Getting rid of Ich.

[KrazeeFishLadee]

I agree with TKOS. I like the salting method with offer no introduction of chemicals to the tank. I have used other treatments and have gottne good results, but, as TKOS points out, just because the white spots are gone does not mean that ich is gone. Follow the full treatment lenght of 2-3 weeks and in the end your fish will be happier and healthier. There is alot less stress this way.

Good Luck with whatever method you choose.

 

[lowtemp]

as u well know the ich parasite is in all aquariums permanently.The parasite will only be able to attack unhealthy or stressed fish. The ich problem i had has been gone for a month now. All fish are healthy and nitrate reading is down to 10ppm

 

[kveeti]

Originally posted by lowtemp
as u well know the ich parasite is in all aquariums permanently.

That is a myth. The reason it seems that way is because most people do not take the time to get rid of it completely in the first place.

 

[TKOS]

Hmmmm. I have had a few sick fish in my day and yet I have never had ich. So why can that be true if ich is always present.

Ich is a parasite that releies on certain conditons to live. If those conditons are not met then it will die off.

One of the bigger myths of aquariums as Kveeti mentions.

 

[lowtemp]

that is strange i always thought the parasite started in the gravel.

 

[daveedka]

ICH

For everyone following, the above article should clarify all of the myths and help you understand ICH.

As was said, ICH should never be in a aquarium permannently, It does remain unnoticed in many, but a careful eye will find it if it's there. It must attach to a fish to continue it's life cycle, and can do this repeatedly without being seen outwardly, but it is living on the gills of something in the tank if you don't see it and it's still there. This is where the ich lives forever myth comes from. Temps above 86* will interupt the life cycle, and so will long term exposure to Salt. Elevated temps will also speed up the life cycle and shorten the length of treatment as well as shorten the lenght of time the little nasties stay on your fish. Clout is a perfectly functional medication for ich, but works no faster than salt, and is much harder on fish. in addition, clout is a combined medication which also has things not needed for ich treatment. Overmedication can be really rough on a fish. salt is cheaper and much less stressful on your fish. The article covers all of this info, and it also covers some pitfalls of using meds, so if you do chose to use meds please read the article so you know how to make them as effective as possible.
Dave