you never want to add MG or MB to your tank, it will kill your bio-filter. for ICK, heat above 86 for 3 weeks, or 2 weeks after you no longer see on the fish. some use salt, the salt is an irritant to the fish so it creates a thicker slime coat. but is not needed IMHO. I try to never use meds unless absolutely necessary as they can be hard on the fish. long term higher temps best cure, fish be fine in the higher temps, just hungry and a little more aggressive.
ICK..so SICK of it
- Thread starter Ihsnshaik
- Start date
MG will not harm BB. MB in full dosage may. Heat will not kill Ick, but speed up ick life cycle and inhibit reproduction. Not willing to use medication and having complete faith in salt and heat is ill advised. Read this article:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Ich.html
Here are a few truths and myths about FW ich (ick) treatments:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Ich.html
Here are a few truths and myths about FW ich (ick) treatments:
- Chemical treatments will destroy biological nitrifying bacteria- Myth & Truth.
Malachite Green, Formalin and Copper sulfate DO NOT harm nitrifying bacteria. Methylene blue can harm nitrifying bacteria in full doses.
- Salt is a natural treatment- Myth and Truth.
Salt is sodium chloride (NaCl) a chemical treatment with such side effects on freshwater fish as loss of internal chemical balance and dehydration. Some will call Sodium chloride natural, but by that definition, so is NH3 (ammonia).
Usnic Acid and Pepper better fit the description of natural organic treatments.
Please understand I am not knocking salt, just some reasoning behind the use. In fact it is an important electrolyte that is useful any time most fish are stressed by disease.
- Malachite Green is extremely toxic- Myth & Truth.
Older versions of Malachite Green that contain zinc are definitely more toxic, especially for scale-less fish, but the newer zinc free formulas found in most ich medications today are 97% zinc free and are only more poisonous to scale-less fish in high doses (and Triple sulfa buffers this mild effect even more). As well using Malachite Green in acid environments and without mineral cations present also increases toxcity considerably.
by speeding up the the life cycle, yes it get rid of ick. with out meds.
not looking to argue or call any one out. as always its IMHO.
not looking to argue or call any one out. as always its IMHO.
I personally haven't seen a case of ich that couldn't be cured with heat and salt. It has been proven that heat alone or salinity alone can cure all but the most resilient(tropical) strains. A salinity level of 0.3% will kill emerging tomites. If I were to encounter a resistant strain, I would consider running NewLife Spectrum IchShield with heat/salt.
There are practical issues having to maintain high temp for 2-3 weeks to effect cure. First, there may not be sufficient heater capacity to raise the temp to target level in a big tank. Properly sized heater should only have the capacity to raise temp above ambient by no more than 10F to avoid cooking accident; Second, having to maintain elevated temp for 2-3 weeks is a long time requiring closed monitoring to avoid over shooting. Third, high temp reduces dissolved oxygen level which can stress fish that can't tolerate high temp, and increase chance of secondary bacterial infection that thrives in high temp. Forth, some vulnerable fish cannot be cured by salt and heat, such as loaches and fry, don't have 3 week time to wait for ick to get worse before getting better.
My main problems with MG is toxicity issues. Its a known a teratogen(known to alter DNA), carcinogen(known to cause cancer)and can cause inhalant injuries(you don't want to breath it in). It also seems to soak into silicone and plastics. Know these things before you stick your hand in your tank, if nothing else.
I put my large Texas into a quarantine tank and he's a lot better. All the fish have greatly improved and ick is almost gone! Some still have it but it's not as bad.
I think what helped a lot to be honest is the salt.. Medication probably will kill off the rest that's not on the fish and living other places.
Do I need to do a water change after the ick has gone completely? Or wait until they improve more and do it
I think what helped a lot to be honest is the salt.. Medication probably will kill off the rest that's not on the fish and living other places.
Do I need to do a water change after the ick has gone completely? Or wait until they improve more and do it
Yes, MG is a carcinogen, and it is banned in aquaculture. But you are not eating your tropical fish, so you have nothing to be concerned. Yes, you may soak your arm into the MG treated water, but the exposure time is infinitestimally short to have any effect. You have to bath or swim in it to harm you. Next time when you fill up your car with gas, pause a moment that that you are inhaling gasolene vapor that contains benzene that is a known human carcinogen. But your exposure time is so minimal to have any effect. MG will stain water, silicone and plastic, but only temporarily. MG biodegrades rapidly so the stain will be gone in a day or two, and this is why the instruction tells you to repeat full dosage daily. In contrast to copper and salt, you have to do large WC to get rid of them after treatment.
