First Big Problem !

[snoopdog]

I purchased two tangs the other day from a guy that I was get my fish from. The fish looked ok till the next day and some ich popped up, I did not stress and started feeding them garlic food mix like I always do. Well two weeks later and a few fish lighter, my others have it. My percs, tangs, Flame Hawk, Basslet all have ich. Some even show a couple of black spots which I guess are also ich. I am very ticked off at this ! Now what do I do ? I even saw that a Firefish had it 5 minutes ago. I have a 20 gallon tank empty in the shed that I could put copper in but I doubt they would all last in there any amount of time. So any idea guys ? If I tear my tank down again I only want to do it once. From now on I am going to go back to the "two week quarantine" like I used to. But for now any suggestions are wanted. Also, after all the fish are out, if I go that route, how long should the tank sit before I add more fish. In other words how long can the disease hide out before it dies off.

[mastaJ]

Have you tried adding any type of cleaner fish/shrimp...(just a thought). I think ick can last for 6-8 weeks without a host . Otherwise I hope some other ppl chime in here....HTH

[icemark]

too late now and it sounds like you already may have thought about it, but next time please remember this very very important rule.

Quarantine tank!

and yes at least 6weeks but preferably 8 weeks before you put fish back into the tank.

[snoopdog]

The cleaner shrimp that I had for so long died last week for no known reason unless there is a problem elsewhere.