first time dealing with ich.. help please =]

[sonycrr]

46g
couple of fish have white spots on them. i just notcied it today. started treatment with kardon ich attack http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/11047/product.web.


have a couple of quetions.
is that medication harmful to any of these fish? :
german blue ram
clown pleco
angelfish
threadfin
swordtail
poka dot loach
coolie loach
hatcket fish

a couple of the fish have what appears to be salt or white sand on them. not all fish in the tank have white spots. i dont notice any scratching and all fish are still eating normal..can it be something else?
water parameters are:
ph=6.6
alkalinity=60ppm
hardness=25ppm
nitrite=o
nitrate=5-10ppm
amonia=0


i jsut put in a big piece of driftwood in there which i boiled for about 10 hours before putting in and its leaching out tannins which is trying to lower the ph. the buffer in the tank is very low and im addiing baking soda in the water every water change to increase the buffer alittle. so i need to do another water change soon. would it affect the effectiveness of the meds if i do a water change and then redose the tank with the meds?

if i use a python vacumm cleaner in the infected tank to do a water change. would it be possible to affect another tank if i use the same hose a week later?
thanks for the help.

ive included pics from my phone of the fish that have the most infection.

the one to the right

 

[Lupin]

That is indeed ich. Not all fish will be infested by it but you still have to treat all the fish in the same tank where ich is trying to establish itself currently. Normally, those who are not infested with ich still have a strong immune system hence ich cannot appear as outbreak on those particular individuals.

Since you already are using Kordon treatment, I'd continue the treatment for 14 days. If you must do water changes, try to redose the med per the water volume replaced. Water changes can indeed reduce its effectiveness which is why you must redose everytime you attempt to change the water. If you haven't yet, remove the activated carbon from your filter as well or it will completely absorb the med rendering it useless against ich.

Get a new python vacuum cleaner and don't use the infected one to your other tanks as there is a risk of transmission unless you can sterilize your equipment with hot water. Same can be said with nets and other equipments your tanks share.

 

[mr.reef24]

I would use Melafix it is safe, natural and well tested and approved we use it in my LFS, I use it at home, melafix and pimafix are the way to go for treating diseases for freshwater fish.

mr.reef24

 

[justonemoretank]

I have never seen or heard of Melafix actually curing ich. I'm sorry to argue with you, Mr. Reef, as I do respect your opinion, but I don't believe in Melafix as treatment for ich. In fact, Drs. Foster and Smith state the following:

MelaFix
Contains the natural botanical extract from the Tea Tree (Melaleuca), an excellent alternative to resistant strains of bacteria that are unaffected by traditional medications. Treats bacterial infections such as red ulcers, fin and tail rot, cloudy eyes, mouth fungus, and others in as little as 4 days. Also heals open wounds, ulcers, and damaged fins. Doesn't affect pH; safe for invertebrates. MelaFix Marine can also be used with corals to control bacterial infections, reverse coral degradation and remove parasitic flatworms. 8 oz MelaFix treats 480 gallons of marine or freshwater. 64 oz MelaFix is a concentrated formula and treats 19,000 gallons. 8 oz MelaFix Marine treats 474 gallons marine water.

And:
PimaFix
Treats cotton-like fungal infections, and both internal and external bacterial infections. PimaFix harnesses the unique antifungal and antibacterial properties of the West Indian Bay Tree (Pimenta racemosa) for a safe and natural remedy; prevents the development of resistant strains of disease-causing organisms. Will not discolor water, affect biological filter, or pH during treatment. Will not harm aquatic plants. For extreme cases, PimaFix can safely be used with MelaFix to provide the added benefit of quick tissue regeneration and wound healing. 8 oz doses 400 gallons.

There is nothing about ich there.

Please understand that I'm not trying to argue for argument's sake, but merely trying to make the point in the best interests of the OP. If he or she treats with the wrong medication, he or she risks the chance of the fish dying of ich, which is totally treatable, because a medication is being used which has no effect.

 

[sushiray]

couple of fish have white spots on them. i just notcied it today. started treatment with kardon ich attack http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/11047/product.web.

o I see it is a natural remedy. not sure of its effectiveness. but I had recent success as follows:

www.kensfish.com prices are great & so is shipping.

kordon's Rid-Ich + salt + higher temp by at least 5 degrees

I had it with my discus tank & then with my angel tank & both were cleared of Ich pretty quick.

treat for at least 10days str8. the cyst stage (the salt like dots) can not be affected, but will break open & then the meds can do it's job. raising the temps will have the cysts mature quicker. I added 1 tablespoon salt per 10gal.

dose every day but do major w/c (at least 50%) after 3days then continue dosing then do another w/c.

even after you see the cysts disappear that means they will be free swimming in the water looking for hosts. but with the meds they will die off. but you must continue dosing even after they look like all the salt like dots are gone.



a couple of the fish have what appears to be salt or white sand on them. not all fish in the tank have white spots. i dont notice any scratching and all fish are still eating normal..can it be something else?
o I agree it is Ich. also agree treat whole tank because some can be carriers. fish stress can allow Ich to appear.

water parameters are:
ph=6.6
alkalinity=60ppm
hardness=25ppm
nitrite=o
nitrate=5-10ppm
amonia=0

o seems ok.

i jsut put in a big piece of driftwood in there which i boiled for about 10 hours before putting in and its leaching out tannins which is trying to lower the ph. the buffer in the tank is very low and im addiing baking soda in the water every water change to increase the buffer alittle. so i need to do another water change soon. would it affect the effectiveness of the meds if i do a water change and then redose the tank with the meds?
o should be ok. but also agree take out carbon. whether w/c or not still need to dose daily.

if i use a python vacumm cleaner in the infected tank to do a water change. would it be possible to affect another tank if i use the same hose a week later?
thanks for the help.
o unless you sterilize as suggested do not cross contaminate - use logic.


o good luck

 

[sushiray]

I have never seen or heard of Melafix actually curing ich. I'm sorry to argue with you, Mr. Reef, as I do respect your opinion, but I don't believe in Melafix as treatment for ich. In fact, Drs. Foster and Smith state the following:

MelaFix
PimaFix

There is nothing about ich there.

Please understand that I'm not trying to argue for argument's sake, but merely trying to make the point in the best interests of the OP. If he or she treats with the wrong medication, he or she risks the chance of the fish dying of ich, which is totally treatable, because a medication is being used which has no effect.

o I agree. but I did have success with both meds when treating my tail rot with daily w/c.

 

[justonemoretank]

o I agree. but I did have success with both meds when treating my tail rot with daily w/c.

Not to get off-subject here, but the daily waterchanges are probably the cause of healing here; not the meds. Finrot is most often caused by poor water quality; therefore, daily waterchanges are going to heal it quickly. I don't HATE Pimafix and Melafix, necessarily; I just think that they are way over-used and the problems "solved" by them are really solved because people do a lot of things along with dosing them, such as using salt, waterchanges, bumping temp, and who knows what else. Then, the fish get better, and since no one can tell why, they say, "Pimafix! Melafix!"

 

[Lupin]

I've never known Melafix used as ich cure either. Justonemoretank is right because it certainly does not treat for ich.

 

[~ocean]

coppersafe always works for me...

 

[gangster]

up the temp and add salt