is there a reef-safe ich treatment?

[FableKing]

I've been out of the saltwater scene for a bit, but I've had a 90 gallon live rock f/o tank running smoothly for 5-6 years with the same 8 fish and no issues. Now I'm upgrading to a 150 gallon and I figure the hobby has advanced like technology, so I'm a bit outdated - my knowledge is limited to 7-8 years ago. Plus, I don't trust local fish store advice. I'd love some opinions - when I switch tanks, what can I add to the new tank to minimize fish stress? I'm super paranoid about ich in a reef tank, is there a new medication for that? Does stress coat still work? I read something about garlic squeeze, no idea what that is. I'd like to add a bunch of corals and a few more fish, but since I've had no problems for so long, I'm hesitant to rock the boat.

[jolt9]

Marine ich, it's a different beast altogether, Cryptocaryon irritans to be exact. The issue with treating it is that chemicals like Copper and Formalin will wipe out inverts. I mean, they'll kill 'em for sure.
So, if you want to avoid any potential disasters, a separate QT tank is really the way to go.

[tonic]

I've come across a non-copper SW ich treatment that's available now, but the name escapes me.

[coltin]

I don't think Stress Coat or garlic will be of much help when it comes to dealing with whitespot. As for actual treatments, Triple Sulpha is effective against whitespot, but it's not going to do anything for Oodinium - that's a different story altogether.

If you're not already dealing with whitespot in your tank, the best course of action is to set up a quarantine tank for any new fish. Keep them in there for a month to make sure they're healthy and free of any issues. If they pass the test, then you can safely add them to your main tank. Not quarantining new fish is just asking for trouble - you never know what other problems you might be introducing to your tank. Prevention is always better than trying to cure the problem after it's already happened.

[dreamon7]

I've had good luck with one of the reef-safe treatments, it's called Kick-Ich. It worked for me without any issues, my inverts and coflakes were all fine. I did notice that the coflakes didn't open all the way during the treatment, but afterwards I actually saw a lot of growth.

[FableKing]

I'm currently problem-free, just looking for ways to minimize stress when I transfer my fish to the new 150 gallon tank. I've had my fair share of bad advice from local fish stores in the past, and I've lost fish to ich. I'm eager to add new fish soon, but I want to keep the risk of disease as low as possible. I've had my current fish for years, and the thought of losing them is unbearable.

[dreamon7]

Honestly, I'd hold off on dosing the tank until you actually have an issue. In situations like this, where you're upgrading to a larger tank, patience is often a more effective approach than relying on chemicals. If you're still set on taking preventative measures, I've heard good things about Kick-Ich, but keep in mind it's a two-week treatment process, which would be pretty pricey for a tank of this size as a precautionary measure. I recall paying around $30 for a 75-gallon treatment, so you can imagine the cost for a 150-gallon tank.

[BoldVoy]

I'd say don't treat unless you have to. Move everything over to the new tank, but keep the 90 gallon running as a quarantine tank, just in case. That way, if any issues pop up, you've got a separate tank to treat them in. I've tried those reef-friendly meds before, and in my experience, they're not worth the risk. I ended up losing most of my fish, and it was a nightmare. Now, I always quarantine new fish and use proper meds. Those so-called reef-friendly meds can cause more harm than good, if you ask me. It's better to take the risk with the fish than to risk losing the whole tank, including the rock, inverts, and corals.

[FableKing]

I've set up a 45 gallon quarantine tank, thanks for the advice. I figure a little paranoia goes a long way in keeping my tank healthy.

[dreamon7]

I've been down the road of bad advice from local fish stores and lost fish to ich - it's a nightmare, and stomach issues for me too.