rosalie68

i took my fish out of my 220 gal b/c they all had ICH and the warmer water wasnt helping. i lost all but one bala shark and lots of others are gone now too. i put all the survivors in my 55 gal. not cycled just threw water a heater and a 12 inch airstone in. i used copper to treat them b/c i didnt want the copper in my main tank b/c i am still cycling it with biospira. the water remained at 86 degrees in the 220 gal and there have been no fish in it for about 5 or 6 days. when is it safe to put the fish back in? when will the ich be dead in the 220 gal. its not visible on any of the fish except the bala shark. i kinda think the shark doesnt have it but maybe its spots from where the ich broke the skin. i will still keep them out until the bala shark doesnt have these marks just in case but i am just worried about it starting all over if i put my fish back in too soon. i dont want to keep them in the 55 gal too long b/c the ammonia keeps getting high and i have to keep changing the water to keep it down but im sure i wont get a cycle b/c i never put a filter in. so when do u think it will be safe to add them back into the big tank? thanks for your help!
kim

Shawnie

Hi kim ...ich can live in the subtrate as well so I think after 2 weeks of high temps in the 220, will be fine after doing a 50% water change...sorry for the loss of your fish

keep a good eye on the 55 gallon because if the fish are already sick with ich, the uncycled tank might take them over ..so the daily water changes are needed and treat the tap water with prime or a water conditioner of preference ...goodluck

lew2000

Ich cysts typically last 3-28 days, then hatches and last for 24-36 hours - I would recomend that you vacuum your garvel thoroughly - though 220gal is a lot of gravel to vacuum. Personaly, i don't like to treat my display tank with any medications. I would recomend the use of malachite/formalin for treatment in your quarantine tank - and take some of your tank water and add to your quarintine tank - set up a HOB/bio-wheel filter and wait at least 4 weeks - copper is difficult to use IMHO because it needs to be at a specific dosage continuously. I would also do 50% water changes on your primary tank every day for the first two weeks - and clean all filters and other equipment that has come in contact with your water - I know this is alot of work but better to be safe than sorry. I would recommend the use of a high wattage UV Sterilizer - while i use a quarantine tank before i put new fish into a tank - wether good fortune or luck using the high uv sterilizer i haven't had any fish diseases.

rosalie68

with copper u just have to get a tester and make sure its about 1.5. its really the only thing that has ever worked for me. saved alot of my fish. i just think its not good for the bacteria. i will clean the gravel really good and do a big water change in the 220 before i add my fish and wait 2 weeks then. i have been testing the 55 water like crazy to make sure it doesnt get bad. with all the plecos the water gets nasty pretty fast. i never realized how much they poop!! it doesnt have rocks so i have been cleaning the bottom and changing the water prety frequently. thanks for your advice!
kim