Should I treat these fish?

[Tink]

Here's the story, I picked up a few fish a while back an added them to my tank, only later I noticed each had what appeared to be ich (small white spots on fins and body). I quickly removed them all to a hospital tank that I have for observation. After a week they seemed all clear (no spots, eating well, active), so they've remained in the hospital tank since. It's been 6 weeks since I removed them (keeping the main tank fish less), and in another couple it'll be time to start adding fish back to the tank.

 

My question is this:

 

If they're looking healthy, but at that one point had what looked like ich, should I treat them before they go back in the tank? At this point I've gone through so much trouble to make sure my display is free of ich, I'd hate to go and perhaps reinfest it. I know they can still have it in their gills and everything, if at all.

 

Thanks

[SunWyrm]

You would have to treat them with hyposalinity, not fun for you but best/easiest on the fish. What kind of fish are they?

 

Personally, I would put them back in and keep them happy and stress free, and then qt new fish and other items from now on. In about 11 months of no new introductions of ick your tank will be free.

[Tink]

I had planned on doing the 14 day treatment with Cupramine. They are 2 Ocellaris Clowns and one Red-Tipped Anthias. I wonder if the move to the new tank would provide them enough stress to have a second outbreak.

[SunWyrm]

Copper works for some, however you are essentially poisoning your fish while youre killing the ick. This is why you shouldn't use copper treatments on certain fish. The least stressful is hypo, but requires careful monitoring of water quality and salinity.

 

Your clowns should be fine, I would get a second opinion on the anthias. A second outbreak is just, if I understand ick correctly, it going through its cycle.

 

I dont have any experience on copper treatments other than what I've read, hopefully someone will chime in soon that knows Good luck!