I've been treating my fish with Kordon ICH cure for the past two days, but after doing some reading, I think I would prefer to gradually raise the temperature and do a salt bath. I've read that it might be too stressful to combine the natural remedy with the ICH cure, so I was wondering how long I should wait between my last dosage of the ICH cure and beginning the temp raise/salt adding. Thanks everyone.
A question about switching ICH treatments
- Thread starter jlb502
- Start date
Raising the temp increases the speed of the life cycle of the parasite UNTIL you reach something above 83.5 or thereabouts. Unless that's where you're taking the temp you'd be better to continue the Kordon product. Well, you didn't say which ich product, so...
Typically the effectiveness of the chemical lasts only for a couple of hours. I normally tell people to use half dose twice a day rather than a full dose once a day. It's easier on all fish and allows treatment on sensitive fish.
Typically the effectiveness of the chemical lasts only for a couple of hours. I normally tell people to use half dose twice a day rather than a full dose once a day. It's easier on all fish and allows treatment on sensitive fish.
just raise it to 84-90 make sure you have enough oxygen going into your tank, because the higher the temp the less oxygen. Add 1teaspoon for every 10 u.s gallons i think it is. wait about 2 days before doing this though, so the chemicals can have time to go away.
i just got done treating my tank with heat and salt,if i was you i would slowly raise the temp to 86,and ad c some carbon to your filter to suck up the meds.do a 30% water change with a good gravel vac after 2 days.then you should be ready for your salt.aquarium salt.... how i do it is use 1-2 teaspoons salt per gallon for 10 days. good luckjlb502;524305; said:
Depending what type of fishyou have.
If you have fish sensitive to salt like Plecos,
Add 1 Tbsp of salt for every 10 gallons.
Most fish are ok with salt.
So add 1 Tablespoon for each 5 gallons of water.
Raise the temp to about 86 degrees. (ditto on the oxygen part, but if you have an airstone or Hang on tank filter, you should be fine.)
Put carbon in your filters temporarily to remove the ICH medication from the water.
The carbon wont effect the salt. Just remove the carbon after a few days.
That medication is so much less effective than the salt/heat treatment.
Do the salt/heat treatment for no less than 14 days. I would recommend 21 days.
The Ich parasite has a long life cycle and is only vulnerable for a short period of time. Only part of the life cycle is the part that you can see. The part where the pustule burst and the larva comes out is when the ICh needs to be attacked.
That's the salts job.
This is why many people who follow the directions on the medication get ich again. They stop treatment too soon and the Ich was not even effected since its only vulnerable for a short time.
There is no better way. Dont bother buying Ich meds.
If you have fish sensitive to salt like Plecos,
Add 1 Tbsp of salt for every 10 gallons.
Most fish are ok with salt.
So add 1 Tablespoon for each 5 gallons of water.
Raise the temp to about 86 degrees. (ditto on the oxygen part, but if you have an airstone or Hang on tank filter, you should be fine.)
Put carbon in your filters temporarily to remove the ICH medication from the water.
The carbon wont effect the salt. Just remove the carbon after a few days.
That medication is so much less effective than the salt/heat treatment.
Do the salt/heat treatment for no less than 14 days. I would recommend 21 days.
The Ich parasite has a long life cycle and is only vulnerable for a short period of time. Only part of the life cycle is the part that you can see. The part where the pustule burst and the larva comes out is when the ICh needs to be attacked.
That's the salts job.
This is why many people who follow the directions on the medication get ich again. They stop treatment too soon and the Ich was not even effected since its only vulnerable for a short time.
There is no better way. Dont bother buying Ich meds.
Thanks everyone for the advice. Thanks DF for all the details, espescially about the plecos. I have one, plus this sort of stick like algae eater whose name I can't remember, so I guess I'll be conservative with the salt. Other than that, hopefully everythng will be fine and all of the fish will survive. Thanks again.