Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans): The Complete Treatment Protocol

Marine ich is the most common disease in saltwater aquariums. It presents as white spots on fish, rapid breathing, scratching against rocks, and lethargy.\n\nTreatment options (in order of effectiveness):\n\n1. Copper Treatment (Gold Standard):\n- Copper Power or Cupramine in a quarantine tank\n- Maintain therapeutic levels (0.5 ppm Cupramine) for 30 days\n- Test copper daily with Hanna copper checker\n- NEVER use copper in display tank (kills invertebrates)\n\n2. Tank Transfer Method (TTM):\n- Move fish between two sterile containers every 72 hours\n- Continue for 4 transfers (12 days minimum)\n- Ich parasites fall off and die without a host\n\n3. Fallow Period:\n- Remove ALL fish from display tank\n- Keep display fishless for 76 days minimum\n- Parasites die without fish hosts\n- Invertebrates and corals are unaffected\n\nPrevention:\n- Quarantine ALL new fish for 30 days minimum\n- Observe for symptoms during quarantine\n- Copper prophylaxis in QT is recommended