Ich! Parasites

[mkeen]

I have a relatively new 55 gal reef aquarium. It is stocked with soft and hard corals, live sand, 3 wrasses, 1 stoplight parrotfish and 1 honey damsel, all collected in local waters. I recently added a redlip blenny and yellowtail damsel and they quickly got ICH. So I ordered Chem-Marin Stop Parasite, but it did no good and the two new fish died, but the existing fish showed no signs of Ich :( . I then purchased a 9w double helix uv sterilizer which I run 24 hrs per day.This weekend I introduced a French Angel and it was doing great for the first two days, now it has Ich and/or Oodinium. But the other fish are still doing great. Why do the existing fish not get parasites but new fish quickly do and then die???? I also add Marc Weiss Reef Vital DNA at triple dose for three days after adding the new fish.

[Telco Guy]

Why do the existing fish not get parasites but new fish quickly do and then die????

One difference is that new fish are stressed when added to the tank. You might want to set up a Quarentine Tank and keep new fish in there for 3-4 weeks before moving to the main display tank.

[jman785]

I treat all my fish, prior to entry to tanks, in a hospital/quarantine tank, and I dose nitrofurizone as well...which I buy commercially...works like a charm to disinfect them. Or a fresh water dip.