Ick issue in 180g Tank

[Franchise34]

Hello Community.

I have a 180g Cichlid tank that I recently added some clown loaches. The loaches have developed ick in the last week and I am trying to figure out the best way to handle it.

Normally I set up a 10g and use it as a hospital tank. But my issue is that with the size of the main tank and the speed of the loaches, I am having no luck catching them. I caught one and treated the 10g with API ick medicine but the loach died pretty fast.

I worry about using the meds as I find that even though I follow the instructions it is very powerful.

So my question is how can I treat them effectively in my main tank. I have been putting a mild amount of the meds in and I turned up the heat to 86 (which will take some time due to the tank size) This is the first time in 3 years I have had any issues with this tank. The cichlids seem to not have contracted the parasite.

 

[libertybelle]

Dont have much experience with ick but I do know you shouldn’t bother with a hospital tank. Ick parasites are already in the tank and so the whole tank needs to be treated.

Tough with such a big tank, I’m sure but that’s the reality with ick.