Ichs on my new fish

[Ryosuke]

I have a 3 months old 10 gallons tank with 3 zebra danios in it, and the tank is cycled. I added 3 cherry barbs 3 days ago, and now I found ichs on them. Though, the 3 zebra danios still appear to be fine at the moment.

I am going to get some medication for ichs later in the day, and I have some questions that I hope someone can answer.

1. Which medication is effective?
2. Should I treat the 'health' zebra danios along with the 'infected' cherry barbs? (I don't have spare tank)
3. Do I need to get another syphon if I need do water change during the medication? (I have one for vaccuming and regular water change)
4. Are there anything else I need to be aware of?

Thanks in advance.

Water Parameter: pH 7.4, Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: 20ppm, Moderate Hard Water

[nickmcmechan]

theres lots of articles on ich around here, so use the search option

turn the temp up above 84F and run an airstone during treatment to ensure the medication is effective and efficient

the high temp speeds up the life cycle so you can get rid of it in a week if the treatment is right

i prefer salt treatment to meds, as the meds may possibly harm your nitrifying bacteria and you can end up doing 50% water changes twice per day as a result

the fish dont like the salt (1 tsp per gallon, introduced VERY slowly via a 50-75% water changes over 2-4 hours) but imo it stresses them less than the meds

you must treat the whole tank, the parasite has 3 stages to the life cycle - on the fish (causing the salty fluffy spots), in the water and then in the substrate where it multiplies

because it lives in the substrate, gravel vacs are gr8 during water changes...when i had ich i switched to daily water changes via gravel vacs...there is no need to get another syphon / vac as you dont have other tanks

[Ulan]

I made good experiences with Kordon's Rid Ich+. My fish were better off with this than with the salt treatment.

[MySpace Mike]

Rid-Ich is what I use on all my tanks.

[Ryosuke]

Just a quick question. I am using the salt/heat treatment right now; and is it normal for the fish to become much more active at the high temperature? Also, they swim at the top 1/3 of the tank most of the time, I know it is about the low O2 level at high temperature, but will it be a problem?

(My tank is at 84F atm)

[Ryosuke]

Treated the tank with salt/heat treatment for 4 days, and 4 out of 6 fishes died. The remaining 2 fishes don't have any ichs on them at the moment, so I am wondering how much longer I should continue the salt/heat treatment.

Temp: 86 F
Salt concentration: 1 teaspoon/gallon

[TKOS]

You need to treat the tank for at least 1 week after you see the last visible sign of ich. Meds or salt will only kill the ich the free swimming stage.

[Star_Rider]

add an airstone.. the airstone helps keep the water oxygenated. at higher temps 84 and above there is less dissolved 02 in the water.

heat sppeds the life cycle (as mentioned) but the time is not set in concrete.
the recommendations is a minimum of 7 days but many will treat for 14 after the last spot has fallen off.

[Mgamer20o0]

http://aquafacts.net/components/com_mambowiki/index.php/Ich

[Ryosuke]

Thanks for the info... but it seems like another one of my fish catches ichs now. I have a feeling that my entire tank will be wiped out...

Another question I have is about what I should do if my whole tank is wiped out or only one of my fish survive? Do I need to clean the tank and cycle again?