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I looked into this as well. From what i remember from my research a diatom filter technically can remove the free swimmers, but is not better or worse than UV, because not all the swimmers will make it through the filter. The general consensus was diatom was a waste of time. From what i remember.Does anyone use a diatom filter to clear swimming ick or does a UV do the same? Just curious (old method)
Ok, good to know, I’m old school and all these diseases are terrible. I’m following Paulb’s Gut loading for my “heathy” DTI looked into this as well. From what i remember from my research a diatom filter technically can remove the free swimmers, but is not better or worse than UV, because not all the swimmers will make it through the filter. The general consensus was diatom was a waste of time. From what i remember.
I'm sorry for your losses and the frustration. I'm not suggesting you need to go this route right now, but it may be something to keep in your back pocket for the future....Lost my yellow eye kole tang last week. Did not seen any outward manifestations of ich on him, but im sure it is related. I have bit the bullet and purchased a Emporer 150 watt UV Sterilizer, which i am going to hook up with the correct flow rate. Should be here in a week or two. My fish are relatively fine, but they still have spots. Hopefully, it works. Ill keep posting results on this thread.
Thanks Brew12. i have considered trapping the two Acanthuras tangs and putting them in QT. i have a 40 breeder for such things. I have not done it, because i have some fish that i definitely cannot get out to go fallow for 76 days and didn't know if would help. I have two more days of the metro treatment, so i will shut it down after that. I have been trying to gut load with black worms, fresh clams, but as you say the medications could be defeating the purpose. Sterilizor is already on order, so ill try that first bf removing anything. Fish are fat and otherwise healthy, which is probably why i have lasted this long, but they can't go like this forever.I'm sorry for your losses and the frustration. I'm not suggesting you need to go this route right now, but it may be something to keep in your back pocket for the future....
A study was done on fish immunity to CI that needed immune fish. What they did was infect the fish rather heavily for a few days and then treat the fish to clear the infection. For most fish, they needed to be treated this way 3 times before they became immune and not susceptible to further infection.
Normally, after this long of an exposure, I feel the fish should have enough immunity to not show symptoms. I suspect that the reason you still have spots is the aggressive treatments you have used. Much of a fishes immune system is based on it's gut. If you heavily use antibiotics targeting the gut it can have a negative impact on the fish. It is similar to people. If someone has a very serious intestinal infection it can be treated with strong antibiotics but then the persons gut is reseeded with probiotics to help restore their health.
So, if you see a fish struggling with CI, in my opinion there can be a benefit to treating that fish to clear the CI, letting it recover, and returning it to the tank. My preference would be treating in copper for 9 or 10 days and transfer to a clean QT to allow the fish to recover. When it looks healthy, release it back into the system.
Could try a cleaner shrimp one cleaned all the ich off my melanarus wrasse onceMy reef is almost one year old. At the start i stocked 4 tangs as a cleanup crew and everyone got ich/velvet and died. I vowed never again. Tank went fallow for 80 days+. Bought 4 new tangs, PB, Purple, Orange Shoulder and Kole. QT'd all of them per Humblefish' Copper/prazi guidelines. Almost lost the PB due to a bacterial infection, but pulled it through with Furan2. Made it to my display and all are beautiful and healthy. Added a multicolor angel, maroon clown pair, melanurus wrasse. Was worried about copper, so i did Humblefish TTM for ich and velvet. All made it to display and all doing very, very well. Did TTM for a small sixline. All good.
Bought a Bellus Angel Pair, small clown trigger, and fox face from TSM Aquatics, whose QT protocol follows Humblefish' copper/prazi method.
All have been in the tank, looking great and growing for several months.
Looked in the tank on Monday and ill be danged, the tangs had ich. what the heck!? Just a few spots here and there, but i was crushed to say the least. I have no choice now but to manage it. I turned my UV on for 24 hours now. Was at 12. Feeding selcon and garlic. All the usual tricks. I am not adding any new fish and the only way to get all the fish out would be to tear down the tank.
I added a new Goniporia coral 4-5 days prior and i can only assume it came in on that.
We will see how it goes. So far no one else has it and fish are unaffected, although maybe the Kole is acting a little shy. (probably just my paranoia.)
I think i just need a hug.
Pic of tank the day before i noticed.