Need Advice On Temp To Treat Ich

[clutchxr]

I found out last night one of my clowns has ich. I started treating them with chems. On the bottle it says to raise the temp to 84-86 F. I just was wondering if it was ok to raise it this high with my 2 iredesent sharks and a ghost knife in the tank? If this is too high what should I raise it to? I started the treatment at half dose and set the temp to 80. I dont want to harm my knife or any other of my poor fish. thanks for any help you can give.

 

[Yazan]

I would keep it on 82*F.

 

[clutchxr]

ok thanks!

 

[Yazan]

Welcome.YN

 

[clutchxr]

My smallest clown loach the one with ich died yesterday. I am going to continue the ich treatment for a few more days just to make sure no one else gets sick. I want to get 2 more clowns to replace the 2 I lost recently but I am going to wait a few weeks.

 

[Yazan]

Sorry to hear that. YN

 

[clutchxr]

I didn't expect the fish to die. It only had a few spots total on it. they were all on its fins none I could see on its body. Luckily none of the other fish seem to show any signs of ich. They danios in the tank were the first thing to act funny though. Two of them were bouncing off the plants and the other 2 kept chasing them around the tank all day. That was the day before anyone noticed the spots on the clown. I have really had some bad luck with fish. Since march I lost mostly to the 29 gallon not being cycled when I started 4 clown loaches, 2 glow fish, 1 betta, 2 mollies, 2 plectos, and a painted glass. Hopefully I don't lose anything else! I only used the ich treatment at half strength I don't think that was the cause of the last clowns demise. Maybe it was just overstressed from the time in the 29 gallon. Nitrite and nitrate was off the scale for a bit. I remember now why I didn't have fish for the past 10 years or so. I can't seem to keep them alive for very long
.

 

[Meds081603]

I have had good luck taking care of ICH with salt and high temps. I am by no means an expert but here is what I do. SLOWLY raise the temp to 85 and add 1 tablespoon or so aquarium salt per 5 gallons of water. I do frequent small water changes making sure to add salt to the replacement water. Within a couple days most of the ICH should dissapear off the fish. From the time all the ICH is no longer visible on any fish, keep the temps up for another 2 weeks to kill the ICH thats still in the water but not on your fish. Do not forget to do several large water changes after the 2 weeks to remove the salt and gradually bring temps back to normal. Now obviously many plants and fish can not take the salt or high temps that long but that is a general guidline that has worked well for me in the past. The only fish I've lost from doing this is a single giant dannio. Even my pictus cats and clown loaches have survived. They sure as hell don't like it and are not very happy during treatment but always pull through.

edit VERY Important, when raising the temps your lowering your oxygen level in the water. I put my airstone(s) on max and lower the water level (makes filters more like a waterfall) to increase aeration and helmp combat the lower oxygen levels of the warmer water.

 

[clutchxr]

Now one of my danios has a single spot on him. I only had enough ich stuff for a half dose. I have to get up to the store in the morning. The danio keeps bouncing off the plants. Im not sure if the ich treatment is doing anything or not. The active ingredient is victoria green. I don't think I should raise the temp any higher than it is. i don't want to hurt the ghost. I cant find anything saying they like temps any higher than 82. Is there anything I can add along with the current stuff to make a cure more likely?

 

[clutchxr]

I noticed this morning that one of my remaining clowns is bouncing off the slate in the corner not good. It doesn't have any spots on it yet though. He is still eating too.

 

[clutchxr]

I am going to try rasing the temp a few more degrees sadly the knife died. I really can't beleive this. He seemed fine yesterday. I found him when I was cleaning. He was covered with spots worse than anything I have seen in my tank. I am not going to get any more fish till I can at least make it a couple weeks without losing anything. I don't understand

 

[Yazan]

Man, thats what i call a "total breakout". There must be some thing wrong.

 

[clutchxr]

Is there anthing that resembles ich that could be the problem?

 

[Yazan]

IMO, when you bring home a new fish and put it in, the next day you should treat them for "ich, funges & finrot" even if they are not sick.

 

[clutchxr]

Just checked on my fish they look really bad. the 2 sharks have red streaks on their lower third and their bottom fins are red. All the the neons look almost completely colorless. the danios seem unaffected. The 2 clowns I don't know about they are in the cave. What would you suggest?