ICK! Need help with the filter cartridge!!!!

[Socrates]

Just when things are going well, ICK!

Dang it.

Well, I think it's ICK anyway. Looks like tiny bubbles or grains are stuck to the fish?

Anyway, the spots are quite pronounced white and reflect a lot of white.

I'm out the door in 20 minutes to get some Tank Buddies Ick Clear Tabs since I've read those are pretty safe for my smaller tetra type fish and I've had luck with their Ammonia Clear Tabs.

I have an Emperor Filter. And, I now see a flaw in the design. The damn filter cartridges have Activated Carbon built into them. Which of course you are supposed to remove to treat ICK. What do I do? Run with out any cartridge at all?

Hopefully someone can give me a tip on that before I leave for the store in about 20 or 30 mintes... THANKS!

 

[reg2k2]

I think u might be able to get by with stuffing it with some filter floss.

 

[Socrates]

Maybe I can stuff filter floss in the optional media holder?

But what does removing my old cartridge do to my bacteria levels? IS my Bio-Wheel goign to be able to handle the load? Doesn't a big portion of the good bacteria live in the filter cartridge?

/Stressed.

I'll see what I can pick up to jury-rig a cartridge.

 

[Socrates]

So here is what I did.

I pulled out the old cartridge. and about 10% of the water and then put in some fresh treated water.

Stuffed my optional media cartridge full of Petcetera Filter Fiber and stuck it in the filter.

Added THREE tabs of Jungle AquaBuddies Ick Clear. The dosing says use 1 tab per 10 gallon, only a half tab for small/sensitive fish. I have a 40 gallon tank, but there's a lot of stuff in there so I have less than 40 actual gallons. I put in 3 tabs.

I hope I have not just signed a death warrant for my tank.

 

[tstenback]

The floss should do the trick for now and your old cartridge should not be used again. It has been exposed to ICH and it is too big a risk to reintroduce this disease back into the tank. So run the filter with just floss or sponge and when all is well install a new cartridge. There should be a fair bacteria colony in your gravel and evenif there is a ammonia spike it should be limited in nature.

 

[Socrates]

I now have a Blue tank.

IS that normal? The tabs have seriously dyed the water a sort of murky teal-ish blue.

 

[reg2k2]

Just be prepared for a water change and/or replacemt of carbon...if the fish seem to have a bad reaction.
Curious...does it claim to be safe for the biofilter?...didn't say on their site....

I've only used Rid Ich+ (a formalin & malachite grn solution)...also turns water blue....I imagine it's normal.

 

[fchaulk]

Hello

I used the tab before also turned my water blue , that is normal , you will proabably end up with blue stained silicone after this. I am not very familiar with the emperor filter , but if you have a bio - wheel then there should be enough bacteria there to keep control of you ammonia and nitrite. I am not sure either if the tabs will harm the good bacteria. Anyway what is the temp in your tank , can you just raise the levels very slowly to about 82 to 84 F, Ick cannot live at these temps. I do not know what kind of fish you have so not sure if this will be ok.

I run all my tanks at 82 F and do not have any problem any more with ICK. As for the filters with the carbon in the middle, I used to have one like this and all I ever did when I had to treat a tank was to pull the filter, cut it open and dump out the carbon then put the old filter directly back in when treating the tank. Always seemed to work ok and you are not removing any bacteria.

hope this help

Frank

 

[crazie.eddie]

If the sponge filter is a couple of weeks old, then the carbon will loose it's effectiveness, therefore, you can keep it in there. Otherwise, you can use the filter floss as recommended.

Ich has several stages...
1. The tomites attach to the host to form cysts. This stage the tomites cannot be destroyed.
2. The tomites detach themselves and fall to the ground.
3. They hatch into lots of free swimming parasites. This is their vulnerable stage.

If you do not have plants, ich can be taken care of by just using aquarium salt, increased temp, and daily water changes. Ich do not have the functions to process salts (no kidneys), therefore, will not survive the high concentrations of salt. They also cannot survive high temps, so you should try to raise your temp slowly to about 82 degrees F. Performing dialy water changes (15% at the most) and lite water changes, you will get rid of the ich on stage 2 & 3.

Even salt sensitive fish can survive salt. Just make sure you dissolve the aquarium salt in water first for at least an hour. Then slowly pour the solution in your tank over a long period of time, making sure it is applied in different sections of your tank.

The 3 stages of ich takes about 3-4 days. It's best to keep the treatment about a week or so, even after no signs of ich left. Remember, it only takes one to survive to hatch into several parasites.

Ich will attach themselves to any living hosts in your tank, which not only include fish, but snails, shrimp, etc. EVEN PLANTS.

Fish cannot survive without a host after 3 days or so, so it is safe to keep your filter and media in there withouth any problems.

Good luck

 

[Socrates]

No more signs of ICK today, but 4 out of 6 Rummys and all my Corys won't come out to eat. Which is very unusual for both.

 

[crazie.eddie]

Keep up with the medications for a few days.

The fish are probably stressed out from the meds, unfortunatley. Give them a few days.

 

[Socrates]

The RUmmy's are just a little stressed, that is pretty clear from looking at them. They look helathy but nervous.

My Cory's, though, are almost dead.

They are laying around in motionless positions.

Out of panic, I did a 30% water change and put a new carbon filter in to get rid of the meds.

I suppose that is a total screw up, but the Cory's never showed any Ick, and they are REALLY REALLY looking bad... and the medicine says to half dose for scaleless fish (which it NOW occurs to me means Corys), and I'm thinking the medicine is killing them.

I'm frustrated and worried!!

There's not one sign of Ick in the tank though.