QuickCure for Ick question...

[PCDawg]

My tetras are starting to form a lil bit of ick on their fins....

I brough a bottle of QucikCUre as medication. According to the instructions, it states that carbon must be removed from the filtration system. I have a Whisper Power FIlter Economy in my 5.5 gal tank. Do i have 2 remove that filter catridge?? or can i just unplug it for a couple of days til Ick is gone???

Thanks!!

[OrionGirl]

Nope and nope! How long has the carbon been running? If it's more than about 5 days, you're fine. The carbonis no longer actively pulling anything from the water. Never leave a filter unplugged for any length of time in a stocked tank. The majority of the bacteria that consume ammonia and nitrites are in the filter. Letting it just sit will starve the bacteria, and the stagnation will probably cause some serious nasties to build up--meaning you'd have to clean the filter before starting it back up, and you'll probably have a cycle in the tank again.

Before using any medications, however, I'd raise the temp to about 84, add 1 tbsp salt per gallon of water, and see. Do both of these slowly--over the course of about a full day. (ie, if you need 5 tbsp of salt, add one avery hour for 5 hours, raise the temp 1-2 degrees each hour). Read up on the life cycle of the parasite ( http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/ is a good resource)so you can recognize each life stage, rather than being forced to trust what the medication company tells you. What introduced ich to this tank?

[NJ Devils Fan]

Another thing, follow the directions for the duration of treatment. Just because you don't see any white spots doesn't mean the the parasite isn't still in the water.

[gidget21]

another note to all of that if you have any snails in there its best to remove them since quickcure is extremly hard on them also it is very hard on bottom feeders