Black Ich on my Yellow Tang

[KevinL]

When I got home yesterday, I noticed black spots on my yellow tang, and a bit of pale color. I looked it up and diagnosed it a s black ich. It said that over the next six days, depending on the environment, the spots will fall off for the worms to mature on the bottom of the tank.

When I got up this morning, all the spots were already gone, and the fish was much paler and very lethargic. My two clowns looked a little sleepy too. Water quality is good except for a micro algae bloom and high phosphates (0.1 ppm and falling).

Other than not diagnosing it earlier, did I do something wrong? What medicine should I look for? All I can find on-line is a treat-all parasite medication at Big Al's called Chem-Marin Stop Parasite.

[Reef Mike]

Try mixing some freshly squeezed garlic in with the food. (Just the juice)

Mike

[KevinL]

For real? I didn't know that garlic was all that "juicy".

[Reef Mike]

You can get a few drops per clove of garlic. Hopefully you have a garlic press :), or if not you can go to the healthfood store and buy garlic extract.

I would put 4-5 drops per feeding.

Mike

[KevinL]

I will get the extract. It sounds much easier. I just spoke to my wife at home and she says that the fish now look normal and are swimming around normally with normal color. I swear that this morning I thought my yellow tang was a gonner! It had a pale circle on its side the size of a loonie and was swimming funny. And there were around 60 black dots on him last night that were gone this morning.

This extract thing, is it at every feeding as a precaution? Or only when they are sick?

Is this ever wierd (if my wife is right). Maybe the tank exploded and she just can't bear to tell me yet!

[Reef Mike]

You should use Garlic once a week or so as a preventative. If you catch an outbreak or your fish are not eating then you can use it once a day.

If possible I would use fresh garlic. don't have any real evidence that it is better, but it would make sense that fresher is maybe better. Its not that hard. You get a gralic press and press some juice into the food mix.

Mike

[KevinL]

Thanks for your help. I will pick some up on my way home. Finally, an aquarium utensil and supplies that I can share with my wife!