Copper Sulfate Treatment (For Treating Fish-Only Tank & QT)
A copper sulfate treatment is the most effective
treatment for both Oodinium and Cryptocaryon. Copper is NOT
invert, coral, live rock or reef safe, and some fish are copper sensitive,
such as scaleless species, and they should not be exposed to it either.
Copper should not be used in a saltwater aquarium unless it is a fish-only
tank, and intended to stay that way. Once copper sulfate is introduced
into a tank it cannot be completely removed.
The bare minimum maintenance level of copper sulfate to be effective is at .15 ppm. Fish are safe up to a .25 ppm level, so running the copper at a .20 to .25 ppm is good. Be sure to not let the copper level fall below .15 ppm, otherwise, it will not work and the Ich problem will continue on. Keep the fish under treatment for at least two weeks, three is even better. This helps to make sure there are no hidden cysts that may pop out after you have put the fish back into your main aquarium.
For those of you that do use copper sulfate, we know that trying to find a reliable copper test kit is next to impossible. Since 1989 we have tried many and have found the FasTest Copper Test Kit from Aquarium Systems to be the best. We highly recommend their other test kits too. The trick to know about this test is that if the test reagents become old, or overexposed to heat for a prolonged period of time, the test becomes inaccurate and will give you a higher reading than what it really is. Be careful, we've made this mistake ourselves.
Natural Method (For Treating Reef Systems)
If you have a reef system that has broken out with
Ich and you do not want to treat with any of the REEF SAFE medications
or other types of medications on the market, remove all the fish, give
them a freshwater bath, put them in a QT. Treat the fish in a QT
with any of the appropriate suggested treatments. Then let the Ich
complete its life cycle in the main aquarium for at least 3 weeks, 4 weeks
if possible, fish free. Without fish, the Ich has no host's to live
on and will die off. As long as the fish do not carry the parasite
back into the main aquarium with them when reintroduced, you should be
Ich free. Be sure to keep watch for any new signs of a reoccurrence.
Next Page > Other
Treatment Methods Continued - O.S.T. (Osmotic Shock Therapy)
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