I just let it take its course it is in all tanks and is caused by stress. Just feed more often using a food with garlic. I have found every time I try and use some thing like Kick Ick my fish end up dead. I have just let it take its course and feed with real good results. Not saying your fish will be fine its a just hit and miss. Kich Ich is not cheap.
You'll get a lot of differing opinions about this subject. I've spent a lot of time reading about it and there is basically three proven treatments. Hyposalinity, Copper based methods and tank transfer. There is a good thread explaining these methods in one of the most popular reef forums. I've had quite a bad string of luck with getting fish with Ich lately. Some from LFS and some from Live Aquaria. I have successfully treated with both Copper (Flameback Angel) and hyposalinity (Heliochoerus claudia, two fairy wrasse). There are certain fish that you can't use Copper with (Flame Angel comes to mind). Neither copper or hyposalinity is reef safe so treatment has to be in a hospital/quarantine tank. Do some research, it's a very interesting subject.
I pretty much agree with Kevin about just letting it run it's course. If you read on some forums about kick ick you'll find a lot if negative reviews out there. I have had two different times where a fish had ick. I do soak my food in Garlic Guard by seachem. It is totally safe, in fact it's just a flavor inhancer. I could be wrong but I think the garlic somehow helps the fishes defense against the parasite. In both cases after a week of soaking food everyday the ick started to recede and was gone in two weeks. It could be coincidence but at least I feel like I'm doing something while it runs it's course and it doesn't hurt anything. Sent from uh......
I have been adding garlic to food and increased feedings, cleared up for 4-5 days now back all at once and purple tang is covered. Have a kole tang on order but dont want add if having this problem or will it matter?
If your tank is not overstocked, water parameters are good, tank is the appropriate size for the fish, tank mates are compatible and your tank husbandry (feeding, water changes, etc..) is good, you can get by with ich. If any of the parameters are off, you'll likely have a stressed fish, and it will be more susceptible to the disease and more likely to die from it. Good call on holding off on the addition of the kole tang. As David stated the only cures for it are copper and hypo salinity. Garlic is known to beef up fishes immunity and enhance the feeding urge which probably helps keep the disease in check.
Hiya, Omega One sells a flake food with Garlic in it. Kevin sells it at Paradise Pets. Kim/Benton, AR
