Sick Platy: Ich + Fungus?

HI everyone, I'm a newbie to the fishkeeping world and have already learned a lot from this fantastic forum. I had hoped that I would not have to ask for help so quickly, but here's the story:

MM 8/7/18 white spots

• Megumi
• Aug 7, 2018

I have a platy (bought on Friday) and he's not doing well. (sorry, this is the best photo I could get).

I saw the hard, sand-like white speck on dorsal his fin yesterday and figured he had Ich, so I raised up the temp in the tank gradually from 76 to 86F over the next 24hours, turned up my airstone and dropped the water level a bit so my HOB filter agitates the water a bit more. Today I noticed the larger white patch on his back, which is a bit raised but isn't as crystal-like, and now another small white patch is starting on his other side - is it possible the poor fella has Ich and a fungus as well? If so, how do I treat both? Would the addition of aquarium salt help cure both simultaneously?

The photo shows him at the surface but I should mention that he has not spent all day up there - he has taken tours around the tank (20gal tall), does not always clamp his fins and ate fairly enthusiastically. He has been shy since the beginning but always comes out when it's chow time.

I'd be grateful for any help you can offer!

 

What are the water parameters like? It looks like a white haze from a bacterial bloom. Is it a new tank? I just want to make sure we've got a great environment that supports health first. Do you have a test kit for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

 

Yes, I'm afraid it is a new tank. I have been using Stability and Prime as directed and the water parameters (API Master Test Kit) have been PH 7.6 Ammo 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 0 (I swear I shook the Nitrate test bottle as directed). It has been assembled and running for 10 days, It turned cloudy on Day 3. We started Stability and Prime on Day 4, so we are on Day 6 of using Stability + Prime, and the fish were added on Day 3 of using Stability + Prime. Our water is fairly hard but I haven't tested KH or GH.

 

I should add that in terms of stock there is the 1 sick mickey mouse platy, 1 twin bar platy and 1 dalmatian molly in the tank. The other two seem ok, there might be one speck on the molly's tail but it's hard to tell since it's a dalmatian.

 

The salt is a good first approach. It might be a good time to use less invasive treatments like the heat and salt. Maybe wait and see before adding antibiotics or antifungal. Are any of the other 2 fish male also? Any aggression towards this one?

 

The other two are males and actually the sick on has been the most territorial of the bunch. They have butted each other a bit to establish a pecking order but no serious chasing or harassment that I have seen. How much salt would you recommend?

 

Its said more and more that aquarium salt has been kind of exposed as unnecessary. Some swear by it. I believe there's a dosage on the apI aquarium salt. A tablespoon for 10 gallons I think it says.

 

Thanks so much for your input! I really appreciate it.