Treatment for ich - water change afterwards?

Hi! I've just started (yesterday) a course of treatment with Waterlife Protozin White spot and fungus (half dose as the tank hosts a bristlenose pleco).

the instructions say dose on day 1,2,3 and 6, and that's it - do I need to water change significantly after day 6?

The spots appeared yesterday morning and the first dose was last night (was 150 miles away when the spots appeared!), so hopefully we have caught it early enough.

 

I would do a large water change after treatment. You could add some carbon to your filter as well if you wish.

I wasn't aware that BN's were particularly sensitive to some Ich treatments. Does the product say that?

 

Fishkeepers often assume that their fish are "cured" when there are no more white spots disappear. Unfortunately, that is not the case. The protozoan that causes ich has a life cycle that lasts about a month. We notice the infection only when the protozoa bury into the flesh of the fish and form white cysts. These cysts are highly protective . There is no way to kill the organisms while they are in the cyst stage Often it is recommended to increase water temperature to something around 82F as part of the treatment. The higher temperature causes the protazoa to multiply more rapidly inside the cysts. Eventually, the cysts will rupture and tiny tomites will emerge into the water column. These tomites are quite fragile and are easily killed by suitable medications. They can also be filtered out of the water column by very fine microfilters or be killed by ultra violet sterilization.

Unfortunately, if the tomites are not killed, they continue through their life cycle and will get to the point where they will look for new fish to reinfect. If you stop treating the tank with medications as soon as the cysts fall off, the protozoa will live to infect another day. You cannot be sure the infection is cured until the tank has gone more than a month with no more symptoms.

Doing water changes after the cysts fall off the fish will remove a portion of the protozoa from the tank, so it is helpful part of the treatment. Just make sure to add more medication afterward. Only discontinue treatment when you are sure the infection is gone. In many cases, the infection is never gone completely. Any remaining organisms go dormant awaiting a suitable opportunity to reemerge. That is why fish often get ich after a sudden drop in temperature oran episode of poor water quality.

 

Thank you both for your responses.

GlennO no, it doesn't say that on the bottle, but following a previous BN loss we looked online and a lot of recommendations were for a half dose if they are in the tank, so we've gone with that - so far she seems happy, so we are hopeful (last time, 8 years ago, we lost our BN within hours of the treatment going in, she was trying to climb out of the water, and a fresh tank was too little too late)

RayClem thank you - yes, we know the spots are the least of our worries! We will clear the bottom before each new dosing, and add some fresh water. The bottle says nothing about water changes during or after. During I understand as it's probably not great to dilute the treatment by adding fresh water, but after we weren't sure - I will make sure we have plenty of RO water for once the treatment course is completed. I assume by day 7 we should of any nasties - I have also increased the water temperature to 28C (and will increase again today to 30C) to speed up the cycle and hopefully catch all of the left over nasties.

Will it be ok to return the temperature to 26C once we're in the clear?

 

Here is a link to a Fishlore article about ick

Treatment of the Ick Parasite

 

Thank you, FishDin

 

The primary reason to increase temperature is to cause the cysts to rupture more quickly so the fish will be rid of the cysts and the medication can go to work on the free-swimming tomites. Once the cysts are gone for a few days, you can return the temperature to normal.

 

Thank you RayClem

The temperature is at 29C and I have added an air stone, too. We have no visible spots today, I have vacuumed the bottom this morning and added some fresh RO water (remineralised with Equilibrium). Today is day 3 so another dose this evening, then the last (I hope) on Saturday (Day 6)..

fingers crossed!

 

Well this cycle of treatment didn’t work as we found more spots today (Day 6).

have increased the temperature to 30C, done a big water change and am trying a new treatment (from Maidenhead Aquatics) that doesn’t contain copper (as the Waterlife one does) so have added a full dose today and will see how the week goes..!

 

That's unfortunate. Protozin is usually a reliable Ich treatment. As well as copper it contains formaldehyde and malachite green which the most effective Ich meds contain.

FYI there's no need to have the temperature that high when treating with meds, in fact it can be hazardous in combination with meds by reducing the available oxygen. The Ich life cycle is at its quickest at about 27C and doesn't speed up further beyond that.

 

Thanks GlennO there is so much conflicting information, a lot of sources say go for 30C! We do have plenty of aeration but I will lower the temperature.
This medication has malachite green and formaldehyde, just no copper.
Everyone is swimming around and has eaten well this morning, but our two loaches are still carrying spots.
This new treatment is every other day for a week, so please keep your fingers crossed this one works!

 

there is so much conflicting information, a lot of sources say go for 30C!

30C is the minimum if you're treating with heat only. But it doesn't need to be that high if you're treating with medication.

 

Due to the life cycle of ich protozoa, the 6 day treatment cycle might not be long enough to rid the tank of the infection. You have to continue treatment until no reinfections occur. That could take up to a month.

 

Thank you!
I will keep at it then with this new treatment - it says if a second course is needed wait 7 days, so I’ll get to Friday and hope that’s it, if not I’ll start again the following weekend

 

I don’t want to speak too soon but I’m hopeful it’s all gone!

thanks to you all for the advice!