Ich and salt

kooter

kooter

AquaMan
Dec 14, 2003
701
13
18
Mission, BC
Can ich become immune to salt? I was wondering because I am treating my tank with the heat and salt method. Since it's 125G, I want to do it slowly. Over 3 days total I now have 2tsp. of salt per gallon and everyone seems to be doing fine. Since I took 3 days for the fish to slowly get used to the salt, will ich become used to it as well? I want to kill off these little buggers. I don't have many but I wanted to catch it before it really took off.
 
Honestly the salt and heat really works great. I think it will just knock that ick out and they won't adapt to it at all. It is best to treat it as soon as seen and the heat speeds up their life cycle so kudo's to you for catching it early!! Sounds like you are doing it great. I feel the salt is far less stressful to the fish than strong meds.
 
There is a theory that ich can build resistance, but it isn't going to happen in 3 days considering the life cycle that ich goes through especially.

I am not convinced that it builds a resistance, I think that folks who see ich in tanks with chonic salt use are probably encountering a strain of ich that is more resistive to the effects of salt. There are strains out there that tolerate up to 5 ppt of salt, but in most cases ich is not that resistive. I'd stick to your plan (Although you could add quicker if you wanted to). It's always good to have a geme plan and see it through.
Dave
 
thanks guys. :) And to Daveedka, :bowing: , I read your ich post and it convinced me which way to go. I actually went and bought Cure-ick by AP and just before I put it in I came to Aquaria Central to make sure I was doing the right thing, (especially with loaches). After reading your post, I took the meds back and picked up the salt. Thank you , thank you. It seems to be working great, a little nervous I was :hang: but I hung in there and got the tank to 2 1/4tsp. per gallon of salt with no ill effect on any of my inhabitants. I will keep the "bath" up for a full week and then when water is needed, (it evaporates at a rate of 8-10L every 3 days!), I will replenish with straight water until back to normal.
I love AC and everyone here........thanks for your replies, suggestions and info. :thm:
 
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Just a note, Evaporation will not remove the salt, Only water changes. You can lower it whenever and however you want after treatment, but replacing evaporated water will leave the original concentration in place.
Dave
 
daveedka said:
Just a note, Evaporation will not remove the salt, Only water changes. You can lower it whenever and however you want after treatment, but replacing evaporated water will leave the original concentration in place.
Dave
Click to expand...

I should know better. :duh:
I will stick with my regular water maintenance and this will eventually get the tank back to normal.

thx. again daveedka.
 
what salt did you use? just the salt they use for marine aquariums?
 
They have freshwater salt at lfs or big stores...I just use it constantly...some might say it's overkill but i seem to experience less problems when I do...The fish seem happier, too...Seems like all animals seem to like some level of salt.
 
As far as chronic use of Salt, this article is well worth the read. salt does have negative effects on Freshwater fish long term, and using it in Freshwater tanks is not really a good idea except for Treatment of specified diseases or problems such as Nitrite poisoning.

http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/water/salt.html


As far as what kind of Salt, You will need NaCL, not marine salt. Marine salt has a lot of other things in it to make seawater, and will not get the desired effect.
I use Mortons iodized salt from the grocery store. The stuff at the LFS is probably the same thing, costs a lot more, and Does not pass through inspection or testing lke food grade salt. In other words it is less regualted and more expensive.
Dave
 
Ack! my friend said iodized salt = very bad for what it does to the water ions....his dad and grandpa have owned a LFS for decades and he swears by constant but light salt use...I guess it's one of those everyone has an opinion topics
 
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