Bluefish

I need an opinion.
My 29g has ICH. I am treating with RidX and on day 5. I want to add a couple more fish today, so in the (good) chance that they bring ich of their own into the tank from the LFS, they will be treated over the rest of this treatment cycle (I figure another 4-5 days).

Looking to add maybe 3 corys.

I DO NOT want to get my whole tank cleaned up and THEN add new fish and get ich again.

No quarantine tank at this time.

What do you think?

hssea

if your tank is only 1 month old and with the number of fish you have it might not be cycled all the way. If your water conditions are off this causes the fish to be stressed and more susceptable to ick. i would never buy fish that shows signs of ick (any fish from that tank). do you have a test kit? test before adding any fish. also don't forget to remove any carbon from your filter has this removes the medication. also when you medicate this destroys some of your beneficial bacteria , even more reason not to add fish. Also increase your water temp during treatment to 82. after treatment keep the tank more on the high side which helps to prevent ick (set it to 79/80)

Bluefish

Actually, with the exception of low pH which I have very gently begun to adjust, water quality has been perfect right from the start - I bought a functioning Fluval 205 right out of a fish-geeks healthy planted tank and moved it right to mine. I've followed med directs to a 'T' and all is going well. I just haven't found a LFS yet that I truly feel has 100% healthy fish, all the time. Maybe they're healthy in this tank... but the tank three down the row - they look pretty sluggish - and you KNOW they are all on the same filter. Which is why I want to try adding some fish before the ich treatment is done. I need bottom feeders!

susitna-flower

WELCOME TO FISHLORE, BLUEFISH!

It is a great help you were able to start right off with a cycled filter, but you should still add fish slowly....

As for ick....84f kills it, so keep your tank there for 2 weeks, and it isn't a problem any more unless it comes in with new fish , as you say....I would suggest getting a 10 gallon tank for a hospital tank.

Many times when you use medications to kill something like ick, it will also disrupt your nitrogen cycle.

You have stated you know about the nitrogen cycle, are you testing your water? Most here recommend the API Master test kit.....it is the only way you will know for sure if your cycle is finished.....Good Luck

Bluefish

Thanks Susitna! Yes, we check the water regularly with the full kit. I've read a lot about raising the temp - or NOT raising the temp do to stress on fish - and I've opted not to. Due to the cost of fuel arround here, my house is never above 58F in the winter months anyway, so keeping the tank at a stable 76F is my goal. It works because I have the filter hoses wrapped up in bubble wrap and the Fluval packed into a bucket with bubble wrap... life in New England. I even kept a blanket over the tank at night (when I turn the house thermostat down to 50F) but there was no keeping the cat away from his 'kitty-tv', he would pull it off everynight. Like a fish, I have acclimated to cooler temps and don't care for overheated houses (or air conditioned!). I can't imagine what you do in AK!

luna

Welcome to FishLore!

I noticed you said you're trying to adjust your pH. This is generally discouraged, as the stress of the constant chemical manipulation is harder on the fish than letting them acclimate to your tap water's natural pH. I'm no expert on pH, or the fish you have, but I have seen this advice repeatedly, and felt I should pass it along to you.

Maybe someone with experience with pH could address your particular circumstances, but I'm not sure who that would be...

COBettaCouple

Welcome to Fishlore.

Even with the house temp that low, a good heater should be able to keep a 29g at 82-84F for 2 weeks. The fish should be able to tolerate it with extra aeration, but probably not the shrimp. I'm not sure if ich can be cleared completely without warm water. It has a few stages over it's life cycle, but needs colder water to develop in the first place, then to continue.

The only meds that I've used for ich is an organic, herbal liquid called "Ich-Attack". Even the shrimp won't be harmed by it. That liquid can also be used on some fungus issues. Just watch out for malachite green or victoria green in ich meds. I highly advise against using any med with that ingredient in it.

susitna-flower

I hear you! I am also feeling the crunch of fuel costs...we heat with wood, and run a generator to power my tanks...Now that the little generater is dead , the big one (12kw) is only running about 12 hrs a day. This means my tanks go up and down in temp, but in times past I have used the temp up to 84 to deal with ick, and my tanks are currently clear. All I know is that it works...

hssea

i long time ago i used to adjust ph, no more, its to hard on the fish (they would die). Now i slowly let them accilmate in their bags (about 1 hour) , i have a variety of fish and they all are doing good, i have them for years. my ph is 8.0

Bluefish

You know, I agree with all of you and appreciate the reminder. I have been impatient, as usual. I'm not going to mess with the ph anymore, I thought that a very gentle adjustment would help but I do believe in finding fish who can settle into what I have to offer. It's the same with gardening - I love vining squash varieties, but they always get powdery mildew and vine borer in my garden. I don't want to use chemicals so I just grow something else, that does grow well in my location.

So, yesterday I did a 40% water change, and the last ich treatment. This morning my fish except the gouramis are gasping at the surface - first time they've done that. Soon as I'm done with a cup of coffee, out comes the test kit, then another water change. I think I'll then just add the charcoal to the filter and clear the chemicals out.

Sighhh...I'm an impatient person and 'payback's' a (difficulty).