How often to put salt in my tank for ICH?
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How often to put salt in my tank for ICH?
I turned the temp up on my tank to 86(slowly) and put in 3 tablespoons of salt per the instructions on the aquarium salt I bought from wal-mart. How often should I be putting salt into my 15g aquarium?
I would say, get an ich medication. Walmart should have it. If they don't go to petsmart, a store like that, or a fish store.
Water change, water change, water change.
During treatment, do a water change every day for at least a week. Clean the bottom (one of the forms of the ich life cycle land on the botom) - but if your are a hurry with your DAILY water changes, skip the vacuuming and at least do the water change. Add the ich medication with the new water.
My loaches were the 'test fishes' when I bought in an ich-infected fish. They got it first. I have had my blue/orange lotia modestas, and they haven't died in over a year, despite a few ich infestations.
Take grimly practical and decisive action.
The medication is tough on plants. But its worth it.
Water change, water change, water change.
During treatment, do a water change every day for at least a week. Clean the bottom (one of the forms of the ich life cycle land on the botom) - but if your are a hurry with your DAILY water changes, skip the vacuuming and at least do the water change. Add the ich medication with the new water.
My loaches were the 'test fishes' when I bought in an ich-infected fish. They got it first. I have had my blue/orange lotia modestas, and they haven't died in over a year, despite a few ich infestations.
Take grimly practical and decisive action.
The medication is tough on plants. But its worth it.
Hmph. Sorry to hear about your fish.
I used Rid-ich, too, along with the water changes, and it worked. It suppose we could figure it out if we took water type, fishes, how long ich was present, temperatre and gazillion other things.
When I first got ich (I've only been keeping fish since 2001) I tried the high-temp/salt thing too, but the salt accumulation made me distressed, so I sought other means. Maybe I was just had the lucky combination.
I used Rid-ich, too, along with the water changes, and it worked. It suppose we could figure it out if we took water type, fishes, how long ich was present, temperatre and gazillion other things.
When I first got ich (I've only been keeping fish since 2001) I tried the high-temp/salt thing too, but the salt accumulation made me distressed, so I sought other means. Maybe I was just had the lucky combination.
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DancesAlone
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2005 2:44 pm
- Location: Wisconsin USA
http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_ich2.php
In the past I've encountered similar situations where the ICH meds do not work. If it were not for the heat/salt treatment some of my fish would not still be here. Without getting into a debate on salt, if you would like to use heat and salt, read the above article. Really informative.
The only additional advice from me would be to make sure that your water parameters are ideal, 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrite and low Nitrates. Fragile Plants do not take kindly to heat and salt but most will survive just fine for 10 days. You can keep uping the salt for 3 days to the maximum level and then hold it there (haven't read the article in awhile)
FYI remember to add back salt when doing a water exchange to equal the amount of water removed/replaced. Example: 10 gallons, tank has 5 tsp. of salt to start with. You water exchange out 5 gallons. You will need to put 2.5 tsps. of salt back in. Always mix the salt really well in the exchange bucket, do not add directly (it will harm your fish undiluted) And top off the tank (add water that has evaporated before removing water)
Hope your fish recover quickly.
In the past I've encountered similar situations where the ICH meds do not work. If it were not for the heat/salt treatment some of my fish would not still be here. Without getting into a debate on salt, if you would like to use heat and salt, read the above article. Really informative.
The only additional advice from me would be to make sure that your water parameters are ideal, 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrite and low Nitrates. Fragile Plants do not take kindly to heat and salt but most will survive just fine for 10 days. You can keep uping the salt for 3 days to the maximum level and then hold it there (haven't read the article in awhile)
FYI remember to add back salt when doing a water exchange to equal the amount of water removed/replaced. Example: 10 gallons, tank has 5 tsp. of salt to start with. You water exchange out 5 gallons. You will need to put 2.5 tsps. of salt back in. Always mix the salt really well in the exchange bucket, do not add directly (it will harm your fish undiluted) And top off the tank (add water that has evaporated before removing water)
Hope your fish recover quickly.
Older now but still running against the wind....
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Dance like no one is watching
Sing like no one is listening
and Live each day like it's your last
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Dance like no one is watching
Sing like no one is listening
and Live each day like it's your last
***************************************
I appreciate your help Linden, but this strain is pretty tough and I'm using salt/heat as a last resort.
Thank you, Dancesalone for the link. It's just what I'm looking for. My cory's look like they are behaving alot better since I added the salt to my aquarium. Hopefully my remaining Botia turns the corner on the road to recovery. He's actually eating so it is a little improvement.
I took the plants I had(2 swords easily replaced) out and just have the bare stuff in there. It makes it alot easier to clean and causing less stress to my fish as I don't have to move stuff around to clean because of the sand.
Thank you, Dancesalone for the link. It's just what I'm looking for. My cory's look like they are behaving alot better since I added the salt to my aquarium. Hopefully my remaining Botia turns the corner on the road to recovery. He's actually eating so it is a little improvement.
I took the plants I had(2 swords easily replaced) out and just have the bare stuff in there. It makes it alot easier to clean and causing less stress to my fish as I don't have to move stuff around to clean because of the sand.
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Graeme Robson
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You know you have to keep treating at least 3-4 days AFTER the spots are gone don't you? Otherwise it just comes back. Here's a site that explains the ich life cyclehttp://www.caloriesperhour.com/fish/notes_ich.html
Nancy
Nancy
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