vinceli

I'm pretty new to fishes. I have my new tank setup, I use the color test for my amonia and nitrite levels. The tanks water is set up for over a month now, and for the past 2 weeks I was so proud of myself I actualy had my nitrite, pH levels checked good. During the setup process and cycling ignorance I lost 5 barbs, I learned my lesson the hard way. But after the cycling my barbs looked happy they were schooling and so active. I also have 2 albino sharks.
But yesterday I noticed one of my barbs was not schooling, I noticed he had the spots, when I fed he didnt care about the food.
I dosed my tank with Rid-ick, after a few hours I saw one barb dead.
The following morning, I saw one barb with the same condition, so I dosed the tank again, as per the instructions I can do a dose for the next 12 hours.
This time I quarantined the real sick barb. I checked on the quarantinced barb and he died after a few hours.

My water temperature has been setup to 82 the whole time.
I havent done any water changes, according to the Rid-ick instructions the treatment is much faster if I do this, so I took this as an optional task. Maybe I need to do this, but then again if I do a water change I was thinking that's gonna raise the nitrite levels.

Now all 8 of my barbs are hiding inactive. The 2 sharks dont seem to be affected though, they were the ones who lived throughout the cycling as well.

Prior to this I tried 5 gold fishes, after a little ove a month they died from ICH.
I drained the tank, then let the tank sit for 2 weeks before adding my barbs.

This is really frustrating, I thought I was doing everything right now Im getting hit by ick again.
Any help and advice is really appreciated, thanks!!

aquarist48

Good morning and so sorry to hear about your ICH problem and your fish loss. I know it isn't easy. I would like to suggest adding carbon back into your filter (if you removed it)to remove the Rid Ich and possibily a 50% water change. Raise your temperature to 84 or 85 degrees for 2 weeks. Vacuum the gravel to remove any Ich spores that fall off the fish and into your substrate at least a couple of times during this 2 week period. Rid Ich would be my last resort. Add some Prime or Nova Aqua +. It sounds like your fish are having a bad reaction to the medicine. Since the entire tank is affected by ICH there is no need for quarantine. Best of luck for a speedy recovery!

ABCDemily

Turn up the temperature, and gravel vac every other day so you can get all the ICH spores. Leave the temperature there for two weeks, feed normally, and hopefully the problem should sort out itself. Do lots of water changes. And medication doesn't always work, so do plenty of water changes. Medication is generally the last resort
Good luck

vinceli

Thanks guys!!
I just checked out the fish today, so far no fish loss and surprisingly it appears I dont see the spots but the water has the blue dye now and the fishes are hiding. Maybe the dye is affecting their vission so theyre hiding? I dont know I'll observe.

This is probably the effect of the medication, I guess I'll just wait for it to clear.

I will do the temperture raise but what is gravel vacuming, can you recommend a product?
Ill try to add prime as well whatever that is.

I have a todlers running around so I went the easiest way using medication, instead of a water change with the kid running around.

Thanks again!

ABCDemily

Basically, if you get any tube, a small little one, and start a siphon (by using something to suck on the end to draw water through-I use a syringe that fits into the end)

Then just sweep the gravel, and it picks up stuff like fish poo and ICH spores in your case.

I know a lot of people here use a python, (I don't, mainly because I can't get them here...) Here's the link http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pcatid=3910

Good Luck

vinceli

Thanks for the link thats really helpful.