GouramiGirl1221

Some of you may remember my bout with ick from my bolivian ram...I thought I was rid of it, but as I began to lower the temp again, it started creeping back. I've raised the temp again, but I can tell the spores are coming from my filter media. How do I get rid of them? I cant just change my cartridges, because that will kill the cycle. I can't use meds because that will kill the cycle. My filter takes two cartridges, so I considered changing one for two weeks and then changing the other, but that would just allow the ick to infest the new filter first wouldn't it? Please help...I'd really like to get this taken care of before I hook up my canister filter so it's not all over that media as well.

Shawnie

im dealing with that at work right now because of our power outtages...it was sooo bad that I did have to medicate...so the cycle is lost so im going to have to do a fish cycle again...but with you, the temps should kill it in the media as well because ICH needs a live host after a bit...although I guess it could be eating the bacteria right? but still the temps should kill the life cycle so not sure what you are to do now ...no other tanks to seed a filter?

GouramiGirl1221

I thought the temp method would kill it in the media as well, but that didn't work. I did medicate the tank because it was terrible, especially on my half beaks, and I left the temps elevated for another two weeks after medication while I was re-cycling, but apparently that didn't work. How much of a mini cycle would I see if I replaced the media, considering some bacteria does live in the gravel?

My main concern with just replacing all the media is that the ick will just re-infest it immediately. I'm home on break, so I can change the water every day and such when I see a mini cycle, but I afraid I'll just end up in the same situation I'm in now. I'm kind of at a loss since I thought it was already taken care of.

ER9

there are ich meds that wont destroy your good bacteria. i'm using nox-ich right now in conjunction with elevated temps. its been observed lately that there are some highly resistant strains of ich floating around that are resistant to meds and high temps. it was suggested to me to elevate temps for a couple weeks and do the recomended med treatment and then do it again....and after a week when i drop my temps back i'm going to do a third med treatment. the last thing you want is for a highly resistant strain of ich to survive. if it comes back it may be extremely difficult to kill again. the same meds and temp treatment might not be enough the second time around.

GouramiGirl1221

I don't think this one is that bad. I've only got two fish that actually have the spots on them, one of which is a new addition. I know I need to get it knocked out anyway, I don't mean that, but can fish become resistant to ick?

So, nox-ich doesn't destroy bacteria? Anyone else have a similar experience? My nerves really can't afford another cycle...

soldieroffortune1974

Well, to "knock out" the ick,while medicating /treating you need to figure out what is causing it (and I am not talking about bacteria/spores)

1st you have to understand the concept that the diseases we are afraid of,is almost always lurking in the aquarium,waiting for an opportunity. That opportunity is a distressed fish.......Why is it/they distressed/stressed? What has been done lately to cause stress? Adding fish? adding decor,removing decor? water change not at correct temps? etc etc etc.......

Noy only do we treat the disease,you have to treat the cause as well. Correcting the cause of the stress will almost always correct the disease,by reducing stress, and increasing the fish's own immunity response.

ER9

very good point....

fishlover78

wow, that's a tough place to be in, either way you have to crash the cycle and do a cycle with fish. sorry to hear of this -fishlover78

GouramiGirl1221

The ick was originally introduced with a new fish that I now know had ick...I had never seen it myself before, so I didn't realize until the damage was done what had happened. I always "hand check" my water that I add during water changes, but ordered a thermometer that should be in within the next couple days so they will be much more accurate in the future. I am still in the process of stocking. The only very recent thing is I brought mine and my friends fish home from the 10 gal we have in the dorm and put them in the 55 gal for the break. That crew consisted of a dojo loach, threadfin rainbow, killifish, and a guppy. Earlier this week I added another threadfin and a pearl gourami. I began seeing the ick a few days later, but I don't think either of these guys introduced it as they're not showing symptoms. I can almost literally see the spores coming out of the filter media, which is what LED me to believe that I hadn't completely taken care of the problem the first time around.

soldieroffortune1974

How long has it been since the outbreak?

If it's in the filter,then I will almost guarantee that the fish have it,but aren't showing signs/symptoms.

OK,here's my suggestion: Raise the temp of the aquarium to 83 - 84 F,remove the filter media do a water change and vaccuum the gravel.Keep the water in 2 seperate buckets. Put salt in 1 bucket about 5 teaspoons/gallon,soak the filter media in the salt water for about 30 minutes. Then rinse the filter media off really well in the other bucket,without salt water.Replace the filter media (same media that came out) Continue changing the water and vacuuming the gravel every other day or so,soaking the filter media in saltwater and rinsing it thoroughly when you do the water changes.

Treat the aquarium as a quarantine.Don't feed,keep the lights out.Hopefully you will see improvements quickly.

GouramiGirl1221

The original outbreak was about 4 weeks ago. I've got the temp around 82 right now...I'm going to raise it another degree or two when I get my digital thermometer in the mail (is supposed to arrive Monday) so that I can keep a better eye on it. I'll keep it elevated for two weeks after I get it where it needs to be. Should I do the filter media in the salt water for the entire two weeks as well? Thanks for the advice...I hadn't heard of doing that, and it's great that I won't have to re-cycle!

I'm already seeing a bit of improvement with the temp at 82...the two guys that were showing symptoms have lost a bunch of their white spots. Like I said, just waiting for that digital thermometer. All I have now is the strip that goes on the outside of the glass, and for something this touchy I don't really trust that.

soldieroffortune1974

It's a salt bath,which kills parasites,fungus,bacterial infections.It's normally done on the fish,but you have some that would be sensitive to the salt,so instead of bathing the fish,you are bathing the filter media in a salt bath. It will kill the ick spore in the media.Vacuuming the gravel will get rid of the ick from the substrate,and water changes will remove any free floating spore.The temp increase will kill even more.Between all of it,you should be ick free in a short period of time.

Don't leave the filter media in the salt water longer than 30 minutes at a time,the salt will eventually kill the bacteria. Change the water every day,vacuum the gravel and soak the filter media in salt water.Do that for 2 weeks and the ick should be gone.