How can i prevent ich in a reef tank?

Question

How can i prevent ich in a reef tank?

Answer 1

Ich is already present in all water sources so to keep itout is neither here nor there.  Fish get ich due to over stress, i.e. poor water conditions on a constant basis, moving them from tank to tank, loud noises etc.

The only real way to keep ich out of a reef tank or any other is to run a UV Sterilizer on the tank.  They come in varied sizes.  Remember the bulbs however only last full strength for about 6 months.  The sterilizer does not need to be running 24/7 however.  

After water changes when new parasites are introduced, run the sterilizer until it completes a tank cycle 10 times then you can turn it off until the next water change, or you can simply leave it run. This will also help with algae accumulation.

Remember when buying fish, be sure they are compatable with others in your tank.  Float them for the proper amount of time, adding your tank water to the water from the fish's bag.

Try not to stress the fish out more than needed (for cleaning feeding etc)  Stress plays the biggest role in weather or not your fish will contract ich.

Answer 2

Keep the Levels good, never let your pH, Nitrite, Ammonia, or Nitrate Levels get too high, and to be safe in your reef set up, Check your Calcium and kH levels regularly as well.

(You should have 0 Nitrite/Ammonia.

A little Nitrate is okay

pH between 7.9-8.2

Calcium 380-450

KH - 8-11)

They sell test kits in a lot of pet stores.  

Answer 3

In addition to the advice already given, avoid temperature fluctuations.  

Answer 4

Water parameters has nothing to do with marine ich (Cryptocarayon irritans). This parasite is a pest, and there is a way to avoid ich in your reef tank. You should consider having a quarantine tank for your fish, otherwise, you can make costly mistakes by putting it into your reef tank. Due to the fact that you will have to remove the fish and put them into a Quarantine source anyways, without hosts inside the display tank, the ich will die, and this is a matter of at least 30 days.

Treatments for this parasite will kill off your live rocks and or corals, along with any invertebrates. So my suggestion is to have a Quarantine tank set up, so that way, you can monitor your newly bought fish.

You can search Cryptocarayon irritans or marine ich through yahoo search or Google search and it will have the life cycle and the treatments for the ich.

Anyways, I hope that this helps a little, Good luck.............

Answer 5

There is a uv light you could buy especially for the tank at a pet store that especializes in fish. It helps prevent sickmness like the one you mentioned.