Ich won’t go away

aquakj

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Hey Guys I recently got a blue tang it’s been in the QT for 3 weeks now and it seems as the ich won’t go away, I’ve been having my copper dose at .05 for 10 gallons of water I’m using cupramine. The tang is eating fine actually it eats a lot anything I feed it eats, I feel that it has ich because it might be scared/stressed I know blue tangs are very shy and timid but this one just over does it, any advice or any help I’d greatly appreciated????? I’m thinking of maybe transferring him to a 20 gallon QT to give em more space but idk what do you guys think I should do next ???
 

Jay Hemdal

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What copper test are you using?
Did you drop a decimal in the copper reading? Cupramine needs to be at 0.50 ppm for a full dose.
Are you confident of your diagnosis?
Jay
 

Billldg

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I agree, Cupramine should be at .5 ppm.
 
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aquakj

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Hey guys just realized a mistake I wrote .05 but I meant to write .50
 
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aquakj

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What copper test are you using?
Did you drop a decimal in the copper reading? Cupramine needs to be at 0.50 ppm for a full dose.
Are you confident of your diagnosis?
Jay
I meant to write .50 I’m using the API copper test should I use another test ?
 
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aquakj

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Here are some pics as of today
 

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ReefHunter006

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in addition to what is being recommended, have you been able to rule out mucus plugs from the copper treatment?

Here is a picture of my blue tang in QT. None of the other more sensitive fish developed ICH. And I was able to rule it out because the tangs spots were less grains of salt and more on the large side.

I had a difficult time seeing anything in your pictures so I can’t give you a positive ID, but I will say that Blue Tangs seem much more susceptible to these mucus plug issues.

Another thing I’d recommend is to buy some freshwater black mollies and acclimate them to saltwater. Add them to a new 10 gallon and add the tang. They should develop ich if it is present and not a mucus plug issue. Assuming they have never been in saltwater before.


If you go that route, you can’t use any equipment from the original qt. Also make sure the fish store will accept the mollies back or if you have a freshwater set up you can add them there. They can also stay in your saltwater display once they are clear of diseases. They are herbivores.
2BD8756D-9506-4C54-A06C-4DDB7B2F5047.jpeg
 
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aquakj

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I would recommend using Hanna copper tester. Have you treated for flukes?
Hey yes I was thinking about buying that tester. I did a freshwater dip about 3 days ago I didn’t see anything fall off the tang but the next day the tang was pretty spotless
 
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aquakj

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I meant to write .50 I’m using the API copper test should I use another test ?
Also if I wanted to switch copper treatments from seachem to copper power how would I go about that if even possible? Thanks
 

Jay Hemdal

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I meant to write .50 I’m using the API copper test should I use another test ?
A lot of people have a difficult time reading the API kit. One trick is to take some water that you will be using fort a water change, add EXACTLY a full dose of cupramine for that volume, and then measure it in the bucket. The color that results is what a full dose will look like on your API kit.

As others mentioned - this could be mucus plugs (less likely) or flukes (more likely). A FW dip won't cure the fish if it is flukes, but you will see some temporary improvement - and it seems that you did see that. Some flukes are too small to be seen after a dip without a microscope. You might consider trying a Prazipro treatment.

Jay
 
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aquakj

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A lot of people have a difficult time reading the API kit. One trick is to take some water that you will be using fort a water change, add EXACTLY a full dose of cupramine for that volume, and then measure it in the bucket. The color that results is what a full dose will look like on your API kit.

As others mentioned - this could be mucus plugs (less likely) or flukes (more likely). A FW dip won't cure the fish if it is flukes, but you will see some temporary improvement - and it seems that you did see that. Some flukes are too small to be seen after a dip without a microscope. You might consider trying a Prazipro treatment.

Jay
Got it thanks would I be able to treat copper and Prazo pro at the same time ? Or how do I got about not mixing medications without hurting the fish ?
 

Jay Hemdal

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Got it thanks would I be able to treat copper and Prazo pro at the same time ? Or how do I got about not mixing medications without hurting the fish ?
I'm not a fan of mixing medications, so you could just opt to observe for a bit, but have the prazi at the ready. If you do end up dosing both, be sure to have good aeration (not just circulation) in the tank.

Jay
 

Uncle99

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Hey I posted some pics just now..in the Pics you can kind of see the ich but in person it’s more noticeable
It can’t detect ick in the pics (not to say it’s not there)
I can’t see those traditional ovalish countable grayish white spots.
The last pic looks not so good, looks like he was in a fight and didn’t fair well.
Maybe it’s my device, not clear for me.
 

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I know this is against it and just speaking from my OWN experience. I was in the similar situation with my tang about same size. Seemed being in a 10g QT wasn’t cutting it so after a week of not getting better I just decided to toss him into my display. Started eating way better, implemented selcon, garlic guard and he got better on his own no other tank mates got sick. Side not as soon as he was introduced to my tank my skunk cleaner attached to my tang and went to work. Again this was my OWN experience. GL
 
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aquakj

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I know this is against it and just speaking from my OWN experience. I was in the similar situation with my tang about same size. Seemed being in a 10g QT wasn’t cutting it so after a week of not getting better I just decided to toss him into my display. Started eating way better, implemented selcon, garlic guard and he got better on his own no other tank mates got sick. Side not as soon as he was introduced to my tank my skunk cleaner attached to my tang and went to work. Again this was my OWN experience. GL
Thanks for your input I also do feel that the blue tang has ich because it might be stressed in the 10 gallon I will probably move it into my 20 long for more swim space and then perhaps a different copper test
 
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aquakj

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I'm not a fan of mixing medications, so you could just opt to observe for a bit, but have the prazi at the ready. If you do end up dosing both, be sure to have good aeration (not just circulation) in the tank.

Jay
Got it thanks how would I go about switching between copper treatments, I’m thinking about moving the blue tang into a 20 gallon long and switching to copper power… what would be the correct and safest way for this process ???
 

DinoMagnet

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Thanks for your input I also do feel that the blue tang has ich because it might be stressed in the 10 gallon I will probably move it into my 20 long for more swim space and then perhaps a different copper test
Fwiw your tang is in better shape than mine was. Hope it works out
 

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