My buddy caught ick, but i have some questions

[Franco7]

Well my buddy caught ick and he tried to treat it, but that didn't work out to well so he decided to do a 100% water change and start over. Mind you this is his second time he lost fish and i mean all of his fish, so hes not to happy. He ask me to post and ask if he did a 100% water change and is going to use the same filters and gravel does he have to treat the water with ick meds while hes cycling or will the ick be gone after 100% water change? Also does ick infect the live bacteria on his filters and stuff, like if he uses the same filters and gravel will ick still be present and infect him again?

Thanks guys.

 

[Billsgate]

Ick can still be in the gravel. Tell him to try the salt and heat treatment while cycling again. Check this article for more info: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/showquestion.php?faq=2&fldAuto=32
Good luck!

 

[Apocalypse_Gold]

The heat and salt treatment is the most effective method and it won't hurt the cycle. Ich does generally need to find a host and it cannot infect bacteria (too small) so it may be gone but this way you will know that it is. Most ich meds only kill the free swimming protozoan and not the cysts, which would be in the gravel.