2 clowns with Black Ich. What does this mean for my tank?

[Rhinecanthus]

I have a 15g tank with 2 ocellaris that I have had for about a month now. Both fish are active and eating well and show no signs of distress other than multiple black, scaly patches which I have concluded is likely a black form of ich.

The only other tank inhabitants include some astrea and cerith snails, a few blue leg hermits, a small frogspawn, some zoanthids, a kenya tree and a 3rd generation tank split RBTA.

Should I consider lowering the salinity slowly of the entire tank? I do not have the means for a QT at this time.

What if I were to keep the tank 1.021 for a few weeks?

What does this mean for future inhabitants of the tank?

For obvious reasons copper based meds arent a consideration at this point.

Thanks!

[ClownReef®]

Are you sure its black ich and they are not rubbing against zoas??

[Amphiprion]

Black ich is a turbellarian worm, so it is very distinctive. They are raised dots, just like Cryptocaryon, but a very different creature. They can be quickly and easily eradicated with a good freshwater dip--if that is what is wrong. Maybe get a good clear pic of it to verify.

[Rhinecanthus]

Here are the best pics I could get


http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j260/jphazelton/DSC02683Medium.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j260/jphazelton/DSC02682Medium.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j260/jphazelton/DSC02673Medium.jpg

[Rhinecanthus]

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j260/jphazelton/DSC02672Medium.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j260/jphazelton/DSC02670Medium.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j260/jphazelton/DSC02669Medium.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j260/jphazelton/DSC02668Medium.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j260/jphazelton/DSC02666Medium.jpg

[stykthyn]

definitely not ich. many zoo's cause clowns to temporarily blacken when they try to host. looks like the culprit to me

[ClownReef®]

Yep, i was right.

[Amphiprion]

Not necessarily zoanthids. My old female had a few melanistic spots that developed and lasted most of her life. I don't even have zoanthids in the tank. Could possibly be several things.

[mbunaman]

It does not have to be zoanthids only it can be other corals can do that to clowns also. My clown got that when they hosted my ric garden.

[Rhinecanthus]

Hmmm...

Well, these appeared before the kenya tree and frogspawn were in the tank.

BUT...the zoas I have are literally colonies smaller than a quarter with only a few polyps each. And I havent seen them go anywhere near these corals.

[Amphiprion]

I doubt it is anything serious. My clown had similar spots distributed on certain areas for over 8 years.