Ick dilema

[reeferJ]

I have a 150 gallon reef tank with 2 Skunk Cleaners, 2 firefish and 1 watchman goby. I have had these fish for about 3 months. I have tried to add 2 Royal Grammas, 1 Blackcap & 2 Powder Blue Tangs (not at the same time). They have all died from Ick. Water conditions are well within the 'norms' and the firefish & goby are unaffected by the Ick. Everything I have read says the only way to rid your tank of Ick is to let it run fishless for a couple of months. If I do not add more fish for 2-3 months will this rid the tank of Ick? Or are the firefish & goby enabling the Ick to continue to propogate? Relocating the firefish & goby with all the live rock I have will be near impossible without dismantling the whole tank.

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

The tank needs to sit fallow without any fish in it. Your current fish are still hosts. I wish I could be more help but I have only had one outbreak of ich when I first set up and haven't had an issue for a long while. UV sterilizers will help get the free floaters out of there but that won't be a cure all either.

 

[WRASSER]

What is the water temp? If it is too cold, it will add to the stress of the fish to cause ICH

 

[Anonymous]

I am by no means an expert, but how would temperature cause a parasite? ICH is a parasite, which may be prolific at cooler temps (which I have no idea if they do or not) but cooler temps can't cause a parasite. As far as I know...

 

[WRASSER]

I didnt say it caused parasites, What I said was it cauese STRESS. Which contributes to ICH.

 

[reeferJ]

The water temp is 81. Thanks for all the replies. If I am able to get the firefish & goby out of the main tank, I assume I would have to treat them even though they show no signs of parasite infection. Then keep them in another tank while I let the main tank fallow for 2-3 months and then reintroduce the them to the mian tank. Is this correct? Thanks again.

 

[S!mon]

I've read that increasing the temp stresses ich.

 

[WRASSER]

You have to do it slowly :wink: