Help!!Loaches sick!!

[Debisbooked]

LeahK,

I did two 20% water changes yesterday (morning and evening), then another this morning and added the Rid Ich. Hopefully that helped bring the salt down. (Unfortunately I didn't see the note about not adding Amquel to the tank. I added it before adding the Rid-Ich but probably neutralized the meds even so). I turned down the temp one degree and got the filter bars splashing last night.Also, I have to work today, so I didn't have time to change the Rena filter sponges this morning. I also have a Eheim 2213 on there as back-up. I thought drastic filter changes were bad for the tank's good bacteria? I will change the Rena tonight though. The Eheim's a bit more complicated and I don't think I have enough medium for that anyway.

I guess its back to the bucket brigade so I can add the Amquel to it before adding to the tank. (I use the other brand of clorine buster but can't think of its name right now). Is their a lag time before adding the 'amquel' water to the treated tank?

 

[fishorama]

I missed why you want to change your filter media. It's only the carbon (if you use it) that needs to be removed. Some treatments can damage the beneficial bacteria but you'll be doing small water changes anyway. (with gravel vacs & retreatment)

If you have another healthy tank, you could add some extra media to it to help reseed the ich tank filter once treatment is done. I don't recall what's in Rid Ich but if it's malachite green based you need to keep the lights off during tx.

 

[LeahK]

I missed why you want to change your filter media. It's only the carbon (if you use it) that needs to be removed.

I think it's because the instructions in the link I posted said to really clean, or change, the filter media. They don't explain why, but I'm guessing that it's because the media can harbor ich.
Debisbooked, I gave my media a good rinse in tank water before treating, but I didn't change it completely. I didn't want to lose my bacteria. I just removed the carbon, like fishorama says.
I'm now subscribed to this thread, so I'll catch your updates. I hope things start getting better soon!

Edit: I meant to say, too, I wasn't using Amquel or any other ammonia neutralizers during treatment. My good bacteria held out until the very end, when there was an ammonia spike. But until then I was just using a dechlorinator. Maybe, if your ammonia is ok now, you could just switch to Prime or something else that doesn't interact with the Rid Ich.

 

[Debisbooked]

I missed why you want to change your filter media. It's only the carbon (if you use it) that needs to be removed.

I thought the aquamaniacs article said to change all 'sponges'. I assumed that meant those black foam squares in the Rena. I would rather not mess around with the filters unless absolutely necessary.

I went home for lunch. The loaches still look miserable but alive. The temp is down, water is splashing, and there is less salt to deal with.

 

[LeahK]

Any updates?

 

[Debisbooked]

Any updates?

Sadly, two of the clowns died today and it looks like the third is fading fast. I will continue to dose the tank but I doubt if number three will make it to tomorrow. I never realized until now the absolute necessity to quarantine new fish. The one time I slipped up and didn't do it had devastating consequences.

Thanks for all your help. Deb

 

[LeahK]

I'm really sorry to hear that. The case of ich that I had in my tank was because I didn't quarantine either. Now I've learned my lesson, but tough to lose fish. Just don't be too hard on yourself! It sounds like your fish had an especially bad case.

 

[fishorama]

I'm sorry for your loachy losses. Although readily treated there can still be deaths from the ich, secondary infections or the treatment. Quarantine helps a lot but doesn't catch everything, you do the best you can.

Continue to treat the tank for a week or 2 after all signs are gone.

 

[Debisbooked]

It's Friday evening and I remain optimistic that number three loach is going to live. He's still alive and moving around more and no longer looks like death warmed over. It's been over a week since he's eaten last so I worry about that too. Any ideas?

So, despite using Rid-Ich for over a week the ich is not leaving his body all that quick. It looks like the the parasites are taking up residence on other parts of his body so I suppose some leave while others return? I'm prepared to continue with daily water changes and Rid-ich applications past the last one falling off. I've noticed that nothing in the tank seems to be affected by this daily dosing though. There are some mollie juvvies that are fine and even some snails going about their business. Coupled with the ich still on the loach, I'm wondering if the 7 teas/70 gallons is enough?

 

[LeahK]

I'm glad to hear the one fish is pulling through. If it were me, I'd be scared to go past the prescribed dosage of Rid Ich, but it is weird that there are new white spots that have appeared since you began treatment. Because I'd think that the medication should kill the free-swimming ich before they can reach the fish again.
I wonder, if you're still using Amquel, could it be a problem with that? Or maybe you just have an especially resistant strain of ich. I'd stick with the treatment as is, and hopefully after time it will start to beat the parasites.