Newb with Ich .. help please

[tankboy_taylor]

Hi all , anyhow I started my tank a few weeks ago and was a true newb at it and started with fish before i was cycled

well ive been changing water and testing like mad and seem to be at least halfway through cycle i belive I have rising nitrites and have been showing minor nitrates .

Im pretty sure at least one fish has Ich he isnt scratching or flashing but it sure looks like small salt like spots.

I want to try the salt heat method but im not sure where I have to keep changing water to keep nitrite levels down if this will work. Please any help would be very appreciated as im really lost now and dont wanna kill fish

 

[liv2padl]

salt at 2 teaspoons per actual gallon of water. this will give you a good solid level with a 1 tsp. per gallon buffer zone in both directions.

to add salt, mix it with some of your tank water in small volumes and add to your tank. never dump salt in directly as a solid. add ¼ tsp. per gallon once an hour for four hours. this will bring your tank to a level of 1 tsp. per gallon in four hours. then increase it to 2 tsp. per gallon in ¼ teaspoon increments every 3-4 hours. always watch the fish closely for reaction. when you reach a level above 1 tsp. per gallon, watch for signs of increased stress and if noted, slow things down and allow the fish more time to adjust.

carbon will not remove salt from the water so if you are using it you do not need to remove it as you do with meds. table salt, pickling or canning salt, kosher salt are all fine to use. the levels of iodide or flow agents are too minute to be a factor.

during this treatment, increase the tank temperature to at least 82°F. note that 86°F is usually fatal to ICH, and if your fish will tolerate this temperature this alone can kill the parasite. important note ... warmer water does not carry oxygen as well as cool water. increase oxygen concentrations in your tank during treatment by (a) lowering the tank water level to increase splash, (b) raising the spray bars above the water line, or (c) add an air pump to your system with a good bubbler.

maintain this treatment for two weeks minimum.

you can use salt with cories, catfish, sharks, loaches, tetra’s pleco’s etc., ... basically any fish can tolerate the level of salt recommended for the time involved in treatment.

will this treatment affect your plants? frankly i don't know. to be safe, consider removing them temporarily.

it's important to continue a water change regimen during treatment and i'd recommend twice a week ... but remember to replace what you remove. just add whatever your target level is to the change water. for example, if you have 2 tsp. of salt per gallon in the tank, and you change 10 gallons of water then add 20 teaspoons to the change water as it goes back in. the total level of salt in the tank will remain the same.

 

[tankboy_taylor]

thanks for the quick reply just did a 50% water change gonna add salt

 

[tankboy_taylor]

will the salt im adding disrupt my cycle as I belive im close to finishing it?

 

[quadpants]

No it won't hurt your cycle.

 

[tankboy_taylor]

cool thanks!