Also - if they are in the tank when you medicate for Ich (Aquari-sol) will they be OK?
Just wondering if I should try to save them - or just start over.......
Just wondering if I should try to save them - or just start over.......
Can plants/snails carry Ich?
- Thread starter cmartin
- Start date
I would be careful using the meds. in a planted tank.
In the few times I got Ich, I would turn the temp up to 90F over a few days. That will be too warm for the Ich to live in a waterbourne state. Then watch the tank for for a week or two. Turn the temp down if the fish seem stressed due to the higher temps. And watch for the last of the spots to drop from the fish. Then continue at the higher temp for a week to kill the waterbourne parasite (Ich can only be spread in a waterbourne state). Then slowly lower the temp over a few days back to normal.
When raising and lowering the temp, I usually increase by 2 degrees in a days time. Otherwise it will be stressful to the inhabitants.
The meds can contain Mytho...somethingorrather, that can kill plants and inverts, as well stain the sealant used in glass tanks.
In the few times I got Ich, I would turn the temp up to 90F over a few days. That will be too warm for the Ich to live in a waterbourne state. Then watch the tank for for a week or two. Turn the temp down if the fish seem stressed due to the higher temps. And watch for the last of the spots to drop from the fish. Then continue at the higher temp for a week to kill the waterbourne parasite (Ich can only be spread in a waterbourne state). Then slowly lower the temp over a few days back to normal.
When raising and lowering the temp, I usually increase by 2 degrees in a days time. Otherwise it will be stressful to the inhabitants.
The meds can contain Mytho...somethingorrather, that can kill plants and inverts, as well stain the sealant used in glass tanks.
from my understanding ich is ever present in the aquarium, it all depends on your fishes immune system to protect them against it.
Thanks Mgamer....great article.
I bought a UV sterilizer last night to hopefully help a little with the clean up and to help prevent any other 'nastys' that may get by me.
I am using a copper based product. I have read so much, talked to so many people at LFS (for what that is worth) and I am still very confused. I dosed a quarter strength this evening and will give another quarter dose in the morning. According the label (AquaSol - I think), it is safe for sensitive fish at a half dose - hopefully working my way up to just under the half way mark and continuing the dosing for a little longer will clear this up in the main tank. I have raised the temp a bit, but do not want to add too much additional stress on the fish right now. It seems to be only the Head and Taillight Tetras that are showing any spots - they are the ones who introduced it in the first place.
I have removed all of my plants from my main tank and put them in my QT and did a deep vac of the gravel. Both tanks are infected, but I am hoping that perhaps some higher temps in the QT along with no fish to feed on will eventually kill off the ICH there. I am going to try to not add any meds to the QT to see how it goes.
My only problem is - how the heck will I know if I have succeeded????
If the plants are in the tank for over 30 days - no fish - zillions of snails - and at close to 90 F. do you think they would be clean? I realize that some of the plants may not be able to withstand the temps and that I will have to add fertilizer for them, but do they have any chance at all?
Please let me know if I am wasting my time trying to save these plants. I am willing to put the effort into whatever needs to be done, but if the battle is already lost, then so be it.
Thanks for all the advice.
I bought a UV sterilizer last night to hopefully help a little with the clean up and to help prevent any other 'nastys' that may get by me.
I am using a copper based product. I have read so much, talked to so many people at LFS (for what that is worth) and I am still very confused. I dosed a quarter strength this evening and will give another quarter dose in the morning. According the label (AquaSol - I think), it is safe for sensitive fish at a half dose - hopefully working my way up to just under the half way mark and continuing the dosing for a little longer will clear this up in the main tank. I have raised the temp a bit, but do not want to add too much additional stress on the fish right now. It seems to be only the Head and Taillight Tetras that are showing any spots - they are the ones who introduced it in the first place.
I have removed all of my plants from my main tank and put them in my QT and did a deep vac of the gravel. Both tanks are infected, but I am hoping that perhaps some higher temps in the QT along with no fish to feed on will eventually kill off the ICH there. I am going to try to not add any meds to the QT to see how it goes.
My only problem is - how the heck will I know if I have succeeded????
If the plants are in the tank for over 30 days - no fish - zillions of snails - and at close to 90 F. do you think they would be clean? I realize that some of the plants may not be able to withstand the temps and that I will have to add fertilizer for them, but do they have any chance at all?
Please let me know if I am wasting my time trying to save these plants. I am willing to put the effort into whatever needs to be done, but if the battle is already lost, then so be it.
Thanks for all the advice.
there is nothing that proves that any tank or fish ever has ick until they are exposed to it. Also if there is ick in your tank your fish will have it. The heat has always worked for me. I never even had a problem going to 90 in a days time.
your snails are all going to die. copper is HIGHLY toxic to all invertebrates, snails, shrimp, and the like.
Lupin
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- Sep 21, 2006
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There is no way of knowing if you've completely eliminated every single ich parasite which is why most of us even recommend doing the treatment for 14 days minimum, not until the ich disappears.
Your plants should grow back from a temporary setback.
Update on treatment
Thanks for all the advice.
Main tank - no plants or snails - using 1/2 dose of Aquasol - seems to be clearing up on the Tetras. Started dosing 6 days ago and will continue for at least another week (perhaps more just to be on the safe side). Temps are 28c and everyone seems comfortable.
Q-tank - full of plants and snails - no meds - just temp of 90f (sorry but that is the way the equipment is labelled - one in Far. and one in Cel.)
Plants do not look the best but that is likely due to them not recieving the same amout of light. They are near a window but not in direct light.
Really hard to see/find the snails as the tank is really full of plants (went from a partly planted 72 gal to a 15 gal) and none of them have been secured to the bottom.
I am hoping that I will be able to 'clean' them enough with high temps and lack of fish that they would not be carriers and could be put back in the main tank.
I know that after using a Copper product in my main tank it will not be a suitable environment for snails and the like. Since I don't know how long it would take for the Copper to be completely out of the tank to make it safe for them, I just won't put any snails or inverts. in that tank.
I really like my plants and they were doing really well in the big tank, but I have to clear these tanks up - one way or another.
Just thought I would give an update - to show that I have tried to use everyone's advice - sparingly - and hopefully in the correct situation.
:read:
Thanks again.
Thanks for all the advice.
Main tank - no plants or snails - using 1/2 dose of Aquasol - seems to be clearing up on the Tetras. Started dosing 6 days ago and will continue for at least another week (perhaps more just to be on the safe side). Temps are 28c and everyone seems comfortable.
Q-tank - full of plants and snails - no meds - just temp of 90f (sorry but that is the way the equipment is labelled - one in Far. and one in Cel.)
Plants do not look the best but that is likely due to them not recieving the same amout of light. They are near a window but not in direct light.
Really hard to see/find the snails as the tank is really full of plants (went from a partly planted 72 gal to a 15 gal) and none of them have been secured to the bottom.
I am hoping that I will be able to 'clean' them enough with high temps and lack of fish that they would not be carriers and could be put back in the main tank.
I know that after using a Copper product in my main tank it will not be a suitable environment for snails and the like. Since I don't know how long it would take for the Copper to be completely out of the tank to make it safe for them, I just won't put any snails or inverts. in that tank.
I really like my plants and they were doing really well in the big tank, but I have to clear these tanks up - one way or another.
Just thought I would give an update - to show that I have tried to use everyone's advice - sparingly - and hopefully in the correct situation.
:read:
Thanks again.