Ich breakout in my tank

BrettRox

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Jul 15, 2004
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I noticed today the silver dollars seem to be "salted"... so I suspect it is ich although I've not had experience with this disease so far in my fishkeeping. I have other fish in my tank (dwarf gouramis, platys, giant danios) but none of them seem to have the "salt" on their scales... What is the best course of action to get rid of this? FYI, I have a 55 gallon tank. Thanks in advance for the responses!
 
Hi there,
You can raise the temperature in your tank a few degrees (slowly) to shorten the life cycle of the parasite. Add some salt, depending on how much your species will tolerate it (1tsp/10g is enough, some people go up to 1tsp/5g), and do daily water changes vacuuming the substrate (this is where the parasites hide and multiply after they fall off the fish). Keep treating for at least 4 days after the last cyst falls off the last fish to be sure you've got it all.
I don't know much about ich meds, but TMK silver dollars don't tolerate them well.
Good luck.
 
Table salt will work fine, For Ich treatment, 1-3 tsp per gallon, I usually bring the salt level up very slowly, and increase the heat very slowly while watching my fish. IME the heat and salt are far less stressful than ony of the ich meds I've used.

Articles for more info:
ICH
Salt
 
is the ICH on vacation or did you kill it off. If you didn't kill it it will most likely continue to survive via your fish's gills until someday when they get stressed for some reason and then another outbreak will occur. If it is off of your fish, now would be a good time to kill it completely via heat and salt. Once it is killed, it can't come back unless you re-introduce it via new fish or pet store water.
dave
 
Thanks, Dave. I'm actually continuing the salt bath and heat, and gravel vacuuming and such... but it's not "visible" on the fish anymore! Should have been more clear, I guess. :)
 
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