About To Treat But Have ?'s First

[oneponygirl]

OK, I went out and bought some Malachite Green (Ich Control by Dyna-Pet Inc.) from my LFS (see my thread about having Ich). It says to use half dose for bottom dwellers and tetras and I half both so will do. Does that mean that I should treat longer? Should I see the "salt" on my fish disappear right away? If it doesn't should I continue to treat? I will up the temp as has been recommended but not salt since I've read that gourami's, tetras and corys don't like it and have all three (unless someone recommends otherwise). It's also been recommended that I do a 50% water change before treating. I did about 20% yesterday (I haven't figured out how to do more than that yet because I only have 2 three gallon buckets), is that enough or should I do another 20% before starting? Thanks for your help!

 

[WILDER]

I would do another 20% water change, yes it could take longer with half dose, but every tank is differrent, sometimes it can take two rounds of treatment at full dose, so good luck.

 

[oneponygirl]

Thanks! I didn't want to put it off anymore so I went ahead and did the first treatment last night. I'm going to do a water test today to check my levels and may end up doing another water change today. Cranked the heat this morning. Looks like everybody is fine so far. Will keep checking for "salt".

If I need to keep treating is it better to extend one treatment or stop and then start again?

 

[WILDER]

Once the first course it up and the spots have gone, carry on for a few more days just to make sure it has gone.
You have increased aeration in the tank.

 

[oneponygirl]

Oops, I meant to set up an extra air stone or two last night and I spaced. Will search my unpacked fish supply boxes and track down a pump and stone. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[WILDER]

Ok, good luck.

 

[oneponygirl]

Stupid movers don't know how to label a box. They took the fish supplies box I had in my closet nearly emptied it of contents, stuffed it with paper but still labeled it "fish supplies" and moved it. Now I don't know where my pumps are??? The box did have tubing and airstones but I haven't a clue where to start looking for my pumps (I still have dozens of boxes to unpack) since there aren't any more boxes labeled "fish supplies". I did, after all, find out TV antenae in the box labeled "pots and pans".

So what I did was take the filter pump from my old ten gallon (with no filter media) and put it on my 'sick' tank to run so at least there is additional water movement. Will that work? If it's not the best will it do for a while until I can find my airpumps?

 

[WILDER]

Yes that fine, just stuff some filter floss in it.

 

[oneponygirl]

Sure, no problem, it's probably just hanging out with my pumps somewher.