I think my goldfish got ICK! :(

[Christina717]

After having problems with my Ph I put crushed coral in my tank. My PH went from 6.4 to 8+ in about 1-2days do you think this could of caused my 1 fish to get ICk?
I noticed my Oranda swimming oddly yesterday but I thought he was just beeing a goofball but when I woke up today he had about 3white spots, at first I thought it was air bubbles stuck to him but after watching him for about 5min I noticed that they were not(Wish they were) My other goldfish seems fine for now but I treated my tank just to be sure, I am slowly raising the temp to about 80F

Am I missing anything?

 

[eco23]

The sudden pH shift most likely was the cause. Changes that happen too rapidly will stress your fish, weaken their immune system and make them more susceptible to illness.

They key with using CC or anything else that changes water chemistry is to do it VERY slowly and lightly. When I first ran CC in my tank to buffer and add alkalinity, I only added a few pieces at first, and over a week upped my level until I achieved the required kH. The goal is to find the proper amount where it buffers your water and holds the pH at your natural tap water value without dramatically changing the pH.

You'll also want to raise the temperature VERY slowly, and if you use aquarium salt, you will also want to very slowly increase the salinity level. Don't just add the full dose all at once.

There's a great sticky in the Unhealthy Fish section of the site to check out. Lucky Ich isn't a big deal if you catch it early. Good luck

 

[Christina717]

Do you think I added to much crushed coral? should I take some out?

 

[eco23]

I think you added too much too quickly. I would pull some out, then do very small water changes over the span of several days to find the right balance (you don't want to shock them again).

Again, it's about making changes very slowly and finding a balance where you achieve the level you want, but the change needs to be done very gradually.

Now, since you have new fish, it's possible the outbreak would have happened regardless, but a sudden shift will weaken their immune system and may have prevented them from fighting it off.

I'd just increase the temperature very slowly over the course of a few days, and also start adding aquarium salt very slowly. Only a little at a time until you get the right amount (just like with the CC).

 

[Christina717]

my temp of the tank is at 72F but when I looked at him this morning, he lost some of his color on one side, the other one seems to be doing fine but here are a few pics.
Idk whats happening to him, he just lays at the bootom of the tank, he just floats around im really worried about him


I added super ick cure to the tank and added salt, not all at once I took some tank water and let it dissolve but I put some in over the course of 5hrs

 

[Christina717]

here is another picture

 

[librarygirl]

Unfortunately Ich usually gets worse before it gets better. Hopefully your fish will make it through. Keep upping the temp though (I think 1-2 degrees every 12 hours or so) until it gets to 86. Good luck.

 

[Christina717]

here is the other pic

 

[eco23]

Does it look like somebody sprinkled him with a salt shaker? It's hard to tell from the pics if it really is Ich. I've never seen a fish lose color on a side from it. Are they rubbing up against stuff?

When you use heat + salt you don't need to use any medications. The meds only work at a particular phase of the outbreak, and some can damage your bacteria (who h you worked so hard to grow).

Make sure it's Ich first of all, I think I've seen Librarygirl link a good page about different parasites / fungus / etc...

 

[librarygirl]

Thanks Eco, I think it was this one: Tropical Freshwater and Marine FISH DISEASE CHART

I agree, it's hard to tell from the pics (and I'm not familiar with goldfish).

 

[Christina717]

He didnt have the loos of color yesterday he does have ick on his tail and fins and a little bit on his body but this white patch is something different, Ill try to take a clearer pic

 

[Christina717]

everytime we try to get a pic he moves but heres the best

 

[eco23]

Sorry, I can't really help here . You should start a thread in the Unhealthy Fish section of the site and see if others have ideas.

I hope he gets better...he seems like a nice fish.