Ick...Ich...

[ericmatz]

So my cloudy water finally cleared, and low and behold, my poor Clown Loach and Bleeding Hearts have Ich. I've scoured the forums for the recommended course of action in a planted tank, but have seen a number of different responses. So I'll post my situation and hopefully someone will have some suggestions. You've all been very helpful since I found this forum, so I'm sure that streak will continue!

As I said - planted tank 38 gal. I've got a few Amazon Swords, a Crinkle Onion, a Java Fern, and a small Anubias. For fish, I have a trio of Glowlights, four Bleeding Hearts, a trio of Siamenses, one Otocinclus, one Farlowella, one Cory Cat, one Clown Loach, and a pair of seldom seen Amano Shrimp. The ich looks to be affecting the BHs and the CL at the moment, so hopefully it's just getting started.

Any suggestions? I have one of those Dual Temp heaters, so unfortunately I can't raise the temp above 82. I flipped the switch, so the temp is on its way up. I do have a spare heater if 82 isn't high enough. I've got Copper Safe handy, but copper doesn't sound like it's good for plants. Salt was another suggestion, but then again...okay for plants?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Guest]

You are most likely stuck with temperature only. I wouldn't do either salt or coppersafe in a planted tank, some plants may tolerate it, but most would not. I don't think the clown loach would tolerate the salt either, but I'm not certain on that one. Your best bet is to QT those fish in a separate tank, but I'm guessing you don't have a qt tank? (Don't feel bad if you don't, I don't either). Temp really needs to be over 84 for 2 weeks or so.

 

[Allivymar]

Salt can also be an issue for corys, so I also think its a no go. If you haven't read the article I wrote in the articles section, go take a look. I went thru all the research, did my own experimenting and came up with what works.

The heat treatment is the easiest and safest IMHO; lots of folks have had success with it as well. Thing is, the temps MUST go above 86F.

 

[Guest]

I meant 86, DOH, *slaps head*

Alli is the Mighty Ich Slayer, as it sayeth in her sig line...

 

[ericmatz]

I have an empty ten gallon but it's empty...no filter for it. I've never set up a QT tank...suggestions? If I do that, should I medicate? I'll check out the article...thanks Alli!

Yeah, my heater has been switched over for 6 hours now and the temp still isn't over 80...wonder if it will even get there...may need to use the spare heater if it has better adjustment.

 

[Allivymar]

I'm gonna move this to the FW fish health forum; not quite a plant topic *grin*

In the meantime, coupla things to think about.

Unless your main tank is empty of fish, you will likely not get rid of ich. As long as it can find a host, it'll be around. Leaving a main tank fallow for a week or 2 would eradicate the ich as it will die without a host. So you COULD move all the fish into the QT and medicate.

Treating the main tank means killing off all the parasites too. But some clowns do NOT do well with most ich meds, and they will kill the shrimp as well. Plants also don't like the meds, or the level of salt needed to kill ich. Its one reason most of us use the heat treatment. Its relatively safe for most fish, plants and inverts.

Oh, and I also wrote a QT article too; its in the article section as well.

heh, I figured it was a typo corvu shoulda left me with my illusions LOL

 

[ericmatz]

Well, the temp in my tank has been 86+ for a 4-5 days now. The tetras seem to be free of the ich, but my loach is still pretty much covered in the stuff. He's not acting himself either. I'll keep you posted. Hopefully I'll start seeing some improvement.

 

[Menagerie]

How is your surface agitation? With higher temps, less oxygen will dissolve into the water.
How is your loach acting?

 

[ericmatz]

I've got an Emporer 400, so lots of agitation. Today the loach seems more peppy. I came up to the tank and he scurried away...better than before when he just sat there in the open. That's not like him! :?

Ich looks to be declining. Once the white spots are gone from the loach, should I do a small water change?

 

[Menagerie]

Since you are doing the temperature only treatment, you can and should keep up with regular water changes. After all signs of ich are gone, continue treatment for an additional two weeks.

 

[AirForceWife]

Heat Treatment -- THANK YOU

Allivymar, I want to thank you for your article on ick. I am a beginner with a one month old tank. I was so frustrated when my fish got ick, and really did not want to start messing with meds already. I read in your article about the heat treatment, and 36 hours after I turned up the heat, all signs of ick were GONE!! Not one fish died and I didn't use a single drop of meds. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

 

[Menagerie]

Don't forget to keep the treatment up for two weeks!
~And welcome to AA, AirForce Wife!!

 

[Allivymar]

You're very welcome AFwife I was fortunate enough to have some knowledgeable folk guide me thru my fish's first bout of ich, and wanted to be sure to share that info. Medicine free ich treatment has apparently been around for ages, but its like some sort of hidden knowledge. Seems silly to me; why subject the fish to more problems if one doesn't have to? So I tried to do my part to get that knowledge out there I'm pleased it went well for you!