Good afternoon all. I set up a new 25 gallon tank about five-ish weeks ago. Woke up this morning to a small white spot on the top of one of my tetra's, right on the top of her head. I believe this ailment is called "ick." I didn't see any other spots on any other fish. I know there are many, many, many threads regarding this, but I would like to know exactly how to treat with increased temperature/salt. My water is currently 78 degree, ph of 7.4, 0 ppm ammonia, slightly higher than .5 ppm nitrite, and nitrates are now beginning to show in the tank (within the last day or so). I'm using an Eclipse hood with bio-wheel, and also have an air pump/stone. Silk plants, no live ones (yet). Also, I would like to know if the temp/salt treatment will affect the bacteria in the tank and if it will affect the cycle in any way. How long to treat. How high to raise the temperature, how fast to raise the temp (all at once or in stages), and how long to keep it there. How much salt to add (and how fast). I will be using some aquarium salt I purchased in 2001 at the shop where I purchased my son's goldfish. His two goldfish (Dee and Dot) will continue to be kept in their own tank. I've never had a problem with illness with these two and have had them for 3 years. Please, please, please help. I'm very concerned that I'm going to lose the fish that I've worked so very hard to keep healthy during the cycle. I currently have two red phantom tetras, two platttys, one fancy guppy, and three black phantom tetras. (The spot is on one of my red phantom tetras). Thanks soooo much.
Help--
- Thread starter Sally
- Start date
Hello Sally. With all the info on this site, I'm not sure what you might consider to be "exactly" the information you're looking for. Meanwhile, check out the link below and scroll down to where it says Salt Treatment. Perhaps this is what you are looking for. Don't let the "ponddoc" in the url put you off. There is also information on the page below Salt Treatment for alternatives to salt.
http://www.ponddoc.com/WhatsUpDoc/FishHealth/FlashDance.htm
This site also sports a phone number for emergencies.
http://www.ponddoc.com/WhatsUpDoc/FishHealth/firstaid.html
http://www.ponddoc.com/WhatsUpDoc/FishHealth/FlashDance.htm
This site also sports a phone number for emergencies.
http://www.ponddoc.com/WhatsUpDoc/FishHealth/firstaid.html
A temperature increase of 5 degrees is usually sufficient to speed up the lifecycle of the protozoa that causes ick, rapidly turning it into a free-swimmer that is now susceptible to treatments. Adding 1 teaspoon per gallon of aquarium water (remembering that a 25 gal. tank does not hold 25 gal. of water) per day for a maximum of 3 days should curtail the problem.
I don't agree that its ick, which is usually many small grain of salt sized dots that are white in color on a fish. Just one spot it is most likely something else. What is the Tempature in the tank, ammonia level, nitrite and nitrate levels, pH, and hardness. Get back to me with this and I can help you out better.