I realize this is a long thread but......Its been 12 days since the ich was introduced to my tank. 5 days since my loaches showed signs and I added the coppersafe. The loaches show no signs of improvement, they are still covered. Should'nt the ich have dropped off by now? Im starting to think I have some strain of super ich. The gt that got this whole mess started is fine. I'am really worried about my loaches though.
ICH/salt/temp question
- Thread starter adblair
- Start date
What is your tank temp?
The reason I ask is that ich cannot be killed or treated while on the fish, but at elevated temps it should have come off of your fish by now. At normal tropical tank temps I would still think it would have dropped off already, but really don't know how fast it moves through each stage of the life cycle at normal temperatures. I am very curious as well, because quite honestly, You are the first person I have ever encountered that used heat nd salt and didn't get results. I doubt super IcH is the case, but something is awry. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
Dave
The reason I ask is that ich cannot be killed or treated while on the fish, but at elevated temps it should have come off of your fish by now. At normal tropical tank temps I would still think it would have dropped off already, but really don't know how fast it moves through each stage of the life cycle at normal temperatures. I am very curious as well, because quite honestly, You are the first person I have ever encountered that used heat nd salt and didn't get results. I doubt super IcH is the case, but something is awry. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
Dave
Tank usally stays at 80. This is day 13, loaches still covered. I have'nt noticed any change in them. So I dont think this is a secondary infection. I check them 4 times a day, so if the ich had fallen off I would have noticed. Like I wrote before this is my first time with ich.
Review:
Days 1 thru 7 raised tank temp to 86 and added salt. 3 days later gt is clear the next day loaches break out. So I figuer this didnt kill the ich. So I do a massive water change and add coppersafe.
Iam open to any recomendations at this point!
But even if this was some kind of secondary infection shouldnt the coppersafe take care of that?
Review:
Days 1 thru 7 raised tank temp to 86 and added salt. 3 days later gt is clear the next day loaches break out. So I figuer this didnt kill the ich. So I do a massive water change and add coppersafe.
Iam open to any recomendations at this point!
But even if this was some kind of secondary infection shouldnt the coppersafe take care of that?
Coopersafe will kill parasites, and some bacteria, but it wouldn't do anything for a fungal infection, or to repair damaged skin necessarily. Likewise with salt. IF it is a fungal infection, it wouldn't have the raised grain look of ich, and by all rights it should spread out over time I beleive. I've not dealt a lot with fungal infections though. Hopefully someone else can shed some more light on this.
Dave
Dave
Well my tank is still dark and I only have the 3 corys, the CAE, 2 new card tetras (they were the ones that brought in the ICH,and the swordtail, they all seem fine. The parasites dropped off the tetras yesterday.
Temp is still at 86. Now should I wait a couple more days until I start to drop the temp? Its been 1 week today that I noticed Ich in the tank. I did the good water change and vacuum and salt a couple days ago.
I am going to town today and would love to stop and get more fish or at least tell them that they have this aweful parasite.
I know now that I need a small Q tank. My ? is.....I hate to have a tank running with nothing in it. Is there fish that I can keep in the Q tank, or how does that work? Would I just move fish around as I bring new fish in?
Help Dave!!!
Temp is still at 86. Now should I wait a couple more days until I start to drop the temp? Its been 1 week today that I noticed Ich in the tank. I did the good water change and vacuum and salt a couple days ago.
I am going to town today and would love to stop and get more fish or at least tell them that they have this aweful parasite.
I know now that I need a small Q tank. My ? is.....I hate to have a tank running with nothing in it. Is there fish that I can keep in the Q tank, or how does that work? Would I just move fish around as I bring new fish in?
Help Dave!!!
You should maintain the salt and temp for at least one full week (I do two for safety sake) after the ich is no longer visible. It still has 1 life cycle to go through before you can kill it. So in other words, you haven't killed the ich yet, it just dropped off of your fish and started the reproductive stage. Gravel vaccuming will help during this stage but won't garantee eradication. You are winning the battle, but need to keep fighting. ICH is only succeptable when it hatches out of the substrate and goes looking for your fish. otherwise it is difficult if not impossible to kill.
A q tank can be anything fish safe that holds water, and you have a filter and heater for. For me personally, I would get a 10 g and cycle it then keep some snails and food in it when not in use. the food and the snail waste will maintain the bacteria, and then when you need the q-tank it's ready. Otherwise just set it up when needed, and be prepared to rob large volumes of filter media from your main tank to cycle with.
Dave
A q tank can be anything fish safe that holds water, and you have a filter and heater for. For me personally, I would get a 10 g and cycle it then keep some snails and food in it when not in use. the food and the snail waste will maintain the bacteria, and then when you need the q-tank it's ready. Otherwise just set it up when needed, and be prepared to rob large volumes of filter media from your main tank to cycle with.
Dave
Finally my loaches are 98% clear. I was really starting to get worried. Now for my next problem.... I need to do a water change, but I dont want to remove any of the coppersafe at this point nor do I want to add any with a water change.
That is a dilema. You are looking at a minimum of one full week of treatment remaining, 2 weeks would be better. Water changes are really necessary, especially with the use of meds. Coppersafe may not matter, but many meds are broken down by the organics in your tank, thus the higher the waste load the less effective the meds will be. My reccomendation would be top off the tank, so you have a reasonably accurate dissolution rate, then do a water change and add more meds according to the volume of water you change. I know this is a PITA!!!, but there is no avaoiding it unless the tank is clean enough to go 2 more weeks without a water change.
dave
I guess thats what I'll have to do. I cant go that long withouy a water change. Thank you very much Dave for your advice.
