View Full Version : Need help. ICH
I just noticed that the Clown Loach that I purchased has ICH all over him. He's been hiding for almost a week and now that he's out I can see it all over him and he keeps scratching up against the rocks.]
So, I have a 125 with a bunch of various barbs, tetras, 1 pleco, 1 black ghost knife and about 5 or 6 cory cats. I know that I need aquarium salt, but how much per gallon? Will all of my fish be able to handle the salt? What else will I need to do? I read about raising temps to 83, but will it kill off my fish? Water changes? I leave my lights on for 9-10 hours a day. Is that ok?
I will go to the LFS that sold me that dang loach and get what I need there. I will also let them know that they have infected my whole tank.
My loach has spots all over him, very bad. I think he gave it to my Black Ghost also. I hope he makes it. Any help will be appreciated.
EDIT: Ok, I've been reading up on it. I'd rather just try the salt treatment, but could my loaches and Black Knife handle 3-5 PPT? I read that Pleco's are really sesitive to salt too.
I just noticed that the Clown Loach that I purchased has ICH all over him. He's been hiding for almost a week and now that he's out I can see it all over him and he keeps scratching up against the rocks.]
So, I have a 125 with a bunch of various barbs, tetras, 1 pleco, 1 black ghost knife and about 5 or 6 cory cats. I know that I need aquarium salt, but how much per gallon? Will all of my fish be able to handle the salt? What else will I need to do? I read about raising temps to 83, but will it kill off my fish? Water changes? I leave my lights on for 9-10 hours a day. Is that ok?
I will go to the LFS that sold me that dang loach and get what I need there. I will also let them know that they have infected my whole tank.
My loach has spots all over him, very bad. I think he gave it to my Black Ghost also. I hope he makes it. Any help will be appreciated.
EDIT: Ok, I've been reading up on it. I'd rather just try the salt treatment, but could my loaches and Black Knife handle 3-5 PPT? I read that Pleco's are really sesitive to salt too.
i have been adding 2 tablespoons per 10 gallons and my pleco has been doing fine..
try raising and keeping the temperature at 82-84 range and add the salts.. try and keep the lights off for a few days and try your best to reduce any stress put on the fish... do water changes every 3-4 days(replace salts per amount of water you took out) and check on the fish daily for spots.. they should slowly be disappearing..
someone just double check my info is correct..
Thanks for the reply man!
Anymore help would be great. I'm gonna start on treating it tomorrow. I still need opinions on whether to go with salt or Rid-Ich. The only thing with rid ich is that I would have to take out all of my carbon and that will be such a pain because I use an Emperor 280, a 400 and a Fluvel FX5! Carbon everywhere.
Penfan66
12-03-2007, 9:13 PM
I've also been reading about Kordon's Ich-Attack. It is supposed to contain just botanicals without the harsh medicines. It's supposed to be safe for inverts and plants too.
Check it out...
http://www.novalek.com/kordon/ich_attack/index.htm
I've also been reading about Kordon's Ich-Attack. It is supposed to contain just botanicals without the harsh medicines. It's supposed to be safe for inverts and plants too.
Check it out...
http://www.novalek.com/kordon/ich_attack/index.htm
Cool! Sucks that I would still have to take out the carbon though, but I guess that's with any meds. Looks like I'll have to do it.
Thanks!
pinkertd
12-03-2007, 9:41 PM
What about using APPLUS+ Aqua-Sol, it's a mild, gentle treatment ick treatment for sensitive species. That one you don't have to remove the carbon. Or Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Aquari-Sol? Those products have been around for many, many years.
What about using APPLUS+ Aqua-Sol, it's a mild, gentle treatment ick treatment for sensitive species. That one you don't have to remove the carbon. Or Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Aquari-Sol? Those products have been around for many, many years.
Interesting!
pinkertd
12-03-2007, 9:57 PM
I know you can't waste much time when loaches have ick. They go downhill real fast and the heat/salt treatment may take too long to get them out of danger.
AsaPW
12-03-2007, 10:06 PM
I know you can't waste much time when loaches have ick. They go downhill real fast and the heat/salt treatment may take too long to get them out of danger.
The one loach is pretty bad off. "Scratching" himself pretty much at all times. He was hiding forever so I didn't know. I wanted to make sure he wasn't dead so I pulled up the drifwood that he was hiding in and he came out full of ich. It's horrible. All of my other fish were fine, but now I'm noticing the others starting to "scratch" also.
I'm afraid that this will take out my whole stock of fish which is pretty expensive but hopefully I'm just over reacting. When I go to the fish store, I'll have them test my water too. I know that the ammonia is at 0 though.
This sucks!
drzais
12-04-2007, 10:59 AM
Raise the temperature to 83-84 F as this will speed up the life cycle of the parasite, shortening the treatment period. Bear in mind, however, that warmer water does not have very high dissolved oxygen; an air stone may be a good idea. Change the water frequently in order to cut down the amount of free-swimming parasites and those that are in the gravel. Make sure that you vary the fishes' diet as this will boost their immune system (especially vitamin C). I would be really cautious with using salt (or any medications for that matter) with a black ghost knife, corys, and clown loaches. I've had good experience with the previously mentioned Aquari-Sol, although I wasn't treating such sensitive species or such a large tank. Good luck and keep us posted
Darwins_Dog
12-04-2007, 1:22 PM
For what it's worth, I have been treating my tank with Kordon's Ich Attack with very satisfactory results. I lost one neon because I didn't start treatment in time (it's always the smallest and cutest one), but the other two are looking great. I liked what I read about Ich Attack, because it is essentially nontoxic to fish. I use 1.5 to 2 times the recommended dose with no ill effects for the fishes. It does turn your water a nasty brownish color, which I can't wait to get rid of, but it does the job very well.
AsaPW
12-06-2007, 12:15 AM
Ok, so what I am going to try first is just to raise the temp up to 85 (Already there now) and see if it'll just kill off the Ich. I've read and was told by more than one person that this is possible, but we'll see. I did buy some Ich Attack that I might just put in there tomorrow and drop my temp down to about 83, but I wanna see how this goes first before I start removing carbon, etc.
Salt is outta the question unfortunately, because of my BGK.
I've been told and read sooo many different things, that I don't know what to do. I guess everyone has there own way of getting rid of it.
Bk718
12-06-2007, 12:27 AM
Ok, so what I am going to try first is just to raise the temp up to 85 (Already there now) and see if it'll just kill off the Ich. I've read and was told by more than one person that this is possible, but we'll see. I did buy some Ich Attack that I might just put in there tomorrow and drop my temp down to about 83, but I wanna see how this goes first before I start removing carbon, etc.
Salt is outta the question unfortunately, because of my BGK.
I've been told and read sooo many different things, that I don't know what to do. I guess everyone has there own way of getting rid of it.
heat alone is not going to kill it all it will do is speed up its life cycle, so it can still attach to other fish and feed on until it once again becomes free floating.. so best thing for you to do is water changes water changes and more water changes..
read up on the medication you are adding.. i have read somewhere that raising the temperature with medication use isnt so good either.. also careful with plants and scaleless fish..