help ick
- Thread starter iridescentkid
- Start date
When i fish started my tank.. I too got a visit from the ick man. I intially thought that it was substrate/sand, but soon realised it was something more serious. I successful rid the tank of the parasite by increasing the temp to 28oC, and adding a recommended dosage on Aquarium Salt.. If you have Ick, you'll have to realise that this parasite has a life complex life cycle, and that even no visible signs may not mean its gone.
check Disease Stickies for more info.
check Disease Stickies for more info.
I recently had a bout with the ick. I got it really early and have been able to ward off mass infection. the key is getting it early and staying with the treatment. Raise your temperature, very slowly, to around 84-86 degrees. Do about a 10-15% water change. Before you add your new water make sure that the water you are adding is fairly close to the temperature of the water. this can be done by using a bucket and a cheap heater. you don't want to stress your fish anymore than they already are by having even a slight temp swing. Add about one tablespoon of aqua salt to every five gallons of water in your fresh water you will replace into the tank. give the water a couple of hours to heat and dissolve the salt. do a water change and put in your new salt water solution. Make sure you keep the temp at 84-86. do a small water change every couple of days, never more than 10-15%. check your ammonia levels and make sure they stay low, high temps can make them even more dangerous. and remember that everytime you do a water change you have to add back whatever salt you take out. if you do a 10% water change then add back 10% of the salt you put in with your salt water solution. Plan on doing this for 19-25 days to make sure you eradicate all the little boogers. they do have a complicated life-cycle so better safe then sorry. usually treat until 3 days after all signs of ick have dissappeared. sorry to hear about your fish. i have lost some to ick before to. but there are worse things that could happen to your tank.
With meds, only do as it says on the label exactly. Don't mix treatments. If you're going to use meds, use them. If you're going to do the salt and heat treatment, use that. Don't do both, as it will likely kill your fish, who are weak due to disease.
The reason for this is that most meds decrease the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water, as does a temperature increase. Both together can be deadly.
The reason for this is that most meds decrease the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water, as does a temperature increase. Both together can be deadly.
with ich, it usually looks worse before it gets better, thats because ich can only be killed while it's in the water and thats just one stage of its life cycle...meanwhile the cysts on your fish will grow
i've had luck with aquarium salt (1tbl per 5gal) and freshwater coppersafe by AP without raising the temp..raising the temps does speed things up but i'm not sure its worth the stress and lower O2 levels
salt helps heal the tiny sores left by the ich as well as possibly preventing secondary infection, salt is also said to improve gill function..ich can be in the gills as well
also vacuuming the gravel thoroughly helps, during part of its life cycle ich is in the gravel
--liz
i've had luck with aquarium salt (1tbl per 5gal) and freshwater coppersafe by AP without raising the temp..raising the temps does speed things up but i'm not sure its worth the stress and lower O2 levels
salt helps heal the tiny sores left by the ich as well as possibly preventing secondary infection, salt is also said to improve gill function..ich can be in the gills as well
also vacuuming the gravel thoroughly helps, during part of its life cycle ich is in the gravel
--liz
When I had ich a couple of months ago I just tried one of the store bought treatments (liquid). I followed the instructions completely and I saw the spots gone within about 5 days, but I continued treatment for a full two weeks. I caught it early though. I had only had the tank for about a week, it was before I knew about the fishless cycle. I was so happy that I was always wanting to watch my fish. I got it during midterm time of my summer term at college, stressed to say the least. So I noticed probably right away that something was wrong with my gourami. I did not know it was ich until I did research online about it. It is just a nice reminder to pay attention to our fish just like we would with any other pet.
well i was goin 2 do my water change and well i looked and my iridescent was dead i went out and got everything ready and my oscar was dead so there all gone now in my 55 so im gonna let it cycle and set it up 4 a salt tank any ideads would be appreciated goin 2 b my first 1 i want black sand and planted