darn ich

Ok folks i am currently fighting a ich problem. It only send to be affecting my coral beauty but am getting nervous as i just put 3 new frags in not even a week ago.anyways my question is on a 36 gallon bowfront how large should my water change be? Thanks in advance

 

water changes won't get rid of ich, to get rid of icy you need to do some reading on copper treatments and running your system fish less for at least 8 weeks (this interrupts the parasites life cycle). is the coral B new? ich is able to infect weakened or stressed fish, its a pretty good sign (if out of control) that something is seriously wrong with your system, wether it be water, diet, aggression or all of the above.

that being said, icy isn't something to rip your hair out in desperation. if you meet your animals basic needs, provide it with a clean, healthy environment and most importantly (in my opinion) provide it with a varied good diet, the fishes immune system will be able to fight off the parasite naturally. more so on a "hardier" species like the coral beauty.

a good WC habit is 5% of your total water volume weekly. this is enough to dilute pollutants and replenish trace elements for corals. large sudden water changes can actually do more harm than good.

 

Get a UV

 

Swiss gives good advise. They best way to help the fish is to maintain great water parameters and feed the fish lots of varied healthy foods. Also make sure you are feeding the correct foods too. For example make sure the fish that like vegies are getting enough veggies. The only way to get rid of the ich is to do a chemical treatment or run the tank fishless for 2 months.

 

Am currently running a herbal ich attack twice a day and does seem to be helping. Still healthy as far a eating habit ( did a small small feeding to see if he would act like he always does and he did. Although no other fish seem to be effected. Which makes me think out may be diet as he was the last fish added. Now is it problematic that i usually do 10 prevent changes? I do them now only to combat algae from my way to big light. Hopping to get a smaller more efficient light soon.

 

10% is good. don't be fooled ich is still present in your system and will probably remain so unless as mentioned you run your tank fish less for a while. iv read many articles that define ich like the sleeping dragon waiting to attack and decimate your entire tank over night. if a fish is weak enough to let the parasite over run it and kill it, it means there was probably a bigger issue at hand. a good diet can get you far.

but again this is my own opinion. some people, and rightfully so, are more meticulous about what gets introduced in their tanks.

 

Marine Ich - Myths and Facts

Give it a good read.

Herbal ich attack, is doing nothing. What you're seeing is the parasite falling off the fish to continue it's life cycle in the substrate.

 

Ok so i just got a awesome new coral guy in the town i live in. His quarantine tank is empty and only gonna charge me 20 bucks for 8 weeks of hold and any treatment that may be need. So sad 8 weeks I don't know what I'm gonna do lol other than prob buy some more coral and have him hold on to them till i get back to 100 percent.

 

Great deal. Are you going to send all your fish to QT?

 

Hypo-salinity is an option.