Tetras with Ich: I really shouldnt need to ask this Q

[Signus]

I've owned fish and done plants for years now... but when looking up how to treat some black neon tetras in my Q tank, I got some conflicting results.

Method 1: Formalin

Method 2: High temps (82-86 F) and 2 tbsp/ gallon of kosher salt (non iodized)

Method 3: Simply high temps (82-86 F)


Complication: I have HC growing in my Q tank and I don't want to kill the carpet.

So feel free to laugh at an old gun asking how to cure his neons of ich. And also even buy the fish when he saw fish with ich in the LFS's tank... even though he specifically stated NOT to release his order and keep it in the bag till he arrived. Even crappier: don't buy from LFS that only have a 24hr gaurantee. Shady business indeed.

 

[jm1212]

if you have plants in your tank, you probably arent going to want to use salt, as many plants tolerate very little salt if any, much less than you would need to treat ich anyway.

 

[Slappy*McFish]

I'd remove the plants from your quarantine. They're just limiting your treatment options...which is the whole point of a quarantine with diseased fish.

 

[MTiffany]

I'd remove the plants from your quarantine. They're just limiting your treatment options...which is the whole point of a quarantine with diseased fish.

I'm gonna have to agree with Slappy on that point. But if you don't want to (or can't) remove the plants -- Kordon Ich Attack will work nicely to eliminate the Ick without harming the plants, but it may take longer and it will cloud the water and it does smell.

 

[KarlTh]

To add - doesn't matter what salt you use. The iodine is harmless.

 

[tanker]

I would use formalin, but tetras do not do well with it (so use maybe 1/2 dose).
I would also up the themp to 82+ anyway to speed the cycle but add some surface movement too (warm water==less O2).

PS--Why do you have HC in Q tank?? Most Q tanks are just bare tanks with maybe a rock or PVC for fish to hide.

 

[Signus]

Thank you all.

I had the Q tank laying around doing nothing, so I got the aquarist itch and decided to fill it up with extra trimmings from a friend's tank after they moved out of the area.

If I uproot the HC now, I really don't have a place to put it for the next few weeks.

 

[ksane]

Method 1: Formalin
Method 2: High temps (82-86 F) and 2 tbsp/ gallon of kosher salt (non iodized)
Method 3: Simply high temps (82-86 F)

Most people on this site recommend 1 TBS salt/5 g water. I use 2 TBS salt/5 g water (as per articles written on the web). But 2 TBS/1 g ?? You might've misread that, that's pretty high. That's the same as 10 TBS/5 g. Just making sure you know that so you don't use that high of an amount. And like KarlTh said-the iodine won't hurt them a bit. People freak out about "don't use iodized salt!" because they've heard other people say it. They don't question why it was even said in the 1st place

 

[dundadundun]

do you have a?:
large punch bowl
storage bin
or a large bucket or 2

any one of these should do for temporary homes for plants.
i have a green tub that was used as a planter for a live x-mas tree one year. the tree has been planted and the bin comes in real handy. i use it for my fish when they need a temp home, to keep kegs cold for bbq's, etc... maybe that can spark a thought and give you an idea.

 

[GCL]

Hopefully you've started a cure as it's important to as soon as you see any spots. Here is my answer to a similar ? on a different post;

Here is how I treated both rummy nose tetras and neons on two separate occasions. They all, but one rummy nose, came through it and weren't affected by the high temps.
You may want to research your types of fish for temp. tolerance. The above named tetras took it fine.
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I used no salt and no medications.

If you choose to use meds. check to see if heat can be used in conjunction with them.

SLOWLY raise the temp. to 89 degrees and keep it there for 3-4 days. If you can bring it up to 90 that's even better. Watch your fish and add an extra air stone for turbulence.

Lower heat to 86 degrees for an added 7-10 days.

You want to keep a temp of 86 to 88 for 10 to 14 days AFTER the last spot has been noticed.

Do a 25 % water change daily.

90 degrees kills them. At 87 degrees they can't reproduce.
Although there has been statements that there are now heat tolerant Ichthyophthirius multifflis.
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