ich on royal gamma

Question
QUESTION: Hello,

I noticed my royal gamma had some white discoloration on his sides.  He is eating fine and not rubbing or scratching on anything.  I believe this is the begginning of ich so I placed him in my Q-tank which is tens gallons.  I filled it with the main tank water. (so the h2o parameters are the same) I bought API super rid ich it has malachite green in it.  How long should he be in the q-tank.  Does this ich guard lose it's potency over a couple of days.  I am not sure if I have to re-dose this tank.  It has no carbon in it just a heater, hide space and small power head. I have my main tank for 4 years without a single problem.
thanks todd

ANSWER: Hi Todd,
Very smart to separate the little fella quickly, but I wouldn't medicate for something you're not positive he has. If he's not scratching, or darting erraticly and you dont see white crystalline growths on the body, you cant be too sure of the diagnosis. It could be nutritional. How's his diet? Ok, I'm not a fan of Ich medications to begin with. The only effective ones contain copper, the rest just cover up the symptoms or a stage of the Cryptocaryon Irritans/Ich life cycle. Your best bet is to leave the little guy separated in the hospital/quarantine tank for 4 to 8 weeks. This is the only method I know that is truly safe and effective for the fish. This prevents the Ich from reproducing. They need a substrate or rocks/porous surfaces to reproduce. By keeping the tank bare except for a smooth finished hiding spot, you break the reproductive cycle of the parasite as they die before they reach the free swimming stage where they reattach to fish. So if you've already treated once, I wouldn't again. Just keep him there, feed and do water changes as you normally would. Now be prepared to do so again if it is Ich, with this little guy or any of your others. If one fish has it or has had it in your display, then you are now permanently going to be doing Ich management. It's ok, millions of aquarists are in the same boat. The Ich parasites use the substrate and rocks as part of their reproductive cycle(free swimmer to crystalline growth, growth drops to the substrate or rocks, reproduces, hatches new populations, swims to attach to a fish again.). Removing fish that show symptoms as we've discussed, keeping stress and nutrition high and by doing regular water changes and cleanings of the substrate and rock, you greatly reduce the chances of seeing Ich take hold in your system. Let me know how it goes or if you have any other questions. Browse some of the older answers I have here. There are at least 3 VERY detailed and long ones regarding Ich and it's treatments. Good luck.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks,
I really took a good look at my fish this morning all are eating fine (2 blue devils, 1 six stripe wrasse, a firefish,plus a pigmy angel they look great.  I forgot to tell you I noticed the discloration/spots (on my royal gamma) last Sunday.  it's been about a week so is this good news since none of my other fish present symptons.

I have taken out all of the substrate around a month ago from the main tank because it was so messy. Also i just purchased a 9 watt uv sterilizer.  I was planning to do this before I e-mailed you.  Will this help with the free floating parasites. Also i have about 8 peices of live rock in the tank.   How would you clean these rocks and would that not kill all of the benefical bacteria on the rocks?

Thanks for your help
Todd

Answer
Hey Todd,
That is good news, but it can take longer depending on the species of fish as well. It's still a good sign.
UV sterilizers are mainly for bacteria, and they kill indiscriminately ALL bacteria. So be careful when cleaning not to stir up too much. And turn off the sterilizer for at least 36 hours when using any bacterial additives or bio-boosters. They have been reported by many aquarists as helping clear Ich from a system, but there is no scientific proof of this. As long as there is a substrate or rocks, they will live in the substrate. That is the stage that needs to be stopped.
I would use a power head and just blow the rock structures off when you do a water change. That's the easiest and most effective method(doesnt damage the bacterial colonies at all)and what I do with my many aquariums. I don't redecorate. Just blow them off, do my water changes, make sure water quality is high, make sure that the fish also get the diets they need. Doing this gives us healthier pets with strong immunity systems. I haven't seen Ich in any of my tanks in almost 12 years. Changing the substrate is a big undertaking, most people wouldn't even attempt it. But it will help as well. Let me know how it goes or if I can help.