Ich Treatment Plan

Magdelaine · 02-16-2006, 11:40 AM

Boy I thought I was getting away with something when my recent purchase at the LFS didn't result in any immediate deaths or disease. But today I noticed salt flecks on three neons, tiny ones but unmistakable.

Since I have floating plants in there to reduce stress I thought I would try the following first: raise the temp to 84 degrees, add about 2 tbs. salt (it's a 10 gallon tank), and wait it out. If it reappears in 4 to 5 days then I know I will have to medicate. Otherwise I'm good to go.

What do you think of this? Any holes in my plan? All fish seem to be looking/acting pretty healthy with the exception of a few tiny spots...

DirkW · 02-16-2006, 12:56 PM

I recommend doubling the salt and no meds. The downside is that salt is going to be hard on your live plants. Perhaps you could temporarily move your floating plants to another container.

**TheOldSalt** · 02-17-2006, 08:21 AM

I tend to agree. That extra salt will work better, but the plants will have to go. Of course, this is assuming that you have actual ick and not something else in that group.
94 degrees kills ick all by itself without salt, but you'd have to raise the temp too slowly to be useful. 86 works better than 84, though.

Magdelaine · 02-17-2006, 12:08 PM

Will my danios and neons be ok at 86 degrees? Spots today are larger.

**TheOldSalt** · 02-18-2006, 08:52 AM

sure, they'll be fine

Magdelaine · 02-18-2006, 09:58 AM

OK, temp is 86, all spots are gone off of the fish. Given the lifecycle of ich, how long do I have to see no spots before I can assume it's cured?

Magdelaine · 02-24-2006, 04:14 PM

After my last post my Danios got some spots, but everything cleared up by the 20th. It has been four days and all the fish are looking healthy with no ich spots or anything else wrong that I can see. How much longer do I keep up the heat/salt treatment? And how much longer until I can add them to my other tank and their permanent home?

**TheOldSalt** · 02-25-2006, 07:44 AM

It takes three weeks to be safe

02-16-2006, 11:40 AM	#1
Magdelaine Persistant Gurgler Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Northern Mojave Desert Age: 38 Posts: 154	Ich Treatment Plan Boy I thought I was getting away with something when my recent purchase at the LFS didn't result in any immediate deaths or disease. But today I noticed salt flecks on three neons, tiny ones but unmistakable. Since I have floating plants in there to reduce stress I thought I would try the following first: raise the temp to 84 degrees, add about 2 tbs. salt (it's a 10 gallon tank), and wait it out. If it reappears in 4 to 5 days then I know I will have to medicate. Otherwise I'm good to go. What do you think of this? Any holes in my plan? All fish seem to be looking/acting pretty healthy with the exception of a few tiny spots... __________________ 29 Gallon residents: 2 long-finned zebra danios 2 long-finned blue danios 1 male guppy 5 neons 3 otos 3 yo-yo loaches 10 Gallon residents: 1 long-finned zebra danio 1 gold mystery snail 1 gold gourami my fishy blog

02-17-2006, 12:08 PM	#4
Magdelaine Persistant Gurgler Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Northern Mojave Desert Age: 38 Posts: 154	Will my danios and neons be ok at 86 degrees? Spots today are larger. __________________ 29 Gallon residents: 2 long-finned zebra danios 2 long-finned blue danios 1 male guppy 5 neons 3 otos 3 yo-yo loaches 10 Gallon residents: 1 long-finned zebra danio 1 gold mystery snail 1 gold gourami my fishy blog

02-18-2006, 09:58 AM	#6
Magdelaine Persistant Gurgler Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Northern Mojave Desert Age: 38 Posts: 154	OK, temp is 86, all spots are gone off of the fish. Given the lifecycle of ich, how long do I have to see no spots before I can assume it's cured? __________________ 29 Gallon residents: 2 long-finned zebra danios 2 long-finned blue danios 1 male guppy 5 neons 3 otos 3 yo-yo loaches 10 Gallon residents: 1 long-finned zebra danio 1 gold mystery snail 1 gold gourami my fishy blog

02-24-2006, 04:14 PM	#7
Magdelaine Persistant Gurgler Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Northern Mojave Desert Age: 38 Posts: 154	After my last post my Danios got some spots, but everything cleared up by the 20th. It has been four days and all the fish are looking healthy with no ich spots or anything else wrong that I can see. How much longer do I keep up the heat/salt treatment? And how much longer until I can add them to my other tank and their permanent home? __________________ 29 Gallon residents: 2 long-finned zebra danios 2 long-finned blue danios 1 male guppy 5 neons 3 otos 3 yo-yo loaches 10 Gallon residents: 1 long-finned zebra danio 1 gold mystery snail 1 gold gourami my fishy blog

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02-16-2006, 12:56 PM	#2
DirkW 7 Kids, 4 Tanks, 2 Birds Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southeastern Virginia Age: 46 Posts: 5	I recommend doubling the salt and no meds. The downside is that salt is going to be hard on your live plants. Perhaps you could temporarily move your floating plants to another container.

02-17-2006, 08:21 AM	#3
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,358	I tend to agree. That extra salt will work better, but the plants will have to go. Of course, this is assuming that you have actual ick and not something else in that group. 94 degrees kills ick all by itself without salt, but you'd have to raise the temp too slowly to be useful. 86 works better than 84, though.

02-18-2006, 08:52 AM	#5
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,358	sure, they'll be fine

02-25-2006, 07:44 AM	#8
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,358	It takes three weeks to be safe

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