jayfl234

Ok i am having some problems with my mollies i just cured one over dropsy and now the other molly a different one from before has ich. I am curious as to how i could stop this prob? This will be the third time one of my mollies had ich this month. I do water changes once a week should i do more water changes or are my fish to the point where they are going to be sick all the time because they did go through the process of cycling my ten gallon. Please Help.

Butterfly

Raise your water temp to at least 82F, leave it for 14 days and do frequent water changes(warm water has less oxygen). This should get rid of the ICH for good. Ich cannot live in temps over 80F. Cycling with fish does cause them stress and therefore more prone to being sick. Hope that helps
Carol

COBettaCouple

I'd also add http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113016 since you've had a lot of ich outbreaks.. it's a product that won't harm the good bacteria or any aquarium residents.

jayfl234

My water temp is just above 80 so i will turn it up to 82 and leave it and i will do frequent water changes as well for a while to see if that helps.

Butterfly

I very rarely have ICH because I keep the temps up a little but the few times I have that combination worked great. I'm afraid I'm a no chemical freak but do use them as a last resort.
Carol

COBettaCouple

I don't like chemicals either, which is what got us interested in that product and the Rid-Fungus product.. these organic, herbal products that Kordon is coming out with are quite interesting.

jayfl234

Butterfly what is the temp in your tank? Could i leave my tank at 82 all the time or is that two warm. I have a good size bubbler so i would have good oxygen in the water.

Butterfly

Depending on whats in my tanks (I have several) they run 78F to 82F. Everything I see in your signature would be ok at that temp.
Carol

jayfl234

K thanks had to turn my temp down this morning it was at 83.7

COBettaCouple

warmer than 82 for a short time should be ok with them and help with fighting the ich.. just more aeration is good as the temp goes up.

Butterfly

yep totally agree with FLBettaCouple, and remember to leave it up for at least 14 days.
Carol

jayfl234

My temp has been above 82 for 3 days. Make things worse my other my has ich again i just dont understand why the mollies keep getting it. None of my other fish show signs of ich at all. Gets aggravating when it seems like you do everything to heal them and does not seem like it works. So hopefully this will work.

COBettaCouple

It sounds like a very stubborn case, you might want to get some Ich-Attack. Do you have a pic of them to post? Are they showing any other symptoms besides the salt-like white spots?

Butterfly

I know your getting frustrated but hang in there, and keep those temps up also. The higher temps make the ICH go through it's life cycle faster and then die thats why the 14 days.
Carol

jayfl234

I checked my mollies today and they look so much better i having the temp higher is really working better than having to keep puting chemicals in your tank. I am going to leave the temp up for 14 days like everone suggest. Thanks a bunch

COBettaCouple

that's great to hear.

armadillo

Q to Butterfly: I was thinking of just leaving my temp quite high as a constant ich prevention. Stupid idea?

Butterfly

Not a stupid question at all. As long as it's not a species than needs much lower temps it is fine, but you do need more aeration and water movement than at lower temps because warmer water holds less oxygen. I wouldn't keep the temps much higher than 80F on a normal basis unless you have species that like higher temps. Certain ones of my loaches like the water temp about 80-82 so I leave them there. Except for the cool water species the others are kept at 78F and I find that and quarantining new fish a sufficient ICH deterrent
Carol