Appearance of Black Ick

[YupYup]

Hello everyone!!
i hear many thing of black ick forming on some percula's, tangs, and other fish. is this a common factor when a sequence of stages happen to a species will form irrigular spots forming on any dirrectional area's?

[jhnrb]

Black spot disease is a generic term for minute, black, parasitic flatworms that attach themselves to the skin and internal organs of marine fish. The worms usually enter the aquarium from a recent addition to the tank. If left untreated, death is probable. Yellow tangs seem to be especially susceptible to this parasite.

Symptoms; Tiny black specks appear on a marine fish tail, fins, or body.

Treatment; There are several medications that are specifically manufactured for black spot deisease. Ask your LFS to recommend the most successful medication and follow all manufactureres recommendations. Best to treat the fish in a separate hospital tank.

[YupYup]

well base on treatment for black ick, how often does a uv sterilizer works in a inclosed system treating parasitic flatworms to not appear?!? if the tank has been running well for a year or so will the progression of parasitic substance be present during a cycle of an year old system?

[jhnrb]

Many things are always present in a marine system. the fish slime coat and immune system help them to fight off infection. when fish get stressed, from most any reason i.e. change in lighting, environment, additions/new animals, new corals, room movement in front and sides of tank, etc. can all cause a fish to stress and become suseptacle to infection. the minor disruption is usually not too hard on the fish. the uv sterilization with a flow rate that allows strength for killing paracites, will help keep the reproduction down. it will only sterilize what goes through it but is very helpful in controlling algae spores, viruses, bacteria, paracites, of which are in the water collum. hope this helps. you should evaluate what you have done in the preceeding 10 days prior to the black specks showing up and see if you may have introduced them with new additions or live food. good luck keep us posted.