[Otters]

The Flame Angel has infected my Yellow Tang!!!, the yellow tang has a pretty white spot on its fin and 2 little ones on his body. Im really about to freak out, my mom is telling me she will destroy the tank if the tank gets infested with ich. If all the fish die do I have to start all over again, all the way from stratch or can I let the water run for 6 weeks before placing any new fish? Also can you give me a ich treatment which I can work with, I'm currently going to HS and I don't have the most time, I tried the copper treatment before and the time organization didn't work with me and the fish died. I need a treatment fast and quick before I lose one of my dreams. Thank You

[leebca]

I'm sorry for the trouble you're having. I didn't post anything regarding the 'spots' you mentioned in the post about the fighting tang and Flame because I had thought maybe you had it under control and were proceeding with one of the standard remedies.

There are three basic treatments for fishes with Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans). They are:
1. Hyposalinity
2. Copper
3. Transfer Method

Others have been proposed and even some of the above have been combined to make a kind of hybrid treatment. None have done better than these three or a combination of the three.

If you're short on time and attention, that only leaves the copper treatment method.

All fish need to come out of the display aquarium. But this time, I would not recommend the use of CopperSafe. If you use the product Cupramine, the treatment is 14 days. You will need Cupramine medication, and the Salifert Copper Test Kit to verify and control the copper concentration.

Once the fishes are in their hospital tank, you let the display tank go fishless for no less than 8 weeks. Don't add any livestock to your display tank. That kills off the Marine Ich that is still in your display tank.

After all this, the fish go back into the display tank, healthy and clean. Then, use your quarantine tank to hold all new incoming fishes for evaluation and observation for no less than 6 weeks.

I don't know of any short cuts. Have you read Steven Pro's quarantine article? It's very informative:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-1...ture/index.htm

While the fish are in their hospital tank you've got to pay attention to providing all the nutrition they need PLUS add some beta glucan (from a human health food store) to their diet. This means vitamins and fat supplements and the right kinds of food. Have you reviewed this?
Feeding Marine Fish and Fish Nutrition

With proper nutrition, water quality, treatment, and future quarantine, your troubles will be minimum. It is starting off on the right foot that is the hard part.

Good luck!