Stubborn Ich And Fish Deaths

[BettaBoysGirl]

I bought 7 cardinal tetras approx 4 weeks ago. While I saw no ich in the display tank, within a day it began to appear on the tetras. So I went into treatment mode, adding 1/2 dose of malachite green, removing the carbon, turning the temp up to 86 degrees F, then doing a 50% water change every 3 days, with a redose (per manufactuers instructions.) Good new is the worse is over, bad news, Every time I think of turning down the temp, I always find one or two ick spots on one or two fish. I'm wondering if the heat is starting to affect them. I lost one two days ago, and one today. They looked healthy, showed no ich, and were nice and plump when I found their bodies. So any advice on what to do here is great. Ammonia and nitrite are 0. Nitrate is 5 ppm. They live in a 20 gallon long tank.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

It is best to do at least 14 continuous days of 84F to kill the Ich during the spore stage of its life cycle. This temp can kill the spores without medication, but by half-dosing the meds, it should be a sure thing... But remember to allow for volume taken up by internal filters; bogwood; rocks etc. when judging the volume of water in your tank and consequently the amount of meds to add as advised on the product.

The amount of oxygen that can be held in 84F water and/or medication is significantly reduced, so you need to create more aeration for your fish, by either adding another powerhead/filter or lowering the water level slightly (so your existing filter has a "splash" effect.

 

[BettaBoysGirl]

It is best to do at least 14 continuous days of 84F to kill the Ich during the spore stage of its life cycle. This temp can kill the spores without medication, but by half-dosing the meds, it should be a sure thing... But remember to allow for volume taken up by internal filters; bogwood; rocks etc. when judging the volume of water in your tank and consequently the amount of meds to add as advised on the product.

The amount of oxygen that can be held in 84F water and/or medication is significantly reduced, so you need to create more aeration for your fish, by either adding another powerhead/filter or lowering the water level slightly (so your existing filter has a "splash" effect.

My biggest concern is I've been treating this for 4 weeks, 28 days. I have two filters on it, aquaclear 20 and aquaclear 50. 10 plants mixture of java ferns, java moss, anubias nana, and a piece of mopani wood.The water has been dropped by 2 gallons approx about 2 inchs. Plus I have 2 round 3" bubblers going. I'm not seeing oxygen deprivation stress with them. Its like their fine one day and dead the next. I'm thinking its either the meds or the heat. Anyhow the instructions says 1 teaspoon per 10 gals but 1 teasponn for 20 gals with sensitive fish. I was under the impression that tetras are sensitive. I'm actually planning to leave on vacation for two weeks (have a friend who will feed them for me. Measured their food out and put it in pill boxes so they won't over feed them.) Do you think it be ok to forego the meds and continue heat. Or discontiniue both. I mean its heading into the 5th week with these guys.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Any chance of some photos or a video clip of the ill fish?
Can you verify the temperature is always staying above 84F according to an independent thermometer, not just a setting on your heater (some tell lies, especially Juwel ones)? Many fish keepers just use constant 84+F heat to cure Ich over the course of 14 days.