New Ich cures?

[IDunnoWhy]

Hi all, My sis bought 2 clown loaches, over a week ago, I believe they came home with her, carrying ich, as it developed about a day later. First just a few lil dots on the tails, I told her to raise the temp in her tank to 83-86 degrees (saw that advice on here before) anyway the next day the dots had moved to cover a larger portion of their bodies (at least 2/3 of them were covered) (she did an immediate 50-60% WC) So I instucted her to add some aquarium salt. (Oceanic brand natural sea salt) I told her 1 TSP per gallon, and to mix it in another water container before pouring it in the tank, and do daily water changes of at least 20%. Well here we are about 1 week later, and still have some ich remaining, I do believe it's clearing some, but still not gone. Are there any methods I'm missing? More Temp? (I don't want her to boil the poor fishes) More salt? More WC%? Time to try a chemical treatment?

Side note: She has a 30G tank with 1 algae eater, 2 Honey Gouramis a couple platies (Various colors) 3 cherry barbs and a few snails. None of the other fish are showing any signs of ich, not even a dot!

She's using a penguin 150 filter and the tank has been running for at least 2 yrs. and she has always been good with her tank maint. and up until now, never had an ich problem, till the loaches came.

I hope someone has some more things for us to try. If I've missed anything let me know.

 

[YahooFishKeeper]

if its natural sea salt... its not aquarium salt. that could be causing more harm than good, and stressing the fish further.

 

[IDunnoWhy]

Well the bag says "Natural Sea Salt Mix" And is what the LFS gave her when I told her to pick up some "salt"

if its natural sea salt... its not aquarium salt. that could be causing more harm than good, and stressing the fish further.

 

[YahooFishKeeper]

hasnt it been established that LFS employees hardly ever know what they are talking about? "salt" isnt really a good description of what she needed. because a salt is actually any metal and nonmetal element combined. they could have taken as sea salt, aquarium salt, trisodium phosphate, etc.

 

[IDunnoWhy]

OK so suggestions on treatment? What type of "salt" should I suggest her to get, or just no "salt" at all.

 

[YahooFishKeeper]

AQUARIUM salt is fine and dandy. used the same method myself.

 

[IDunnoWhy]

Thank you!!! I'll pick some up for her (That way we get the right stuff) I know it's probably hard to say, and I'm sure it's based on tank size, amount/type of fish in the tank, water readings/condition etc. But about how long will ich last? Is it uncommon to last this long (8 days & counting approx.)

 

[YahooFishKeeper]

you need to treat with the salt methood for about a month. raising the temp like you did is good. it makes the lifespan shorter by speeding up the metabolism. the salt in the water will kill the ich in its freefloating stage.

 

[jamesw]

i heard it takes a little longer than a week anyway, my clowns had it for 2 weeks (lost one in the process) before it disapeared and im still treating it now just to make sure i get rid of it all in the water and so on.

my advice just give it time here is a like i got sent Loaches Online :: View topic - Dealing with Ich

 

[SANND]

I don't use salt and have had much better results with the heat only method. You can raise the temp a little higher, 87-89 is where I keep mine when treating for ick. You want to keep the heat up for 3 days or so after the spots are completely gone.