Colloidal Silver?

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Klair Vouyant

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Nov 19, 2003
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I added some young African Cichlids to my 40-gallon since the only fish in there were two clown loaches. Lo' And Behold one pops out of his holey rock and he has about 15-20 ick spots the other one...nothing. I don't have much use for man-made medicine it seems to do more harm than good so I began looking at other alternatives. I raised the temperature to around 82-84 and have left the light off. I am pondering the idea of using colloidal silver. I and my family have been using it for several years, everything from colds to eczema to water purification. It has many uses and has the capability of destroying any single-celled virus, bacteria, fungus, etc. They say it is antifungal and antibiotic and a couple of drops can be added to the aquarium with no risk of any kind. How about it? I have much information on this stuff but am needing some input before I react.


Thanks In Advance,
Klair
 
I'm not sure about the silver, but I do know from experience that the raised temperature and salt treatment is safe and effective for ich.
 
I don't want to sound silly but how do you do the salt treatment? Can you use regular table salt or does it have to be marine salt? I've been messing with fish for over twenty years and have never had to do this.

Thanks
 
Its aquarium salt, which is different from marine salt and table salt.

You just pour in the right amount for your tank... You dont take it out either, though many do a vacuum water change afterwards.

If Im correct, you leave it in as a preventitive measure.
 
Any kind of sodium salt will work--table salt, or marine mix, is what I use because I have them on hand. The 'Aquarium Salt' does not list ingredients, which makes me leery, so I avoid it.

Treatment is 1 teaspoon per gallon, though I've used up to 1 tablespoon with no problems. Remove 1 quart of water from teh tank, dissolve a portion of the salt in this water, and add it back to the tank. Repeat every half hour or 45 minutes until you have reached the desired amount. Maintain this level (ie, replace the amount of salt removed in water changes) for 4-6 weeks AFTER the last visible infection. Then, do not replace the salt when you do your regularly scheduled water changes. If you top off for evaporation, do not add salt to this, either.

I am not in favor of using salt as a preventative. FW fish live in FW, not BW.
 
The salt treatment is what I've always used for ich-works like a charm! I assume that there aren't any plants in your tank given you've added Africans. I don't know anything at all about the colloidal silver but I don't think I'd use it especially since the clown loaches are scaleless (I believe) so they're more sensitive to meds. You've got tough fish there, the salt along w/ heating up the tank will do the trick. Those darn clown loaches-always w/ the ich!:rolleyes:
 
I think I am going with the salt treatment. Right now my temp is about 84 degrees and the light has been off all day. Actually the loach that is the worst I have had for a year and a half and this is the first time that he has been ill. Been lucky! Thanks for all of the information.

Many Blessings,
Klair
 
QUICK QUESTION??

I am in the process of making my salt mixture is it necessary to completely disolve the salt prior to putting into the tank?

Thanks,
Klair
 
Yeah. If salt crystals hit the fish then they could actually burn their flesh a bit and stress them out a lot more. Stress is what you want to avoid at this time.

It should dissolve pretty easy, if it all isn't going into solution add more water.
 
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