crystalclear

Hi all,

I've had an outbreak of ick in my 20 gal. In the past week, I've done 2 substrate cleanings of 25% and 10% to get my ammonia and nitrate levels down. I treated the new water with prime and now that the levels are down, I need to treat for ick. I researched ick medications and got rid-ick. I've slowly raised the temp to 83. (Not all of my fish are showing signs.)

My question is, should I do another water change before I put the medication in? Also, I'm new to this, so does "water change" always mean substrate cleaning? Since I did two in the past week, I'm not sure if I should do another. Won't that take out the good bacteria? Or should I do it again to get the ick out of the substrate?

Thanks!

Devon

ICH treatments target the parasite in its free-floating stage, meaning that it will kill what is in the water. It's a good idea to clean the substrate and continue to treat the tank for the parasite for a month... about 30 days is their life-cycle, but the higher temperature is designed to speed that up.
I would do a very large water change before starting treatment. Also, keep a very close eye on your water parameters during chemical treatment. If you don't have good aeration in the tank, get it -- warmer water holds less oxygen, and your fish will need the extra air.
There's additional information about ich and its treatment/prevention here: http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/IchPrevention.html
However, the site also recommends the use of salt -- you'll hear a lot of people here say "do not use salt", and I agree. I used higher salt when I was treating my betta for ich last month and it did *nothing*. When I stopped using salt and started treating with heat and daily water changes, he cleared up within a week.

Good luck.

Butterfly

Very good advice Devon.
Crystalclear- I'm not familiar with that ICH med (I use heat and water changes to treat ICH) does it say you can do water changes during treatment? If not then as advised do a large water change and gravel vacuum before starting treatment. When you gravel vac you are removing ICH cysts from your tank, you won't remove enough beneficial bacteria to cause a problem.
No water change does not always mean gravel vac too but in this case it's a good idea.
Carol

COBettaCouple

I've used the Ick-Attack (also by Kordon), but warmer water is key and I'd do daily water changes.

crystalclear

After a water change and one dose of rid-ick they're looking so much better! Thank you for the great advice.

Devon

I'm so glad they're starting to clear up!

I forgot to mention before that lower light levels will also help speed up treatment. Sometimes it is recommended that you keep your fish in complete darkness for things like velvet and ich... but for ich, I say just keep the tank lights off, that should be good enough.

angelfish220

what does the low light do? I've never heard of this.

COBettaCouple

I believe it is like starving them from feeding on the light.

Devon

I did a lot of reading on ich when David Bowie got it, and here is something that several sources I found agreed on:

Here's the particular site I got these quotes from, but there are plenty: http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/IchPrevention.html

I know darkness is also a treatment for velvet, and often (but not always) the treatments for ich and velvet are very similar, if not identical.