Can't Rid The Ich And Now Flashing

[TracyC]

Hi All,

New here.. Thank God I found you all

I really hope someone can help me out.. I've got a 2plus year old, 50 gallon community tank. I introduced, probably too many fish and got ich about 2 weeks ago.. I treated with one product which was a 72 hours treatment and when nothing happend and the problem seemed to be getting worse, I ran to the LFS for another product. I just did a 25% water change last night and added coppersafe..Since the intro and subsequent ich infestation, I've lost 4 neon tetra, a powder blue gourami (which I think was the carrier), now tonight my beautiful, large super healthy rainbow shark is flashing.. so are both the gold skirt tetras and now there are 3 platys in the bottom corner of the tank.. I feel like I'm loosing my whole aquarium and I'm at a loss as to what to do. i know poor water contributes to iradic swimming so I've replaced the filter/carbon combo since I just did a water change last night.

I've increased the temp to about 80. I've added salt as well as the coppersafe and just did a 25% water change last night.. is there something else I can do.. Should I leave the lights off (they typically stay on for 6 hrs/day) I dont want to loose the shark.. well any of them for that matter, but I dont think it would be wise to do another water change right? And the Mardel Coppersafe.. the directions suck.. it indicates only one treatment and that it apparently lasts a month, which I dont think I beleive.

I'm at a total loss as to what to do next.. I really dont want to loose the whole tank to a fairly simple to treat disease like ich.. arghh

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Most medication instructions tell you to remove carbon and UV during treatment, because they will both take the meds out of the tank (they are referring to new activated carbon, which basically means any added in the last week, after that it becomes just another media layer for bacteria and so should be left in).

So remove that new carbon. Hopefully you have not thrown the old pads/sponges away, you had no good reason to until they were literally falling apart, they can be gently squeezed/rinsed in removed tank water to get rid of debris for years.

If you have not already, increase the aeration, by adding a powerhead or if needs be lowering the water level so the filter out creates much more splashing. Warmer water holds less oxygen, as does water that has meds in it.

I'm not familar with Coppersafe, so I cannot advise on its use, Waterlife's Protozin got me through my only outbreak of Ich back in February (albeit I lost some of my favourite fish, all because I spotted the spots of secretive nocturnal fish far too late).

 

[TracyC]

Most medication instructions tell you to remove carbon and UV during treatment, because they will both take the meds out of the tank (they are referring to new activated carbon, which basically means any added in the last week, after that it becomes just another media layer for bacteria and so should be left in).

So remove that new carbon. Hopefully you have not thrown the old pads/sponges away, you had no good reason to until they were literally falling apart, they can be gently squeezed/rinsed in removed tank water to get rid of debris for years.

If you have not already, increase the aeration, by adding a powerhead or if needs be lowering the water level so the filter out creates much more splashing. Warmer water holds less oxygen, as does water that has meds in it.

I'm not familar with Coppersafe, so I cannot advise on its use, Waterlife's Protozin got me through my only outbreak of Ich back in February (albeit I lost some of my favourite fish, all because I spotted the spots of secretive nocturnal fish far too late).

Thank you soo much, I really appreciate your quick reply and useful information. I've got a marineland filter, so the activated charcoal and sponge is an all in one, but I do have a biowheel.. when I took out the charcoal and sponge, I did leave the biowheel.. Didnt know though that warmer water has less oxygen.. I'm off to lower the water level and unplug the light.. Hopefully this will help and do the trick.. I'm going to look for this waterlife protozin that you speak of.. hopefully I can find some in my area.

Thanks again.. I really appreicate your help!

 

[raptorrex]

Hi All,

New here.. Thank God I found you all

I really hope someone can help me out.. I've got a 2plus year old, 50 gallon community tank. I introduced, probably too many fish and got ich about 2 weeks ago.. I treated with one product which was a 72 hours treatment and when nothing happend and the problem seemed to be getting worse, I ran to the LFS for another product. I just did a 25% water change last night and added coppersafe..Since the intro and subsequent ich infestation, I've lost 4 neon tetra, a powder blue gourami (which I think was the carrier), now tonight my beautiful, large super healthy rainbow shark is flashing.. so are both the gold skirt tetras and now there are 3 platys in the bottom corner of the tank.. I feel like I'm loosing my whole aquarium and I'm at a loss as to what to do. i know poor water contributes to iradic swimming so I've replaced the filter/carbon combo since I just did a water change last night.

I've increased the temp to about 80. I've added salt as well as the coppersafe and just did a 25% water change last night.. is there something else I can do.. Should I leave the lights off (they typically stay on for 6 hrs/day) I dont want to loose the shark.. well any of them for that matter, but I dont think it would be wise to do another water change right? And the Mardel Coppersafe.. the directions suck.. it indicates only one treatment and that it apparently lasts a month, which I dont think I beleive.

I'm at a total loss as to what to do next.. I really dont want to loose the whole tank to a fairly simple to treat disease like ich.. arghh

unfortunately, no "72 hour" treatment will ever work. the lifecycle of the bug is longer than that. even at higher temps. (and yes manufacturers do lie, err, misinform, sorry).

whatever you use. it needs to be used several times, over a week, or more.
ICH has a three stage lifecycle. only in one of them (free swimming) is it vulnerable to any meds.

remove all carbon,. switch off uv and chuck it. (lol, if you have a unit, and ICH, you know know they dont work).
replace the carbon, for a short while, after each treatment. (dis-guard after each use).

oh, and change your LFS, in your tank, it can only have come from there.