Ich

[FalseBandit15]

I came downstairs to look at mt 29 gallon tank earlier this week, and noticed that my clown loaches are stricken with ich. My 6-strip test showed that my tank is doing fine....and my ammonia test showed 0 ammonia. The tank is 4 months old, and this is the first problem that I have seen with it. I do use aquarium salt regularly in this tank. I have raised the temp a little, and it is currently running at about 81 degrees.
I was wondering what is the best treatment for ich. I have done 2 water changes this week, and have been watching the tank closely. The clowns are still eating, and swimming around normally. The rest of the fish in the tank are also doing their normal thing, without ich. A lot of things that I read about ich say that medicine is not always the best or easiest treatment. I have never encountered ich before, and I really would love some help on this topic. I appreciate any advice you might have for me. Thanks again.

 

[Lotus]

I've always used CopperSafe with clown loaches, and it has always worked well. I do, however, add a quarter dose at a time, and observe the fish for 8 or 12 hours before adding the next quarter. When it's at full dose, I count that as the first day of treatment. While there has never been an adverse reaction of the loaches to CopperSafe, if there was, I would do a large water change.

Unfortunately, many people add medications and don't observe fully, and the fish die due to a bad reaction to the meds. It's important to keep an eye on how the fish are reacting. This is more true of ich meds than antibiotics.

Clown loaches should always be quarantined for 8 weeks, IME.

 

[FalseBandit15]

Thank you for answering so quickly.
As I am looking at my tank now, I see that the clowns seem to be a little lethargic....leading me to believe that the disease is in its advanced stages. Also, would it be totally horrible to treat the entire tank? It looks as though one of my tetras has the spots now also.
In addition to this forum, I have been looking around on the internet and have noticed that a lot of people rave about "Quick cure" for ich. I know I have to remove the carbon from the filters with any medication that I might use, but I am thinking I may have to treat the whole tank, only because I am afraid that the ich is spreading. Thanks again for your help!

 

[FalseBandit15]

Oops...forgot to ask if you have had an experience with "Quick Cure"...????

 

[Lotus]

Sorry, I've been out of town for a few days. No, I've never used Quick Cure, and I doubt I would. I've read lots of posts over the years of it killing fish.