My First Ich Outbreak

[ragin_cajun]

So I'm seeing more fish than normal "flashing". I'm seeing (I think) white spec's on pectoral fins. I have 18 SA/CA cichlids at 1-3 inches, 4 Pictus, and 6 Clown Loaches. Can I do the salt and high temp trick with these fish? Also, how serious is Ick and can I let it get go until it gets more obvious that they have it? And what ratio of salt per gallon of water do I use? Will it harm plants (Java Fern)?


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[strollo22]

Salt can harm plants. I would raise the temp to 88 and leave it like that for 2 weeks. Make sure there is plenty of oxygen. It's better to treat now rather than wait until it's worse.


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[richkid]

Yeah. I just had an outbreak in one of my tanks. No salt. Put the temp to 86 and knocked it right out the box in a few days. It's important to leave the temps up for a few days after the symptoms are gone. Raise and lower the temps slow. Good luck.


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[ragin_cajun]

On the 23rd, the water temp was at 78.6, started raising temp. 24th it was at 84. 25th it was at 87.3. yesterday it was at 88.2. I turned the dial back a touch on the thermometer, it's at 87.4. So that 6 days over 87 degrees. Some fish it's helped, some fish still look like they got sprayed with flour. The fish that still have it kinda bad are 2 small clown loaches, and a small Sajica. The bigger Cichlids (Synspillum 4 inch, 2.5 inch GT) are all cleared up. I added 2 12 inch airstones yesterday for extra surface agitation to try and get more air in the water.

Can I keep the temp this high for another week or so? Is it harder to get this off the small fish?

 

[strollo22]

Loaches will be more difficult to treat. The temps can stay there for another week as long as you leave the stones plugged in.