I have a seemingly resistant ich strain in my freshwater tank and the treatment I usually use is Quick Cure and this time it is having no effect. One I have used in the past is the old formulation of Maracide which used to have Aniline green, Tris Aminomethane, and Dibromohydroxymercuifluorescein, but they recently changed the formula and now has Malachite green just like Quick Cure. So, I need some suggestions from anyone who has treated ich that was resistant to Malachite green, as far as what other types/brands of treatment I should try. I have my doubts about Copper Safe since I have tried it before and to me, it didn't seem to do much. What about Acriflavine treatments, Clout, "Clear Ich", or Quinsulex medications? Any suggestions? Please help since I have to pick up a new medication today and get going on another line of treatment before it gets out of control.
Ich strain resistant to malichite green-help!
- Thread starter jjohns
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http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39759
Answers contained within.
Salt and heat is still the best lowest stress answer, but malechite green properly administered for a long enough period should do the job as well.
The organic levels in a tank are the biggest reason IMO that some ich meds don't work. The second reason is that folks don't understand how ich lives and dies, and don't treat for a long enough period.
HTH
Dave
Answers contained within.
Salt and heat is still the best lowest stress answer, but malechite green properly administered for a long enough period should do the job as well.
The organic levels in a tank are the biggest reason IMO that some ich meds don't work. The second reason is that folks don't understand how ich lives and dies, and don't treat for a long enough period.
HTH
Dave
Would you recommend to just keep using the Formalin/Malachite Green treatment and do partial daily water changes until it is gone? I have a better filter system just waiting to get put in, but can't use it until I finish treating for ich. Then I hopefully won't see anymore of this. I know the ich came from a new addition to the tank recently from the local fish store. I have read all about ich and know the life cycle takes quite a while, but when I am seeing more spots on the fish from one day to the next, then that tells me that the medication isn't working and in time, I think it will only get worse (since the free swimming stage is obviously still at work if more spots are appearing on the fish). I have seen cases so bad that kill the fish and I don't want to take that chance that in time it will get better if I haven't seen improvement so far after 3 days of treating. That is why I think it could be resistant to Malachite green (the LFS lady said they have had that same problem and have had mixed success trying other things). I also have 1 tbsp salt/5 gal in this tank, I will start turning up the heat slightly tonight as well. If anyone has had success using a treatment other than Malachite green/formalin treatments, please let me know. When it wouldn't work in the past for me, the old Maracide formula did (then they wuit making it) and I saw immediate improvement compared to several days of waiting with Malachite green. Any other good medications I should look into???
Aside from the suggestion of reading the article which explains things very well and also outlines my experiences and how and why they work.
I would just say that Salt at the correct level is 100% successful, but Malechite green/ formalin at the correct level in a clean tank, for the prescribed period of time will be successful as well.
The additional spots showing up on your fish were probably already there and very small (microscopic) when you started treatment. Since ich cannot be treated once it attaches to the fish, they will continue to grow even if the tank is treated. so 3 days after treatment starts you may still be seeing new spots on your fish. The lower the temp the longer this situation may last. Raising the temp will help with meds or ich, but malechite and formalin still react with organics in the tank, and the organic levels will have varying results and can reduce the effectiveness of the meds enough to allow ich to live.
Nothing will kill ich while it's on the fish so if you added meds and the ich went away it was a timing thing. If you stop treatment there will still be ich in your tank, and you run the risk of future outbreaks. Since you are already using a partial salt dose I would raise the level to two teaspoons per gallon, elevate temps, and then add activated charcoal to the filter to remove the residual meds. once the ich is gone from your fish, contiunue use of salt for a couple more weeks then remove it via normal water changes. ICH will be gone for good.
dave
I would just say that Salt at the correct level is 100% successful, but Malechite green/ formalin at the correct level in a clean tank, for the prescribed period of time will be successful as well.
The additional spots showing up on your fish were probably already there and very small (microscopic) when you started treatment. Since ich cannot be treated once it attaches to the fish, they will continue to grow even if the tank is treated. so 3 days after treatment starts you may still be seeing new spots on your fish. The lower the temp the longer this situation may last. Raising the temp will help with meds or ich, but malechite and formalin still react with organics in the tank, and the organic levels will have varying results and can reduce the effectiveness of the meds enough to allow ich to live.
Nothing will kill ich while it's on the fish so if you added meds and the ich went away it was a timing thing. If you stop treatment there will still be ich in your tank, and you run the risk of future outbreaks. Since you are already using a partial salt dose I would raise the level to two teaspoons per gallon, elevate temps, and then add activated charcoal to the filter to remove the residual meds. once the ich is gone from your fish, contiunue use of salt for a couple more weeks then remove it via normal water changes. ICH will be gone for good.
dave
After I read your article, that is the conclusion I came to as well. I did a partial water change and cleaned the gravel last night to make sure the organics level was down and then added more Quik Cure and started raising the temp. I added a little more salt too. I do plan on continuing on with the medication and the heat treatment since that is what I have all ready started. I guess I will just have to be patient and hang in there and hopefully I will see signs of improvement soon. Thanks for your help.
Keep us posted. I don't use meds, but I cannot in fairness say they are always a bad thing. It is one of those personal preference things largely influenced by particular species and tank maintenance. I do feel that salt is superior as a treatment but only because of the effect of organics on meds, and the variables that effect creates. You fish will tell you if your method is becoming too harsh, otherwise patience is the key. If I raised nothing but tough fish I imagine my view of meds would be better. My beloved Pictus cats just will not tolerate malechite green and or formalin.
Dave
Dave