Ich while cycling...

Hello, I sprt of asked bout this in my old thread but I thought it was better to have its own thread . I've been cycling a tank for 7 days now with TSS and 7 neons (I know, not the best beginner fish). Things were going well until I noticed a few white spots. Now I know I can't treat with meds because of the cycling going on however I've heard of natural remedies as well.

First question, will turning up the heat to 85F be OK for fish to survive? What I mean is, does the heat actually kill the fish or is it the lack of oxygen from the heat? I'm afraid to turn it up and kill my neons while the tank is still cycling especially because the TSS cycle is supposed to only take 10-14 days. If it is in fact the lack of oxygen from the heat that does the damage, well my water line is about an inch or so below the black rI'm so my filter dies cause a decent break and bubbles in the water.

Next problem I have is that I'm not suppose to do water changes and or gravel vacs until the tank is cycled and even then maybe a few days after for gravel vacs

I don't know if I should ride it out until its cycled and stable then treat for ich OR start turning heat up now and finish the cycle then do gravel and water changes once I'm cycled while maintaining the heat. Reason I'm worried about starting the heat now is that Idk if it will kill fish. If its the oxygen that kills them, then maybe I could look into a air stone just not familiar with them yet. Any thoughts?

 

Higher temps when treating ich is ok for all fish since it's just temporary. You can add an air stone to provide extra oxygen.

If it were me, I would treat the ich now since the stress of the disease might kill them sooner than the tank cycles. I know you added TSS+ and have at least a week left but I would switch routes with the bacteria supplement and get Seachem Stability that would allow for water changes during the 7 day dosing schedule. You could then do your water changes and gravel vacs and cycle your tank at the same time.

 

Higher temps when treating ich is ok for all fish since it's just temporary. You can add an air stone to provide extra oxygen.

If it were me, I would treat the ich now since the stress of the disease might kill them sooner than the tank cycles. I know you added TSS+ and have at least a week left but I would switch routes with the bacteria supplement and get Seachem Stability that would allow for water changes during the 7 day dosing schedule. You could then do your water changes and gravel vacs and cycle your tank at the same time.

So you think I could turn up the heat and add a dose of stability, then clean and do a PWC and gravel vac, add prime and water, rinse and repeat? Having both TSS and stability in the tank wouldn't matter?

 

Well, I would guess that doing the water change will make the TSS+ fail so it wouldn't matter adding the Stability. I'd first do the water change dosed with Prime and do a gravel vac. Adding an air stone for extra oxygen will help. Add your first dose of Stability and slowly raise your temp to 86F. Keep it at that temp for the full 2 weeks, doing gravel vacs at least every other day.

Follow the dosing directions on Stability as well as testing your parameters daily. If ammonia or nitrite is less than 1, dose Prime for the full volume of your tank size. If greater than 1, do a 50% water change dosed with Prime.

 

Alright, I'm at work until the morning so when I get home tmrw I'll see how the fish look and possibly go buy the stability and prime to start this process. Haven't used either product but I assume the directions for both will be easy enough.

 

Seachem Prime is a water conditioner that can replace your existing water conditioner for water changes. It's a better product since it also detoxifies ammonia and nitrite up to 1ppm for 24 hrs.

 

Seachem prime helped my tank while the stability kicked so I recommend it just like everyone else who has given you advice just make sure to shake up the bottle of stability each day you use it during your seven day dosing period.

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