Ich medications

[BigUmbeeFan]

I have 2 ich meds and I'm trying to decide which to use. Looking for opinions from the experts here as to which is better.

I have super ick cure made by API. Ingrediants malichite green and nitroflazine.

The other is quick cure made by AP Products. Ingrediants formalin and malichite green.

If AP quick cure is the better of the 2 then what way is best to use it.

Thanks

 

[fishtex]

I just got over a case of ick using the ap quick cure. I dosed once a day for 2 days then did a massive water change and dosed one more time. I also raised my salinity a point or 2 but this was in my brackish tank so dunno if you want to do that. Anyways its been over a week and no more ick - only lost one fish out of 9 so i would definitley recommend quick cure. Dont forget to take the carbon out of your filter before you dose.

 

[mamapuff]

The way I treat is to raise the temp to 84-85, keep all lights off for about two weeks, and cover the tank with a blanket. Also salt the tank. Ich likes light so with out it it the spores won't survive long. Also make sure you gravel vac the tank as all the spores that fall off the fish will go into the gravel and you don't want them to keep reproducing. I have not lost a fish by treating this way for ich. I have used both medicines mentioned tho, before being advised on this particular way. I did lose fish during those treatments so maybe it was too late when I realized or I didn't do the meds correctly. Either way you go, good luck. I would use which ever med you decide on, in addition to raising the heat, keeping lights off, and covering the tank.

 

[fishguts]

ive used diff ick meds in the past and they all worked for me. just some take longer and more treatments.. the one i think works the best and the fastest is ick clear made by jungle. i think jungle meds are better then all the rest. thats my op though.

 

[Sarah88]

yeah ich meds are super harsh on the fish's systems and should only really be used in the most severe of cases as they just end up stressing the fish more, iv always treated ich by doing a really thorough wc, super gravel vac and wipe down insides of glass, then raise temp to 86 and add salt in the dosage of 1tsp per gallon the first day, next day add another tsp per gallon and leave tank alone for at least 2 weeks with lights off (if ich is particularly bad you can go up to a 3rd tsp per gall on the third day) i dont even do wc during this period to prevent any un-needed stress or temperature fluctuations, but if you do a wc then make sure to re-add the salt you remove. i have never lost a fish using this method and they have always stayed active and eating through out treatment (and salt doesnt have to be aquarium salt, i use the salt sold in grocery stores that comes in the big blue box, make sure to look on the side and see that it doesn't have iodine or yellow prussiate added)

(n i havent used their ich meds but i agree with fishguts that jungle makes great meds)

 

[fishguts]

yeah ich meds are super harsh on the fish's systems and should only really be used in the most severe of cases as they just end up stressing the fish more, iv always treated ich by doing a really thorough wc, super gravel vac and wipe down insides of glass, then raise temp to 86 and add salt in the dosage of 1tsp per gallon the first day, next day add another tsp per gallon and leave tank alone for at least 2 weeks with lights off (if ich is particularly bad you can go up to a 3rd tsp per gall on the third day) i dont even do wc during this period to prevent any un-needed stress or temperature fluctuations, but if you do a wc then make sure to re-add the salt you remove. i have never lost a fish using this method and they have always stayed active and eating through out treatment (and salt doesnt have to be aquarium salt, i use the salt sold in grocery stores that comes in the big blue box, make sure to look on the side and see that it doesn't have iodine or yellow prussiate added)

(n i havent used their ich meds but i agree with fishguts that jungle makes great meds)

ive always heard that meds can stress a fish but from past circumstances ive never notice a fish behave different when ive treated them and then the ick is gone within 24 too 48 hrs after treatment. i think its less stress on them getting rid of it right away then dragging it out with salt and multiple water changes. just my experiences though

 

[Sarah88]

ive always heard that meds can stress a fish but from past circumstances ive never notice a fish behave different when ive treated them and then the ick is gone within 24 too 48 hrs after treatment. i think its less stress on them getting rid of it right away then dragging it out with salt and multiple water changes. just my experiences though

yeah i could see that too, but i dont do multiple wc, i only do the first one to take out as many of the free swimming stages as possible, and then dont change anything for 2 weeks, usually i stop seeing the spots within 3 days, just have to leave the salt in longer to make sure all life cycles are killed just like with meds (no meds get rid of ich in 24hrs, they may get rid of the ich you see must, at least to my knowledge, dont affect the egg stages so you have to leave the meds in long enough for the eggs to hatch and be killed as well, but granted iv only had to deal with ich twice so this is just what i have done these two times and it was fine, i just try to avoid using unnatural chemicals unless i absolutely have to, but im sure there are instances of severe ich where meds are necessary

 

[cchhcc]

I would only use the formalin based products if the salt method doesn't work!

Two weeks of solid treatment is needed.

 

[danny2875]

I use salt and gradually raising the tank temp to 90 degrees. Each day raise by 2 degrees. Should stay at 90 degrees for a solid week. Ish cannot survive at that temp. Water change and gravel vac.

 

[Lupin]

The iodine in salt is not the issue. Yellow prussiate or ferrous cyanide is. No need to freak out over iodized salt as long as it does not contain yellow prussiate.

I agree with Cchhcc. Formalin is one other alternative but use it only if you are having trouble killing off the ich (assuming you have the patience to keep the treatment course at 10 days and over before jumping conclusions).