First Time using Salt for Ich

[lama_ma]

Hi All,
I read the great article on Ich after I realized my tank came down with a spout after bringing home some new tankmates. Should I be doing any water changes with the salt treatments? After the treatment is finished (providing all goes well) How many water changes should I do to rid the water of salt? Is this a concern I should have? Thanks all!

 

[Harlock]

Many folks will continue with regular maintenance during a salt treatment, so if you remove 50% water and are still treating, then add back 50% salt. The article addressed the removal of salt, just continue with weekly 50% water changes when the course has run. There is no hurry to remove all of the salt at once usually.

 

[Spikor]

i always heard that doing a water change of that size is risky since you can remove TOO muchof the beneficial bacteria inyour rocks...unless of course you don't vacuum the gravel...

 

[Harlock]

i always heard that doing a water change of that size is risky since you can remove TOO muchof the beneficial bacteria inyour rocks...unless of course you don't vacuum the gravel...

You've heard very wrong. There are all kinds of reasons why too... Brownian motion, fluid dynamics, van der Waal's Forces and electrostatic interactions. Basically, those bacteria are stuck to objects in tank, bound to them because every surface in the tank attracts them from the water. You're espousing one of the oldest and most incorrect myths in the aquarium trade today. You could change 99% of your water, beat the rocks to smithereens in the process, gravel vaccing the daylights out of them with a standard powered siphon or Python and really, not hurt your bio-filter at all. There are very few bacteria in the water column or just hanging around free swimming aound you gravel, decorations or filter media at all because of the physics going on. It's a very common myth, as I said, so now you know, and as GI Joe always told me when I was a kid, "Knowing is half the battle!" I figured with the Spikor avatar, you may appreciate that.