ICK..so SICK of it

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Ihsnshaik

Ihsnshaik

Giant Snakehead
MFK Member
Aug 20, 2015
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Windy CIty
This is a rant! I have a well established tank for over 7 years. Not once did any of my fish die due to some parasites or some type of diseases. I introduced a few new fish from a local hobbiest and I got the case of the ICK. I noticed one of them kept hitting my heater and rubbing against rock. Didn't think of too much and two days later the rest of my fish got it. I can see it on my 3 inch midas clearly on the fins. I thought it was the pearls but I have one at 1 inch and hes covered in it so I knew it was ICK.

I have two 150 watt heaters and temp is at 80-82 constant. I just added a 100 watt heater to kill off the ick. I added a cup of saltwater since its a 200 gallon tank plus 30-40 gallon sump.

I hope I do not lose any fish. Its not the price its the connection I have. Oldest guy is 6 years and 16 inch of F1 Midas

I got 3 flowerhorn from LFS at 1-2 inches and tanked them in a 10 gallon due to they might have diseases or ICK. That tank is perfect!

Any suggestions how to speed up the process of elimination of the ICK? I know they're medicines but I want to know what else I can do without medications. I cured ICK before just with saltwater but that was a 10 gallon with a goldfish like 15 years ago lol
 
A lot of people swear by the heat and salt, read the disease section; it basically recommends 30° if your fish can handle it, which speeds the life cycle to about 4 days. Then when you have approximately 2 tablespoons salt per gallon (again dependent on fish), it bombs the ich.

Just came off a bout with it myself, it truly sucks; but you've addressed it quickly, its likely you'll have no casualties whatsoever, as long as you act fast.
 
Ich is one of the easier ones to deal with. You leave the temp on 93 for a week/week and a half and it will die out on it's own time.
 
Just bought some ick medicine from petsmart. Let's see if that works with my salt and cranking the heat up. I noticed ick in the morning today but I had to run to work so didn't do anything until I got home. I quickly got salt and raised the heat. Eating habits are some they all are pigs and noticing more and more of my fish rubbing against my driftwood. I just hate the fact is that I don't have another tank to house these guys my hospital tank is good but I can't fit all my fish in there.

Thanks guys for the replies and wish my fish luck! Btw I'm using ick remedy from marine land. Read some good reviews. I'll add some more if they don't get better in a few days and do a 50 percent water change two weeks after.
You guys think my sponge filter has ick parasites as well. I cycle new tanks with it to speed up the process.
 
Yeah don't use the sponge filter until ich is eradicated from the main tank, no matter how impatient lol (believe me I learned the hard way).

You'll see it get worse before it gets better, just in case.

I'd personally let it run for 10 days without changing the water, but thats just me; obviously thats dependent on bioload, if you run a heavy set-up you can always re-dose for the water changed.
 
I just had an outbreak of ick from a new fish introduced couple weeks ago, and successfully eliminate it in 3 days using Mardel Quick Cure.

I don't know why people continue to suggest old remedy salt and heat treatment when proprietary ick remedy containing Malachite Green works much faster and effectively, and is easily administered. Typically 3 day malachite green treatment is sufficient to wipe out ick once for all. Maintaining elevated temp and salinity for 10 days or more is a slow process and can be stressful to some fish.
 
tiger15 said:
I just had an outbreak of ick from a new fish introduced couple weeks ago, and successfully eliminate it in 3 days using Mardel Quick Cure.

I don't know why people continue to suggest old remedy salt and heat treatment when proprietary ick remedy containing Malachite Green works much faster and effectively, and is easily administered. Typically 3 day malachite green treatment is sufficient to wipe out ick once for all. Maintaining elevated temp and salinity for 10 days or more is a slow process and can be stressful to some fish.
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By the same token, it could be argued that chemicals such as malachite, formalin etc; may also prove as stressful if not more than salt...there isn't any real miracle solution for these things as far as i know. Pro's and cons with each.
 
Only certain fish such as tetra, loaches and scaleless fish are sensitive to MG, so the instructions recommend treating these fish with half dosage. Most tetra, loaches and scaleless fish come from soft water regions and they can't tolerate high salinity either. Many fish can't tolerate high temp either. If your heater get stuck above 88-90F for a few days, you will likely have dead fish.

IME, Cichlids are very tolerant of MG. I've treated some heavily infested cichlids with double the MG dosage and cured them, not killed them. But full dosage MG killed my loaches which have small scales, yet harmless to my Bristlenose which are scaleless. So it really depends on the type of the fish you are treating.
 
tiger15 said:
Only certain fish such as tetra, loaches and scaleless fish are sensitive to MG, so the instructions recommend treating these fish with half dosage. Most tetra, loaches and scaleless fish come from soft water regions and they can't tolerate high salinity either. Many fish can't tolerate high temp either. If your heater get stuck above 88-90F for a few days, you will likely have dead fish.

IME, Cichlids are very tolerant of MG. I've treated some heavily infested cichlids with double the MG dosage and cured them, not killed them. But full dosage MG killed my loaches which have small scales, yet harmless to my Bristlenose which are scaleless. So it really depends on the type of the fish you are treating.
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Yeah, if i do get ich again; I'm likely to take the medicine route, the worst one I'm dealing with just now is anchorworm in some rescue fish, I'm absolutely paranoid about any surviving, so I'm treating with sodium chlorite which in all likelihood will kill my BB colony...one trapdoor shuts and another opens :/
 
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