo and leaving your tank fallow for NO LESS THAN 45 days. its painful, i had to do it but it is the only guarnateed cure. plus once you do that you'll always follow proper QT procedure.

copper is the only other cure, but hypo is cheaper and easier.

lastly i have read quite a bit about garlic and all the "experts" including those not involved in the aquatic hobby, more the healing powers of plants people, say only fresh garlic has any real power, some enzyme or something that quickly breaks down...so unless you are using garlic to entice your fish to eat, only use freshly chopped/minced, it has the only potential healing/immune boosting power.

raker · #19 12/31/2007, 04:53 PM

Hi all. thanks for all of the advice.
I pulled all of my fish out and put them in a QT tank.
I would assume that i have to bring the salt level down to 1.009 over a period of days?
Also why would of bristleworms start comming out of the sand and LR by the droves? Thanks.

raker · #20 12/31/2007, 04:56 PM

By the way, Pufferpunk, i read the info that you linked me to.
And the links that others put up and it's all helping me out tremendously.

Pufferpunk · #21 12/31/2007, 04:56 PM

LOL, maybe because the scary puffer is gone? You might want to consider an upgrade, as the porc reaches the adult size of 12+". The bioload is tremendous from these fish!

raker · #22 12/31/2007, 04:58 PM

LOL, Maybe it's time to get off my butt and set up my 125 that i've had sitting around for 6 months.

Pufferpunk · #23 12/31/2007, 05:13 PM

There ya go! Set it up & after the hypo, put them directly in there. You've got some time now...

jkf1983 · #24 12/31/2007, 05:33 PM

My Yellow tang recently showed signs of ich with the white spots, but they went away after about 3-4 days... But this is part of the life cycle as i found after reading more about it. It seems the only way to cure is hyposalinity treatment and leaving your tank with out fish for like 8 weeks. This was recent so I havent done the treatment yet, but i think i will within the next week. Im correct right? I feed garlic soaked foods all the time too, but i think that can only minimize the external signs.

poo-tang · #25 12/31/2007, 07:39 PM

jkf1983: you are probably correct, but i would personally wait until it worsens and you are sure you have a problem, i have read in the past that yellow tangs, and other tangs i presume, can show temporary whitespots if stressed...i have one and never really witnessed this, but i wouldn't want to tear my tank apart unless i was positive i needed too...good luck.