Turning off lights with ich ???

[desley]

Hi,

I have been treating ich with heat 30 degrees (86F) and some extra salt. I have guppies, platties, cherry barbs & danios.

I haven't lost any fish yet (touch wood) .... and have baby fry in a breeder net doing well.

Some fish are just still flashing but I can't really see any white spots anymore. Not that I saw that many in the first place. They were there .. just not a lot and not on all the fish.

I have read up a bit tonight and a few of the posts say to keep your tank lights off. Should I do this ??

I haven't been putting them on for long .. just to feed and watch them for a while but they do seem more irritated when on.

Opinions would be very helpful.

Thanks
Desley

 

[gto_cowgirl]

Definately turn your light off!

What is happing is you turn the heat up which makes the ich speed up their life cycle. The ich falls off of the fish and then hits the gravel. With light the ich start to reproduce and then the cycle repeats as it attachs to more fish. If you light is off then it stops it in the gravel as they need light to reproduce.

Sometimes i even put a towel or some kind of blanket on the tank to make sure no ich will be able to reproduce again.

 

[desley]

Hi there,

Thanks. I will keep my lights off.

I thought with the heat .. as I am using the heat & salt method to try to kill off the ich would be OK but as you say they need light to reproduce then it is a definite to leave them off.

Thanks
Desley

 

[cometcattle]

I don't think light has anything to do with ich.

 

[FishHeads]

I don't think light has anything to do with ich.

It does effect fish with Ich if the aquarium lights off. I just cured my oscars of Ich. Using higher temps, salt, and collodial silver I was able to deter any further outbreak, and I kept the light off. Ich was gone in three days!!

<~Has happy oscars now.

 

[desley]

hi thanks.

What is collodial silver ??? Heard it mentioned a few times. I am in Australia so maybe it's not available here.