Ich and not so salt savy fish

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courtneem

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 25, 2007
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South Dakota
www.structed.net
I had a tank crash that started with ich and something else (bacterial maybe) a few months back. I lost 4 spotted pictus, 5 clown loaches and several tetra. My tank recovered with what I had left. I tried the heat/salt method and had horrible results. I tried ich meds for scaleless fish and had bad results.

My clown loaches last time started with the ich signs. Today a hour ago I notice one of my new clown loachs with ich spots!!! I left my tank be until recently and just added the clown loaches not to long ago, I QT them and everything was fine! I was scared to try the loach thing again as is. *sigh*

55gl tank
80F
ammonia = 0
nitrIte = 0
nitrAte = 20 (did a water change the other day) never see it above 40
PH - 7.2

In the tank I have

2 pims (one spotted one white) 6" and 7"
1 vampire pleco (L007) 5"
1 common pleco - 6"
1 rainbow shark - 6"
2 clown loaches - 2"
1 male betta - normal betta size
2 serpae tetra - full grown
6 white skirt tetra - full grown
2 mystery snails - golf ball sized

The last time my pims and pleco didnt have any problems trough it all.

I have a 10gl tank that is cycled with a male betta and a baby bullhead that is 1"

What should I do? No one has signs but the clown loaches, and I know once one gets it they all will eventually get it.

My issue is my plecos and pims are not salty tolerant fish so I get a bit screwed there.

Should I put the bullhead in the 55gl and hope the pims do not eat him, betta in a bowl and treat the loaches in the 10gl tank and try and stop it here and watch the 55gl or what?

I dont want a repeat of a few months ago!
 
85+ for a few weeks...
 
85+ gets my vote also! about 2 tsp per gal of salt also... Do this for 3 weeks. Add the salt slow and raise the temp even slower. Take about 2-3 days for the whole process of adding and raising and you should be fine.


No you shouldn't take the loaches out. you need to treat the tank and the fish.. Ich lives in gravel when not on your fish! You arent adding enough salt to effect any of your fish! I treat all my plecs with salt before and no problems!
 
ive heard that salt is horrible for clown loaches. I am treated the 55gl even though i am removing the clown loaches, they are more sensitive in my eyes and they are going to stay out of the 55gl anyways. I am treating the 55gl with heat only after on another forum having many people say just heat has worked as well.

Wish me luck.
 
Heat alone is fine if you take it to 90 or close to it. Other then that all you are doing is helping the ich multiply faster. TRUST me I have 5 Clowns and all of them have had ich at least 1 time. I use salt every time! 2 tsp per gallon! Clowns are bad with meds not salt. Your fish will be fine with what I suggest!
 
I hear that clowns when small are pretty prone to ich at the slightest stress. That is why I removed then and they wont come back until bigger. This is the second time keeping clowns I have had them start ich. lol I love the guys but they are going to grow out and go in the 55gl after i get my fish I stress over outta there.

Clowns are doing well in the 10gl, they are tiny. Soon they will have a 30gl to frolic in. They are still taken care of.

55gl tank is up to 85F, will go up more through the night and tomorrow before I go to work. No signs of ich in the 55gl, just the clowns that I removed but I know it has to be there.

Will add a little salt to the 10gl with the loaches, working on heat on that tank as well.
 
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