How Much Aquarium Salt Should I Add For Ich?

I have some ich in my 55 gal tank, the population is 5 mollies (not yet fully grown) + 9 fancy guppies.

I began treatment 2 days ago (this is the third day) with using aquarium salt and increasing the heat to 85 F gradually. Since mollies and guppies can withstand heat and salt I figred it would be good to try this method first. I'm also siphoning the sand every day and changing about 15 gals of water along with it.

There is conflicting info online of how much salt to add for ich...So I just followed the dose on the aquarium salt package which is 1 tablespoon / 5 gal. I added it gradually and the fish have reacted positively to it (they're mating, active, eating and one had babies already). I think caught the ich early, 4 mollies had visible spots on the tail and fins and now just 2 have visible spots. I think I saw a tiny spot on one guppy but not sure, however, I don't know if that means it's being eradicated or not, as ich had invisible forms.

My questions are, should I just add more salt to make sure the ich dies? Is 1 tablespoon / 5 gallons too little?
How much have you safely used with mollies and guppies?
Also how long should I wait until I try a medication like Paraguard?

 

You could add paraguard at the same time as salt. I use 1.44g of salt per liter, this is equivalent to one tablespoon per 25 liters. Make sure to remove any carbon or other chemical media from the filter before adding paraguard and remove zeolite if you have it before adding salt.

 

The ich lifecycle takes around 14 days to complete.

Stay the course for the WHOLE 14 days so it doesn't come back.

 

I have some ich in my 55 gal tank, the population is 5 mollies (not yet fully grown) + 9 fancy guppies.

I began treatment 2 days ago (this is the third day) with using aquarium salt and increasing the heat to 85 F gradually. Since mollies and guppies can withstand heat and salt I figred it would be good to try this method first. I'm also siphoning the sand every day and changing about 15 gals of water along with it.

There is conflicting info online of how much salt to add for ich...So I just followed the dose on the aquarium salt package which is 1 tablespoon / 5 gal. I added it gradually and the fish have reacted positively to it (they're mating, active, eating and one had babies already). I think caught the ich early, 4 mollies had visible spots on the tail and fins and now just 2 have visible spots. I think I saw a tiny spot on one guppy but not sure, however, I don't know if that means it's being eradicated or not, as ich had invisible forms.

My questions are, should I just add more salt to make sure the ich dies? Is 1 tablespoon / 5 gallons too little?
How much have you safely used with mollies and guppies?
Also how long should I wait until I try a medication like Paraguard?

Hello Til...

Avoid putting chemicals into the tank water, other than your water treatment. Ich can be taken care of by removing and replacing one-third of the tank water every three days for two to three weeks and do a good job of vacuuming the bottom material every time you change the tank water. Include a teaspoon of standard aquarium salt in every five gallons of treated water change water. After two to three weeks, start removing and replacing half the water every week for as long as you have the tank running. You can continue to use the same salt dose, but the cleaner water should be enough to keep the parasite from coming back. The combination of pure water conditions and the salt will retard the growth and development of the Ich parasite. I would also reduce the amount you feed the fish. Fish that aren't necessarily feeling well won't be inclined to eat much. And, you don't want uneaten food to foul the tank water.

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Thanks for the feedback guys! I'll definitely keep with the salt, heat & daily siphoning for two weeks,
I examined them again and seems like just two mollies have any spots, guppies are unaffected (such hardy little fish), I occasionally see the mollies scratching against the sand, poor little guys.
Will update when it gets better (or worse, lol).

 

Thanks for the feedback guys! I'll definitely keep with the salt, heat & daily siphoning for two weeks,
I examined them again and seems like just two mollies have any spots, guppies are unaffected (such hardy little fish), I occasionally see the mollies scratching against the sand, poor little guys.
Will update when it gets better (or worse, lol).

Til...

One more thing. Be careful with heat. It will stimulate your fishes' metabolism and they'll produce more waste. That's why you need to reduce the amount you feed. Dissolving waste is a sure way to foul up the water chemistry. Heat will also damage aquarium plants. The heat does shorten the life of the Ich parasite. I guess that's why some recommend it. I believe you can stop the parasite with pure water and salt, but that's just my opinion. You're the tank keeper.

Old

 

A little update on the ich, no more spots or scratching, looks like its all gone!
I went by my gut and fishes behaviour as to how to keep treating, after a few days of the heat and salt the heat seemed to be stressing them out, so I lowered it to 81.5F instead of 86F. I kept on with the salt, but I still noticed some new spots coming and going.
So I added Paragard to the treatment for 6 days now and I think it worked - the medication is very mild, no ill effects on the fishes and, surprisingly, the live plants didn't get harmed by it at all.
I'm also doing a daily substrate vacuuming and 20-30% water change (redosing the Paragard right after the water change)...I'm sure that's helping too.
I'll stick with the salt+Paragard treatment for the recommended 21 days, just to make sure.

 

Absolutely keep it up for the full treatment. You don't want the ich parasites hatching and having another go attacking your fish