Tank Disaster help!

Well if you still have it set up and cycled try keeping the bact alive with small doses of ammonia. Add some aquarium salt and raise the temp to 80-85 degrees F. If you don't mind the blue stain on the sealent toss in some meth blue(? I used "Rid Ich" to treat mine I think that's the active ingrediant) Run it that way for afew weeks and you should be able to add fish back in after a major water change. As to why you'd do it this way. The ammonia will feed you bio cycle that you should have established in the tank and if you keep it at 3-5ppm you can actually strengthen the cycle you had started (i.e. switching to a fishless cycle). Raising the temp will speed up the life cycle of the Ich. Without any fish to attach to it will die off in a generation or so. THe Methalene blue (?) will help kill the ich off and with out fish in the tank especially the tetras you can do a full dose with out having to worry. I know I used salt when I had a break out, I don't know if it was to help the stress in the fish or if it actually has a use in killing ich but I figured I'd mention it. YOu'll need to do the water change to get the ammonia, Nitrites, nitrates, salt and meth out of the tank.

I'm sure more experianced folks could help out more but this is what I'd do.
-Neo Sithlord

Pretty close Neo. The salt actually kills the ICH, as does the meth Blue. Either one will work. The salt concentrate needs to be between 1 and 3 tsp per gallon , and table salt will work just fine. I wouldn't spend the money on Ich meds simply because of the cost. they do work but there are cheaper alternatives (salt) that get the same results with less side effects.
Also as Neo said, the ich will die off quickly without a host. when you turn up the temp to the mid 80's you speed up the life cycle. within 2 weeks the ich will be dead even if you don't use salt or meth blue. The salt would just be insurance. If you don't want to dose ammonia every day, fish food will keep the bacteria alive as well, just don't let them starve or you'll have to completely re-estabilish your cycle.
Dave

Ich has to have a host in order to survive and that host is your fish. If you treat the tank, up the temp and wait two weeks you will not have a problem. Your sponge is just stained and will work fine.

All outstanding replies.....wish I would have known this a year ago.

Now that I know this forum...life is grand.

Those of you have read some of my other posts know that I am a big fan of Aquarisol. After having had 1 Ich outbreak about 8 years ago, I have used it as part of my weekly maint routine, and I've never had another problem - not with Ich or bacterial infections. This product doesn't affect the carbon, doesn't hurt plants and doesn't mess up the chemistry. The only thing you can't keep in a tank treated with Aquarisol is invertebrates.

After letting the tank rest and treating with salt & higher temp as suggested, you may want to give some thought to this product.

If you do add ammonia you have to make sure there are no scents or additives in it. The container should say 100% ammonia, clear ammonia, or pure ammonia. Even though it might say one of those, check the ingredients just to be safe. Good Luck!

fishfood and or ammonia will work, fish food will produce enough ammonia to keep the bacteria going by itself, but ammonia is cleaner if you hav it.
Dave