devastating outbreak of ich...what now?

[k.g]

I received a new tank for Christmas (20 gal eclipse) and was patient in setting it up. I waited about 2 weeks before adding plants and 4 weeks before adding fish. I had my fish for about 1.5 weeks and then came home one day to find one fish dead and several others with white ich spots. I now think that fish was probably entered my tank with no signs of infection and infected everyone else.

I immediately treated that night, then proceeded with 25% water changes and a new dosage of medication every 48 hrs as instructed. I also ramped my temp up to 80-81 and added aquarium salt and removed my carbon filter.

It has been a week now and all but two of my eight fish have died. I am frustrated because I feel as though I have done everything as instructed... and to no avail. I had checked my water chemistry just days before the outbreak when all was bliss, and pH was 7.0, ammonia and nitrates 0. I just don't understand why the disease was so deadly (my fish remained covered in white spots with no changes)...

Anything else I can do? How long can the cysts remain latent and viable? How long should I wait before adding new fish (this time they will be quarantined for 2 weeks!)?

 

[Lotus]

Welcome to the site

What kind of medication were you using?

It's generally not a good idea to mix treatments. Either use the medication, or the heat and salt method. Because medications and heat both reduce oxygen levels in the water, this can quickly kill fish if there isn't extra aeration in the tank.

It can take a week or so to cure ich. Once it has gone from the fish, continue treatment for another three or four days to make sure it's eradicated. Once it has gone from the tank, make sure you quarantine all new fish before adding them.

 

[object_ofdesire]

A> double check to make certain you have ICH and not a white fungus
B> Before re-locating all infected fish to your quarantine, give them a "Methylene quick dip".
C> turn up the Q.tank to 85F and slowly add your Aquarium salt dosage.
D> MAKE SURE you siphon out 10% of the lower level Q.tank water every day.
E> keep fish in there for one week, keeping it dark and giving lots of aeration.
F> Feed them Garlic dipped food and Spirulina to improve their immunity.

 

[k.g]

"Methylene quick dip" concentration

Thank you for the information. How concentrated do you recommend the "Methylene quick dip" should be?

Thanks

 

[Joeyb1731]

My LFS recomended aquari-sol,remove the carbon,raise the temp to 84 or 85 add 10 drops per 10 gallons for 7-10 days then after do a 50% change, then a few days later do another 50% change. I'm also still cycling so hopefully it won't effect that too much. This is just an idea 4 u and the med was cheap. Like 3 dollars. I don't think u shouldstop what you started though or if u want to do it you should prob do a big waterchange first to get the old meds out