I'm Starting To Doubt This is Ich.. :(

First - the setup: 45 Gal Tank - Biweekly 25%, and 50% water changes (so A week 25%, B week 50%) along with every other week siphoning the floor and general cleanup.
Temp is 82 F, Currently sitting at PH - 7.6, Ammonia - 0, Nitrite - 0, Nitrate - 10/20. Use the Master Test Kit for the water.

My clown loach is about 3 inches long, has been very happy and healthy for the half a year I've had him, and as soon as I thought he was displaying a case of ich, I began treating it. I used the Super Ick Cure by API as I've had success with it before with my other tank.

My greatest concern is I'm starting to think it's not ich. It looked classic when it presented - salt sized white spots on his nose, but NOW after 4 days he's got these small craters in his skin, one area next to his gill looks raw, and he has a couple more spots. I was gifted my dear Loachy, and so I've never experienced ich with a loach or a fish of his variety. Maybe you all could tell me if this looks normal?

OH - the other reason I think it may not be ich is NO OTHER FISH has any spots! No one is ill, speckled, or even slightly phased. What are your thoughts?

 

I don't think you are dealing with Ick. The problem looks more like HITH disease.
I've never seen a Loach with HITH before & don't know if they are even suseptable.
The lesions might be something as simple as minor abrasions.
Either way; not Ick.

 

So, I honestly do not know what this is, but I know it’s not Ich. If possible, I was separate this fish ASAP. If you don’t have quarantine tank, a decent sized tub will work if you have extra tank supplies laying around. While the other fish seem unaffected, it’s a common precaution.

 

I've set up a qt and I'm looking into meds. Would you all recommend API General Cure? This is my first time experiencing anything outside of Popeye or ich. So nervous...

 

I second the HITH ..
Start with vitamins ,good food and clean water ..
I believe HITH is a parasite ..Many go with Metro as first treatment .
Hole in the Head (HITH) and Head and Lateral Line Erosion (HLLE)