Crashed filter? Help with medicated tank

Dahlia

Dahlia

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Sep 3, 2003
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So I have my first case of ich (I was beginning to think I was immune... silly me). I am assuming it came from the feeder guppies I gave them. I went to the LFS yesterday and the lady I trust there recommended Quick Cure which appears to be Malachite Green and Formalin. She told me to put it at half dose as there is a loach in my tank. I did this, but first I did a water test and tested 0 for everything (even nitrates, but I did a water change before adding the medication anyway). I added 41 drops (instead of 90) to my 90 gallon tank. I also raised the heater to 84F at her recommendation. I watched most the day yesterday and they seemed fine, and watched again today and they were good through most the morning. A few moments ago I walked over and they were all gasping at the surface. I put some hydrogen peroxide in for oxygen (which seemed to help within a few minutes, perhaps the heat drove out the oxygen?) and did a water test. Good grief! Neither my LFS lady or the package for the medication says anywhere that it can wipe out biological filtration, but I'm assuming that is what happened. Ammonia is now 1.0, nitrite is .70 and nitrates have gone up to 30 (I don't think I've ever seen them that high, how bad is this?).

Should I refrain from water changes so the medication is sure to work? It says add the drops daily for 3 days, do I do any water changes in between? I also added amquel for the ammonia, and either that or the peroxide has helped them out since they are now swimming around again. I want to stress them as little as possible so let me know what to do.

This tank has been running for 2 years before this with no trouble. Thanks!
 
I ended up calling the LFS before they closed today and was told that I shouldn't do a water change until all the ich spots are gone, and should continue adding the medication daily (does it diffuse at all daily or am I just building it up in the tank?). I also added 2 airstones to the tank to help with the aeration. They said the medicine doesn't completely wipe out the filter but it does kill some of the bacteria so the ammonia/nitrites are to be expected. Does this sound legitimate?

If anyone has advice (even if you agree with what I've done so far) it would be great. I'm a bit nervous for my fish right now. I especially don't like the idea of not doing water changes when I know the biofilter has been damaged and the amounts are rising.
 
What sort of Filtration do you have running on this tank? Is the medictaion a name brand? If so whats the name. I agree with the raised temperature, and more aeration, but honestly, you don't need anything special for Ich, other than some standard Ich Treatment. Get back to me and hopefully I can help.
 
I listed the brand name (Quick Cure) in my first post (has Malachite Green and Formalin), but the filtration is a Rena Filstar cannister filter. I no longer remember the model but I chose one that was recommended for larger tanks than a 90 gallon. I also have two airstones running at both ends of the tank.
 
I have used QuickCure in the past with success, but I have found that simply adding 1 TBSP Aquarium Salt (table salt is fine), and raising the temp to about 80 degrees is the best method for ich control. Sometimes I'll raise it higher if fish are not to sensitive to higher temps. I do water changes about every other day, but I'd do them as often as needed, depending on the circumstances.

Whatever you do....DO NOT take the advice of whoever told you not to change your water! Change the water OFTEN....daily or twice daily is not too often! Do not let your Ammonia and Nitrite continue to rise. Your nitrates should remain minimal, as well! Anything that causes stress to your fish will increase the odds of things getting worse, and possibly fatal.....all from a simple Ich infestation!

I will say that I have never experienced a major die-off of my biological filtration when I used QuickCure, but maybe it just wasn't noticeable. If you do need to use any chemicals to treat any parasites, do a water change after 8 to 12 hours, or change the water at least once every day! This will lower the stress of the medication on the fish, while still being effective to the parasites. I have used Quickcure with this technique, and added the med every day before I went to work, and changed 50% of the water when I got home, every day! I would try to vacuum the gravel as well as possible to remove as many unhatched Ich cysts as possible each time! Hope this helps!
 
Quick Cure Info from Puregold site

Puregold

QUICK CURE
Contains formaldehyde and malachite green. It is used for 3 days with 30% water changes each day. Since light inactivates the malachite, add it and turn off the lights after observing them for 15 minutes. Always have a gallon bucket of the tank water handy in case of bad reactions (first 15 minutes or so).
CAUTIONS: FORMALDEHYDE CONTAINING MEDICATIONS MUST NEVER BE REFRIGERATED. This causes a precipitate called paraformaldehyde that is deadly to fish. Para makes the solution look cloudy, but if there is only a chance that paraformaldehyde has formed, dont use it.
Formaldehyde medications should not be used to treat fish if the water is below 60oF.
 
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