petercaine

can any one help i am teating my tanks for white spot (interpet treatment) what i need to know is can you still do a water change while the treatment is being carried out. the big tank is 4 weeks old and is still cycling the nitrite reading is 0.5 so i think needs a water change but dont know if it will alter the traetment please help

chickadee

The best treatment for White Spot (Ich) is to slowly raise the temperature of the water to 85 degrees F (29 degrees C) and leave it there for a full 14 days. Usually no additonal medication is needed. This makes the parasite leave the bodies of the fish and go free swimming in the water and unless you let the temperature fall they will die because they have no host to live on. I would do the water change and immediately start the temperature change (1 to 2 degrees every 2 hours until it reaches 85 degrees fahrenheit or 29 celsius) and then leave it there for 14 days and try not to do any water changes unless you run into nitrite or nitrate or ammonia problems and then make sure the water is not cooler than the tank water. (get a thermometer and make it as close to 85 as you can) You will need to run an airstone during treatment if you are not already as the available oxygen in the water will need to be increased. This will work in most cases with NO medication, I have never heard of anyone having to medicate although some people go ahead and do it anyway.

Rose

petercaine

thanks for the advice i will try that staight away and let u know how we get on i have lost one rummy nose tetra already