Ick Medications

[Tinajo]

Are some ick meds better than others? I'm using Wardley Essentials Ick Away and it doesn't seem to be knocking it out. And is it really necessary to change 50% of the water 24 hours after treatment?

BTW, I did remove the filter during the treatment.

 

[fish_freak]

Nope there all basicly the same stuff malachite green. Some contain formalin as well.
Here's a link that should help you with the ich battle.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88601

 

[webcricket]

I've only ever treated ich with heat and salt as described in that link. Works like a charm and no fish or plant losses.

 

[Ulan]

My fish didn't stand the heat and salt treatment, but they responded well to a mixture of malachite green and formalin. If you use a mixture of both components, the concentrations of the individual agents can be lower, which means that it's easier on the fish.

 

[wataugachicken]

did you remove the entire filter/turn it off or just take out the filter cartridge with the carbon in it?

 

[jac8724]

Ich drops by my tank like it owns the place...

RidIch (in a tall white bottle) works quite nice, but dyes things in the tank blue, like the air tubing and tank ornaments.

Water changes are huge helps, if not necessary. if you read how Ich spreads, it infects the fish, drops to the bottom, where it reproduces, then goes back up to find more fish. so siphon from the bottom when you do changes.

Also its life cycle is shortened when you raise the temp.

If you can get away with higher temp (82 deg), water changes, and salt, do it cause the chemicals are not fun. BUT, personally, i would not wait a few days to see if it works. Thats just me cause ive seen way too many fishy lives lost...i have RidIch in there at the first white dot. and do 25% water changes pretty much every day.

and fyi, not all fish like salt, as ive learned the hard way. despite the fact the back of the freshwater salt box says how wonderful it is

good luck, i hope all your fish remain safe and sound!

 

[Tinajo]

did you remove the entire filter/turn it off or just take out the filter cartridge with the carbon in it?

I just took out the cartridge with carbon in it.

 

[Star_Rider]

actually there are different meds to treat ich.
many use NaCL, heat, malachite green aka victoria green(chloride salt),copper based treatments(usually chelated copper) formalin(formaldehyde in water)
or combinations, salt + heat, malachite green + formalin

in treatement it is best to remove any activated carbon.