Get rid of that darn ick.....after the fish died

[PitterPatti]

Okay, sadly I lost 9 fish to ick, and moved the last guppies to a small tank.

I want to be sure the ick is gone. Can I clean out my 55 gallon, without using chlorine, rinse the plants, and recycle on 90 heat? or do I need to clean it all up, and wait a week (or two) running it at 90 degrees, then recycle the tank........ I guess that question is can good bacteria grow in 90 degrees heated water etc.?

someone said ich dies when no host is present for a couple of weeks. I just want to be SURE, don't want this to happen again.


I plan to use the same biowheel just will be rinsing it, it has been used in the tanks which has the guppies in it, with ich (they don't show it but one did die right after the other balas and loaches). so the ick guard has been on the bio wheel and in the guppy water.

I promise to get out the ick lifecycle and read it here soon, and will post the pics of my loaches with ich......if the pics took.

thanks
Patti

[loachmom]

Hi Patti,

Here is a link to an article about nitrifying bacteria.

It states that the bacteria will die at 120 degrees. I understand your concern over this.

Nitrifying Bacteria Facts

I hope others will come along to put your mind at ease.

[PitterPatti]

Really nice information, thanks SO much!

Patti M

[loachmom]

Hi Patti,

I did some more searching and found this article from Algone, Inc. about nitrifying bacteria.

It states that the bacteria are threatened when temps reach 95 degrees.

Nitrifiers

I would probably go with this information.