Ich killed everything but Firefish

cloob · 02-23-2007, 04:28 PM

3-4 weeks ago my tank got Ich and killd my 2 clowns, royal gramma, and neon goby. But my Firefish hasn't been affected at all. Why would the Firefish not be affected at all? I'm disappointed my fish died but man has my pod population taken off.

Danamck · 02-24-2007, 07:25 PM

Probably because no one is eating them!

Sorry about the loss of fish. There is no real answer why the firefish did not sucumb to ich like your other fish. He probably has it, it just didn't kill him this time. As ich has cycles, and is usually worse the next time, I fear for the life of this fish. Get yourself a QT tank, put the Firefish in and observe. Let your main tank run fallow for 4-6 weeks (it sucks - I've done it before on my 240). QT in the future, if you do not.

iglowce · 02-24-2007, 07:42 PM

im sad to hear that.. hope u wont be sad too long =\

**wwest** · 02-24-2007, 07:51 PM

I agree, The problem with ich is that when you treat it the first time the ich detaches itself from the fish and finds a place to lay for awhile, rocks, equipment, etc. When they go to lay, they lay eggs as well and thus bringing the ich back once again and worse then ever! This happens more often than not with ich. There is a chance that you get it, treat it and everything is ok but i would say thats a 30% chance. I would recommend, QT the firefish and start soaking the food in garlic guard so it can work up a good immune system. This will help in the future. Chances are if you pull the fish and keep treating the DT and do a 10% water change every other day or every three days it should clear up nicely.

What did you treat the ich with and how often?

cloob · 02-24-2007, 09:58 PM

I used Stop Parasites, and Kick-Ich in combination rotaing every few days. I was so despereate to try and save the 2 Oc. Clownfish. They would clear up during the day but bye morning, they would be covered worse than ever. My tank stunk of a tobasco sauce smell from the Stop Parasite. Lessoned learned about the Qt. tank. My wife will only let me use my 6 gallon Eclipse as long as it is in the Biocube stand. I guess better than nothing. Any advice on how I should set that up?

Reef safe Ich treatments do not work, so please all learn from my mistakes. Spent $60 on those treatments and they did nothing to to kill the Ich. I have a Firefish, Cleaner Shrimp, Green Leather, 10 zoas, 2 Xenia's, Green BTA, 5 small featherdusters, 2 reef crabs, 1 turbo snail, 5 cerith snails, 1 Pom Pom Crab. I think after 8 weeks I may put a black Oc. Clownfish in. I like the color on those.

**wwest** · 02-24-2007, 10:12 PM

QT tanks don't really have to be anything specail unless you plan on housing corals in it. Which is a good idea but if you plan on buying fish and not inverts then you can set it up with a filter. ( keeping very clean to keep the nitrates down) and some water movement. Also try and keep both tanks the same temp or within a few numbers. this will make acclimation easier on the fish. If you plan on QTing corals then you want to keep up on the water changes and all that fun stuff. But keep in mind the closers to keep the water perameters and then temp between the 2 tanks the less stress there will be during acclimation and the move. IMO

Danamck · 02-25-2007, 11:18 AM

Also - make sure that if you use copper to treat ich (IMO - copper is the only thing that truly works) that this tank will no longer be used for corals and inverts. I have a 46 gallon for treating fish with copper, a 10 gallon for fish for observation (no medicine) and a 10 gallon for corals. I know it seems excessive, but my main display tanks are a 240 reef and a 180 FOWLR. When i considered the investment I had in them, the QT tanks were a no brainer.