Ich can be kept at Bay.

[nautical nonsense]

Through the 25 years of reefing and keeping FOLR tanks I have came across by pure accident an interesting discovery.
I started using low spectrum red led light on all new fish as they entered quarantine or from quarantine to DT. Any fish of any species I bought from LFS or online vender I keep a low level red led light on the tank 24-7 for 10-14 days. It kept the stress down on new fish coming into mature territory established tanks.
Thought at first it was keeping stress levels at a minimum and reciently discovered sometime new.
With an Ich out break on an established 125 gallon tank with 2 tangs, 1 fox face and 2 anglels one new fish from a 14 day quarantine was added just days before outbreak. I put the low level red led on the tank over night 5 year old 125 gallon system. The Ich was gone in 1 day. I now have repeatedly checked this method over a half a dozen times on other tanks and other outbreaks. I've had the same results on multiple tanks multiple times. Gone in 1 day. I have 11 saltwater tanks; 3 reef, 8 FOLR at just over 1000 gallon total and have fitted all tanks with red LED low spectrum lights to run 24-7. I have not had an Ich outbreak in 6 months now.
The only additional information to this is that all tanks are at least 2 years old and have at least one cleaner or fire shrimp living in the system.
Has any one seen this before on maybe a refugium? My refugiums all run 50 watt red spec grow lights and I never get ich outbreaks on my 3 reef tanks. Its always the FOWLR tanks. This seems to much to be coincidence....

 

[Thomashtom]

interesting!!!

 

[Stege_saurus]

Definitely interested in learning more about this!
-Which LEDs are you using exactly?

I have full spectrum LEDs (Red, Green, Blue, White...) And am very interested in giving this a try if ever I have an outbreak.

 

[HotRocks]

Do you keep your reef tanks more in check in regards to parameters?

A reef environment is much less stressful and more natural. Plus fowlr tanks usually house more aggressive fish which equates to additional stress.

If I had to guess ich is still present in the reef tanks, and you have yourself an ich management system going. What type of fish do you house in your reef tanks?

Scientifically, I don't see how light could completely eliminate the reproductive process of ich. Do you have any algae problems? Running red light 24/7?

Interesting claim for sure, I just can't wrap my head around it.

 

[nautical nonsense]

I have fit my FOWLR tanks with vivagro led lighting and only use the reds at 24-7. The blues and greens are set for a 12 hour on during day. Don't even use the white.
My tanks are as such;
125 Gallon FOWLR
pork puffer adult
Clown Tang adult
Purple Tang adult
Female swallow tail adult
125 Gallon FOWLR
Naso Tang adult
Yellow Tang adult
Fox face adult
Bi color angel juvenile
Coral Beauty adult
4 damsels
1 chromis
1 fire shrimp
1 cleaner wrasse
150 FOWLR
1 dash dot butterfly
1 purple wrasse
1 Christmas wrasse
1 purple Tang
150 FOWLR
Silver tip shark
Large Damsel
200 reef
1 copper band butterfly
1 swallow tail hawk
1 scopas Tang
1 yellow gobie
1 diamond gobie
40 gallon remote refugium (2- 50 watt red grow lights)
30 gallon sump
100 gallon reef
1 copper band butterfly
1 green spot mandrin
1 false yellow angle
2 tomato clowns
30 gallon sump
20 gallon remote refugium with 50 watt red grow lights.
200 gallon anemone tank
3 mini carpets
2 long tenicle
2 pink scunk clowns (breeding and hosting)
2 black saddle back clowns ( hosting)
60 gallon
1 soon to be re-homed Niger trigger
1 soon to be re-homed stars and stripes puffer.
40 gallon sump / refugium red 100 watt grow lights.
All lights on all tanks LED with reds running 24-7 at as low as the can go at night an full during the day.
All refugium LED lights run from 9Pm til 9am.
Hope this helps...

 

[nautical nonsense]

I might Add. Ich is present I am almost sure in all my systems. This is not an ICH cure. This keeps it at Bay as My post never claimed anything more. I am still testing and will continue to test.

 

[nautical nonsense]

And no My reef tank parameters are checked and kept with daily. Weekly water change on reefs at 25%. The water off the reef tanks gets pumped int FOWLR tanks weekly. Sorry I did'nt mention this. However I do the think it's relevant other than moving ICH from tank to tank.

 

[Snookin]

?

 

[nautical nonsense]

I have no algae problems. All FOWLR tanks have UV at at least 25 watt. This may keep algae down. Not sure. I don't get growth on Glass except for white film I wipe down once a month.

 

[EmdeReef]

It's already been demonstrated that the release of theronts and tomonts is somewhat influenced by light. With 2 important caveats:

1) not all theronts and tomonts seem to be affected, only about half
2) the release occurs in regardless of the presence of light after the cycle's critical point is reached usually around ~90hrs (strain dependent)

Considering all the complexities associated with crypto's lifecycle, lack of proper diagnostic equipment, and a pinch of hope, it is easy to believe that a substance or a process had an effect on the pathogen.

 

[nautical nonsense]

When I started the hobby 25 years ago I honestly thought that parasite outbreakes could be avoided or even cured. After years of hypo and copper I have came to conclude that unless you never add anything to the system you will have a parasite. Alot of it is healthy fish and alot of it is keeping water. The only way to suceed in this hobby for what I have found is be prepared. And of your running healty tanks with fish that have a tolerance. It's better than a treatment.