WolfPack21

Hello Everyone, My 2 Bala Sharks came down with ICH today, so I returned them. Anyway my Gourami seems to have one spot on him. Should I keep treating the tank so about a week and see what happens?

Nate McFin

How are you treating?

MizRamzi

If using Mythlene Blue, follow directions on packaging. If you prefer not to us medication there is another way that I have found less invasive. It works.
Raise your temp to 85. Don't worry your fish will acclimate just fine. Vacuum your gravel very good. This is one of the places that the Ich protozoa live. If you have live plants in your tank, dip them in Mythlene Blue for at least 15min. Ich lives on plants also. It only feeds on the fish. High temps kill the Ich, always!
Hope this helps. Sorry you had to take the balas back.

pepetj

Just don't dump Methylene Blue in your tank or you will likley end up killing most if not all your beneficial bacteria. Methylene Blue will likely harm your plants.

For mild cases, I would spare med use and do thorough cleaning of aquarium walls, substrate, plants, decor etc. I would use treated tap water. Keep the temp in the higher end (say 84F) for two weeks and perform every other day huge water changes. It is important to increase water surface agitation and or add enough air bubbles since dissolved oxygen levels tend to drop drastically at 86F.

Using aquarium salt, if your fish can handle it, is also helpful. Most recommend one teaspoon (or is it one tablespoon? please look around for info) per gallon. I would use salt only if treating in a hospital tank.

Pepe
Santo Domingo

WolfPack21

I have the water temp at 83 and I use Rid Ich. I will also do 25% water changes each day and see how it works.

tototime

Make sure your carbon is out of your filter! A lot of people seem to forget this.

WolfPack21

Oh yeah I bought the Aqua Clear filter so I can remove the carbon....it's a pretty cool filter for the money.

Shawnie

make sure you are doing the gravel vacs and adding more aeration as the warmer water has less oxygen....and be ready for water changes as most meds will kill the cycle as others have said....goodluck with your fish babies

pepetj

Kordon's Rid ich+ is probably among the best meds for ick. It has formaldehide and malachite green. Just be careful in not overdosing and not exposing to light (I turn off my UV Sterilizer -for at least two hours, and all aquarium lights -24/7 when using this combination). Your beneficial bacteria is unlikely to get disrupted at adequate dosage. Malachite green and formalin tends to become toxic at soft acidic water (say 2.5dKH, 5dGH, pH 6.0) and could harm the gill tissue of fish, another reason to be careful when dosing the tank. Some anecdotal info suggest formalin reduce levels of dissolved oxygen, so another reason (if true) to increase water agitation or add air bubbles.

Hope your fish improve. Keep up the good care!

Pepe
Santo Domingo

WolfPack21

I agree Rid Ich works very well! My Fish seem to have gotten better after 3 days and daily water changes.

pepetj

Glad to hear that.


Pepe
Santo Domingo