Hi, Tay. At what temp do you have your tank? Twice a day is fine, and in fact the biologist at Kordon said that may be more appropriate for some cases.
I would make sure the temp is elevated at least to 82 degrees or whatever is the highest safe temp for the loaches.
According to my notes, when speaking to the research biologist at Kordon, and as it says on the website:
"For well established or severe infections: double the dose. Continue treatments until a cure is effected. It is recommended that for double doses per day, one should be in the morning, the other later in the day."
"Note that some species of white spot disease (Ich) have only a few hours in the free-swimming stage at which time a treatment is effective in exterminating them. For these species of Ich treatments twice a day are essential for eliminating them to be sure none of the Ich escapes treatment."
"Do not skip any treatment. For Ich each white spot will produce up to 250 young (in marine species) or up to 1000 young (in freshwater species). If the Ich or other infection returns when Ich-Attack is used twice a day, it is safe to use a triple dose spaced throughout the day."
I am going to start the triple dose protocol for Ich. My Brochis seems to have fewer specks on his body near the gills, but I've noticed something that looks like some specks where his pectorals attach to his body.
None of the Ottos have any spots or flashing. I did a water change two days ago, and plan to do another this evening. I'm having a problem with algae right now that worries me about my biofilter. If it gets too gunked up I'm worried about the beneficial bacteria.
I tested parameters this AM and ammonia is 0, and nitrites are 0, ph 7.5
so I'm a bit relieved for now. Everyone is eating, but I'm feeding sparingly.
I'm not surprised that treatment with an organic herbal medicine is taking longer than some of the more powerful chemical agents.
One thing that I intend to do once this case is cured, is to dose my tank once a week prophylactically wit Ich Attack. The Ph.D Biologist at Kordon said it is a very effective preventative for many kinds of parasites and even fungi as well.
He told me that Kordon Ich-Attack contains 5% active ingredients consisting of five natural organic herbals, based on their containing patented naphthoquinones, and the therapeutic action of Ich-Attack on protozoan and other infections is due to its binding with cytoplasmic structures within the cell of the infecting organisms.
According to the biologist at Kordon, researching napthoquinones, from which antibiotics have been developed for use in humans and other animals, they have developed a patented medication that targets parasites, fungus, and some bacteria in fish.
Napthoquinones are a class of chemicals that are obtained from a fungus.
"Fusarium solani is a soil-borne fungus which, when grown on certain media, elaborates a class of secondary metabolites known as naphthoquinones. Several of these compounds have been shown to have antibiotic activity against certain bacteria and fungi." [H. Kern, Ann. Phytopathol. 10(3): 327-345 (1978)].
"Many antibiotics used in medicine today are secondary metabolites produced by cultures of various species of fungi, or are semi-synthetic analogs derived from these metabolites. The ability of bacteria to develop resistance to antibiotics over a period of time requires that new sources and new compounds be continually discovered as replacements. In some cases bacterial resistance to a given antibiotic can by overcome be effecting a minor change in the molecular structure of the drug. However, the constant selective pressure of antibiotic exposure has led to the emergence of highly resistant strains of certain pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus. The broad spectrum resistance acquired by these bacterial strains greatly increases the hazard of such infections.
Studies relating soil aeration to disease state have focused on the effect of low oxygen stress on the plant, or on the plant-pathogen interaction, without considering the effect of such stress on the pathogen itself. F. solani responds to low pH and other imposed stresses by synthesizing a number of naphthoquinone derivatives [D. Parisot et al., J. Gen. Microbiol. 126: 443-457 (1981)]. These compounds, and others derived therefrom via oxidation, possess both phytotoxic and antibiotic properties [A. W. McColloch et al., Can. J. Chem. 60: 2943-2949 (1982)].
Tay, I hope you don't mind all the additional information. I like to know the specifics of the research and development of medicines and their mechanisms in effectively treating pathological states. I left out a lot of information, lol, but this is probably more than you wanted anyway.
I hope your loaches and my brochis will be feeling better soon.
