my first time dealing with ich/ick

[joyfi2]

Hello,

I unfortunately noticed that my 60 gallon fish-only tank had a breakout with ich this morning. I had 8 fish in there and 4 of them had ich. Luckily I was able to quarantine the 4 infected fish into a QT. I also moved the uninfected fish into a separate tank as well just incase.

I've only been in this hobby for 6 months so I really don't know what the best course of action is.
I figured I would just treat the QT with seachem cupramine and also treat the 60 gallon tank with cupramine as well. Is there something I should do instead? Also, do I still have to drop small pieces of fish food in the 60g tank to keep feeding the beneficial bacteria so the colonies continue to thrive since there's no fish in there anymore?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you so much.

 

[HotRocks]

All of your fish need combined into a single QT. They will all need to be treated. Even if 4 are asymptomatic they can still be carrying the parasite.

Can you upload pics of the infected fish?

What fish do you have?

I personally prefer to use chelated copper (copper power) and the Hanna checker to monitor the level. Cupramine is a bit more difficult to use since it has a much narrower window for therapeutic levels. Ionic copper (cupramine) can also tend to be a bit more harsh for certain species.

 

[foxt]

This is the definitive thread on ich: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ich-cryptocaryon-irritans.191226/

You will need to treat all fish, in bare QTs, and they can be in two QTs or combine in one, doesn’t matter. You will also need to either tear down and disinfect the DT, including all equipment, or let it go fallow for 76 days. Treating the DT with copper is problematic, as the substrate and any rock work you have will absorb the copper and mess with your dosing level. A 60 gal tank is small enough in my opinion to tear down and start over, but if you can keep the fish in QT for 76 days, then going fallow may be better option for you.

+1 on copper power vs cupramine. Read more here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/c...instruments-high-range-copper-checker.368943/

Finally, another option is to try ich management vs treatment. Not ideal, but depending on your choice of fish, it can be done. I am taking that approach with a 220gal tank with 50 fish in it, and a year after first discovering ich, I haven’t lost any fish. In the long run this is more risky, more stressful, but I am not in a position where I can remove the fish and go fallowfor 76 days, so be it.

Good luck, and if you do treat the fish, consider putting any new future additions through a QT period before adding them to the DT. You can treat them for worms, ich, velvet, etc, and also get them eating well before adding them to the DT population.