Ich?

[Dark Jester]

They don't look fuzzy. I've raised the temp on my heater, aiming for about 84* and I'm just going to see how it goes.

At this point, it won't do any good to remove the pleco right? The Ich is in the water, so if anyone else is going to get infected, they're going to get infected regardless of whether the pleco stays or goes?

Correct. To get that level of breakout on the Pleco the Ich has probably already gone through 1 lifecycle in the tank and reproduced. Taking the pleco out just spreads the ich to another tank and makes you treat 2 tanks instead of 1.

My rubber lip Plecos got hit hardest by my last ich outbreak as well. I rarely see them, but by the time I noticed it on the other fish the poor Plecos were completely looking like someone had dumped salt all over them (much like your pic). Your other fish may show signs over the next day or two.

As others said, 2-3 tsp of salt per gallon and temp around 84-86 for 10+ days will take care of it. Spots should mostly disappear within 4 days, but keep the treatment going for a few days after that to make sure you take care of any unhatched cysts.

 

[Moloch]

Ok. Any particular type of salt?

 

[Dark Jester]

Most types should be ok. Only thing to watch for is whether they contain Yellow Prusiate, it's an anti-caking agent sometimes added to Table Salt which is toxic to fish.

Personally I use Morton Pure Sea Salt. Others have used Aquarium Salt, Rock Salt, Table Salt, and Water Softener Salt.

 

[rubadub]

i just used the api aquarium salt
got myself a medium sized carton for 6 bux
and it left me with more then half the carton extra
i treated a 72 gallon tank

 

[Moloch]

I think there's either something wrong with my test kit (API liquid master kit) or when I replaced the filter I sent the tank into a cycle...just tested my ammonia/nitrite/nitrate in both tanks and they're almost equal, except the 20 actually has a higher ammonia reading than the 65:\

I feel like an ass. I'd almost feel just as good at this point putting everything except the pleco in the 65 except I don't want to spread this ich. Granted, they're either going to sit through ich in the 20 or they're going to sit through ich in the 65, so...

Ugh.

 

[Mac.]

Just keep up with the treatment..ich happens to TONS of people no need to feel bad about it..At the lfs I work at i get calls almost daily about someone with ich and then telling me they got their fish from walmart (not hating just pretty common response )
But seriously..just stick to the advice and it'll be fine

I use api aquarium salt or water softner salt and both work fine

 

[Dark Jester]

Magnum 250 HOT using the carbon setup that it came with (this is pretty new, a week or so old)

---

Not sure what else is relevant. The tank has been up and running with this community of fish for close to 2 months, originally with a topfin 20 powerfilter which I just replaced with the magnum250.

I think there's either something wrong with my test kit (API liquid master kit) or when I replaced the filter I sent the tank into a cycle...just tested my ammonia/nitrite/nitrate in both tanks and they're almost equal, except the 20 actually has a higher ammonia reading than the 65:\

Actually, if I read that top quote right, you took out the previous filter and put the new Magnum in about a week ago? That would cause a new cycle to start. Start doing some water changes to reduce the ammonia and nitrite levels. Having those present are just going to stress the fish more and make the Ich worse on them.

A good thorough gravel vacuum will help take some of the ammonia causing stuff out of the tank as well, and maybe get some of the unhatched ich cycts too. Remember to redose salt with whatever amoutn of water you have to re-add to the tank.

 

[Moloch]

Actually, if I read that top quote right, you took out the previous filter and put the new Magnum in about a week ago? That would cause a new cycle to start. Start doing some water changes to reduce the ammonia and nitrite levels. Having those present are just going to stress the fish more and make the Ich worse on them.

Yeah the filter change was about a week ago. I guess I assumed there would be enough bacteria in the gravel/decorations to not worry about about the filter change. I should have just added the new filter to the existing setup for the first few weeks:\ Hindsight 20/20.

I did do a 50% waterchange yesterday when I tested the Nitrites and they were off the charts :\

Do I need to do daily water changes? I have MicroBacter that I can add to the tank and I've been contemplating Stability for the 65, just havent wanted to drop the coin on it:\

My fish will survive just fine if I keep the temp around 84-85, keep up with water changes (how often?) and wait it out for the cycle and the ich?

Semi-related thing, my jack dempsey is just now starting to get a little more aggressive towards all 3 other fish in the tank...would I be just as safe with them to move the two bichirs and the dempsey to the 65 gallon since they're both in the same spot in the cycle anyways? Those three still haven't shown any signs of ich either so maybe they wouldn't carry that with them?

 

[Dark Jester]

If both tanks are at the same spot in the cycle, you could move all of the fish to the 65. it will give you a better buffer against the Ammonia and Nitrite spikes than the 20 provides. keep the salt in both tanks to kill the Ich. Even though they might not be showing spots, there are likely ich parasites attached. Just transfering a net from 1 tank to another can spread it, so if you do move any of the fish you will need to start salt treatment in the 65 too.

For water changes, I'd keep changing as often as necessary to keep the Ammonia and Nitrites somewhat low until your filter can catch back up. Make sure the new water going in is around the same temperature as the tank water too. A sudden change of 5 or 10 degrees can cause shock.

 

[Moloch]

Cool, I just jumped the gun anyways and moved the two bichirs over...got tired of seeing the jack nip at them. Not sure yet if I'll wait on the jack for a while, let the bichirs settle down into that tank and then move him or what. I'm hoping that with more space he chills out a little bit, and maybe I need to get another semi-aggressive cichlid or two to hold his atention and leave the bichirs alone? Would that make sense? I think the bichirs are just too small right now to figure out much fighting back, they just dart away.

I think the situation is under control, it just took me by surprise Gotta admit I was being very bad about checking levels on the 20:\

edit: the salt I have on hand is mortons iodized salt...ingredients are: salt, calcium silicate (an anticaking agent), dextrose, potassium iodide. Think it'll work out ok?