Treating Ich

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
N

Natural_Born_Killer

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 2, 2008
1,386
2
0
42
Netherlands
Hi,

Seems like ICH has broken out in my tank, and I am wondering if you can treat it with anything else besides aquarium salt?
 
I'd rathr you stick to salt for now. It's the safest med you can try. Ich hits heavily an weakened host and a lot of meds are just the exact thing why there are too many losses involving ich. I've always used salt with ich and never experienced a single loss. What fish were affected? I may be able to determine the saline tolerance depending on what you have.:)
 
Thanks Lupin - its the first disease that seems to have broken out in my tank, so I'm a bit in panic.

I keep:
2x Oscars
2x Carpinte
2x JD

They are in a 120g tank.

Adimitedly I have not been the best at tank maintenace recently due to lots of personal things going on. So... another thing to the long list! *sigh*

I'll make sure to start tonight and do a large w/c (would that help at all?) raise the temp in the tank and hopefully I can get to the pet store in time after work to get aquarium salt ... if not how can I tide over till the weekend?
 
Oh I should also probably mention that my O's are starting to act rather strange.

My tiger O seems to have a strange film coming off of him, I've read a couple of threads about this, but unsure how to treat.

The fish that I noticed the ICH on is my male carpinte, but I have a feeling the female isn't too far off as she is looks "beaten up" even though no one is beating on her at all.
 
Hmmm...What is your normal water change routine? How about when you became a bit busy? What are the water parameters? A large water change will help but if your water has deteriorated significantly, do small water changes first and increase the volume as days go.

Okay, your fish will be able to tolerate 0.3% salt solution. Here are the necessary steps.

1. Do 25-40% water change (if water is significantly deteriorated) or 70-80% water change.
2. Dose 0.1% solution of salt (1 teaspoon per gallon). Be sure to dissolve salt thoroughly first before adding.
3. If all goes well, add another 0.1% after 12 hours.
4. Add the last 0.1% 12 hours after step 3 is done.

If you do water changes in the middle of treatment, redose salt per the water volume you replaced.

Hope all goes well.:) In the meantime, add Vitamin C on their food diet to boost their immune system. It can be done with either sodium ascorbate (Vitamin C capsules) or Vitachem available in petstores.
 
Thank you so so so so much!

Normally I religiously do 50% w/c's per week (usually on a Sunday) but the last 3 weeks have been mental.

Is it alright to also do filter maintenance at the same time while doing the treatement?

Also... will this kill my fish?
 
Oh, also will it help to remove all the decorations in the tank and run them under extremely hot water? or basically leave them in a bucket of very very hot water and salt?
 
Actually I have one more question....

So per dosing, exactly how much salt am I adding? and do I just mix that amount into a glass of water and then pour it in?

Never done this before so I'm a bit confused...
 
Natural_Born_Killer;3684004; said:
Thank you so so so so much!

Normally I religiously do 50% w/c's per week (usually on a Sunday) but the last 3 weeks have been mental.

Is it alright to also do filter maintenance at the same time while doing the treatement?

Also... will this kill my fish?
Click to expand...

Natural_Born_Killer;3684009; said:
Oh, also will it help to remove all the decorations in the tank and run them under extremely hot water? or basically leave them in a bucket of very very hot water and salt?
Click to expand...
If the filter is a bit clogged, just swish it slightly in a bucket of tank water and put it back in the filter. I'd not clean it too much so there will be enough beneficial bacteria to keep the nitrogen cycle under control while your fish are battling ich.

Hot water and salt will work just fine. Vacuum the substrate thoroughly to remove possible ich cysts that are stuck there. Hard surfaces harbor your beneficial bacteria.

Natural_Born_Killer;3684012; said:
Actually I have one more question....

So per dosing, exactly how much salt am I adding? and do I just mix that amount into a glass of water and then pour it in?

Never done this before so I'm a bit confused...
Click to expand...
One teaspoon per gallon every 12 hours with a total of 3 teaspoons per gallon. You're on right track so far.
 
Lupin;3684025; said:
If the filter is a bit clogged, just swish it slightly in a bucket of tank water and put it back in the filter. I'd not clean it too much so there will be enough beneficial bacteria to keep the nitrogen cycle under control while your fish are battling ich.

Hot water and salt will work just fine. Vacuum the substrate thoroughly to remove possible ich cysts that are stuck there. Hard surfaces harbor your beneficial bacteria.


One teaspoon per gallon every 12 hours with a total of 3 teaspoons per gallon. You're on right track so far.
Click to expand...

Ok... so that would be 120 teaspoons ever 12 hours diluted into a glass of water .... (well...very big glass!)

How many days do I have to do this for? I've read that this treatment has to go on for basicallly 2 weeks...?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom