Kordon Rid Ich+ Treatment

[chichian]

Hello. I have been keeping an 84 gallon tank up for about 2 months now, slowly stocking and carefully monitoring h20 parameters as I go.

Last night, I had just finished trimming some plants (heavily planted tank) and tested the parameters again (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate). All parameters are at zero (+/- the error in the tests and color interpretation). I have the Aquarium Pharm. test kits.

Anyways, the newest introductions to the tank were on Saturday and were 3 dwarf loaches and 6 rummy nose tetras. I noticed last night after I had finished with the tests that 4 of the rummy nose tetras had ich. No other fish in the tank showed the spots.

I searched online about ich treatments in planted tanks with sensitive scaleless fish. Then I came here and searched (I've been reading posts here for about the last 3 months) and someone (sorry, forgot the username) had repeatedly said that they had successfully used Kordon's Rich Ich+ with sensitive fish in a planted tank. So I sped to PetsMart (all LFS are closed by like 7pm) and bought it.

I followed the directions and did a 25% water change and added the recommended "normal" dosage.

So I have some questions:

(1) It recommends to water change before each dose. For tonight's and subsequent dosages, do I add the dosage only to the NEW water added?
This seems logical to prevent overdosage, but I don't know if the chemicals in the treatment react inside the aquarium and are then less effective, so you add the amount for entire volume of your tank again to make up for this?

(2) Should I keep the rummy nose tetras after they are cured?
Last night, when I researching I found out two interesting things about these tetras (these were the only fish I didn't research before buying. The LFS guy was always pushing these guys on me everytime I went in so Saturday I finally said, "Yeah, why not? They're cute."). The two things were that they are good indicators of water quality via their nose coloring and that they are susceptible to ick. Does anyone else have any of these fish--do they get ich frequently? I don't mind them indicating water quality problems. What doesn't make sense to me is how they have had and still have really red noses when they have ich.

(3) Was treating the entire tank a good idea?
I've read that once they show signs of ich, the parasites have already infested your tank, and thus, you should treat everyone in there. Does anyone know if any of these fish will have issues with the treatment (as of this morning, everyone seemed ok):
3 High-Fin Lyretail Swords
1 Male Betta
1 Rubber-lipped pleco
4 True SAE's
4 Albino corys <-- I was worried about these guys
3 Dwarf loaches <-- and these guys
6 Rummy-Nose Tetras <-- 4 of which showed the spots

Thanks in advance for replies/advice.

 

[revfred]

I'm a big fan of Kordon's Rid-Ich+. After you do the water change, you add the dose to the entire tank. Using the "normal" dose ... wait 24 hours, do the water change and add another dose to the entire tank ... and so on. Be sure you treat for the full recommended number of days and maybe a day or two beyond. Just because the "white spots" disappears does not mean the parasite is out of your tank. The longer treatment will make sure it is completely gone.


The Rummy Nose Tetras are OK to keep. They are early indicators and therefore good to have around. If they get Ich ... you can bet eventually the other species will get it too.

According to your list of fish, and the instructions on the Rid-Ich+ you should have no problems. And YES ...you do have to treat the entire tank.

 

[chichian]

Thank you so much!! I was worried about overdosing, especially with the scaleless fish in there.

When I do the water changes and dosing, I'll add the full amount for the 80 gallons. Sorry that I was kinda freaked out, I have never had to treat ich before. I've only seen it in tanks at stores before.

Thanks again!!!

 

[lordroad]

I was kinda in the same boat a while back with my heavily planted ten gallon. I tried Quick Cure, which is basically a harder core version of Rid Ich, and that didn't work. I tried Rid Ich and it was even less effective.

However, my case may have been tainted by chronicially dosing malachite green and formalin... the ich just got immune. But it didn't wipe it out in the first place, either.

With ich, you gotta treat the whole tank though, cause of the life cycle of the parasites. No one is safe and you always have to assume the worst.

Lot of people have success with Rid Ich, and Quick Cure, for that matter, so stick with the program, and be sure to dose for an additional 5 days after you see no sign of ich, whatsoever.

What cured my tank was heat and salt, and it wiped out the strain in half a week. Also the plants made it through ok, cept for a banana plant.

But stick with the rid ich program and good luck.

 

[revfred]

For "stubborn cases" Rid-Ich+ offers a dosing protocol that requires a water change every 12 hours. I've alternated the regular and stubborn case dosage with good results. One thing I like about the product (which is old in the UK under a different name) is the fact that not only is it good in planted tanks with scaleless fish, but also you don't have to alter the temperature.

Ich, is a good reason too visually check out the fish on a daily basis. In that way you get the jump on anything that might be wrong.

 

[chichian]

Thank you for all the replies you guys.

As an update, I've been dosing the "normal" way. I thought about doing the "stubborn" dose, but I don't have enough time in the mornings to do the water change before work (I am not a morning person, and I barely wake in time to feed the fish and cats and to be late for work) and this weekend was very chaotic for me due to family events. If I can bring myself to wake up early one of these days during treatment I will do a stubbon dose.

Most of the spots have disappeared from the infected fish, so I am watching all the fish carefully to see if they have gained any spots.

lordroad, what plants did you have in your tank that did make it through the heat and salt? How much heat and how much salt did you use? If I ever get this again (hopefully not, knock on wood), maybe I will try that. I was under the impression that most plants didn't like salt, so I didn't use a salt treatment (as well as for concern for the corys).

revfred, yes I need to check more carefully in the mornings. I always watch them right when I get home from work, but I guess I don't "inspect" with a critical eye. I could have sworn that Wednesday when I watched them (for about 1-2 hours), the rummy nose tetras didn't have spots, but I could have easily overlooked it since the spots are small and on a small fish and when I watch the fish, I'm really relaxing and enjoying it, not "maintaining" the tank.

I was wondering also now, if I do a water quality test (amonia, nitrite, nitrate) with the meds in the water, will it affect my results? If so, I will just assume the daily water changes are good enough since no one seems to be stressed out.

Thanks again revfred and lordroad. I think this is my big lesson to eat up some more money and get a quarantine tank for any more new fish.

 

[chichian]

Manufacturers Advice (a little late)

Yeah, I started this thread originally because I was concerned about the dosing procedures for Rid Ich+. Before I had posted here, I emailed the manufacturer (but it was Friday so I understood they may not have anyone to answer until Monday, that's why I came here for help), so I finally got a response last night (Monday night).

They said to only dose for the replaced water. I guess either the rep has no idea or my fish are immortal and have survived overdosing like mad! Or perhaps I misunderstood the advice I got. I don't know. But the fish seem good so I'm not changing my procedures. I just thought it was interesting.

From : &lt;novalek@novalek.com&gt;
Sent : Monday, June 20, 2005 10:18 PM
To : "Chi Chian"
Subject : Re: Kordon Rid Ich+ Question


This is not a stupid question, you dont want to under treat or over
treat your tank. You dose for the water you are replacing.


> I know this may seem like a stupid question but last night was the first
> night of ich treatment in my tank using Kordon Rid Ich+.
>
> I did a 25% water change and added the recommended dosage for my tank
> volume. Tonight, when I change 25% of the water again (I may do 50%), do
> I
> add enough for the entire tank volume again or just what I have replaced?
>
> Sorry, but I do have dwarf loaches and corys that are being treated also,
> and I am afraid of overdosing.
>
>

 

[Acqua]

Ich and snail problems related?

Guys- I am new to this forum,, but have been visiting this website for quite sometime to seek advice and ideas.

I am in a tough situation right now with my 20 gallon tank - fresh water- tropical fish about 17 : 1 Clown Loach, 1 Cory emerald Catfish, 3 Algae eaters, 3 Phantom Tetras, 3 Barbs, 1 Buenos aires Tetra, 1 Red eye tetra, 1 Danio, 1 Guppy, 1 Rainbow shark, 1 Blue Gourami. I have had these fish for about 18 months now, no problems. I have several real plants including banana plant, Hydrocotyle,Cryptocorn, mondo grass etc.

The problem started when I noticed on saturday that there were a large number of tiny snails infesting my tank. Most of them were stuck in the filter. I never introduced snails in my tank, but i guess the eggs came from the real plants that i buy from petsmart. The loach loves snails and he eats them once in a while. But now the snails have become a menace. I called up petsmart and the the rep is saying that i have to take down my tank, since snails are hard to get rid of. Has anyone seen this problem? Any suggestions. please let me know.

The second problem is Ick. I found that two of the Phantom tetras had white spots on them (I initially thought that they were air bubbles). I have an ornament (a castle....made of plaster of paris, i think) and the loach likes to hide inside the castle. I make sure to take out the castle once in a week to see if the loach is in there or not. When i took out the castle, the loach had very few white spots on him as well. I have a 2 gal quarantine tank. I took the 2 phantom tetras and the loach and kept then in the smaller tank- with fresh decholrinated water, introduced a filter to keep circulation. Increased temperature to 72 Deg C. Added salt . After two days , that is today I saw that one of the Phantom tetras is dead. He was already sick.

I bought Kordon Rid Ich , this afternoon and introduced just above half dosage. I had never had Ich and never had seen this medication. i was shocked kinda because it changed the color of the tank and I was scared because I don't want to loose my fish. Should I add full dosage ? 1 Teaspoon per 10 Gal . The manufacturer recommends dosage every 12 hours. I think I should do it every 24 hours. What do you guys suggest ? Any comments?

I have also read that with the addition of this medication, the tank needs surface aeration, because the medication rduces oxygen supply to the fish. I have a pretty powerful filter . I removed the carbon.
Iam stressed because of these fish issues. Is there any relation between snails and Ick or are they two separate problems? Please help !