I began treating for ich in my 300L community tank about a week ago, (am using Wardley's Ickaway) after noticing no more white spots the next day after putting the first dose of medication in, I treated for another 6 days. During this period, I kept the tank lights off and fed very minimal amounts.
At the end of the treatment, I did a 35% water change, and also cleaned the canister filter. However, later in the day, I noticed another white spot had appeared on one of the clown loaches, so I had to retreat the whole tank again.
Put in another dose of medication last night, and increased the temperature gradually from 26.5oC to 30oC (this happened over 24 hours), again when I checked earlier tonight, the white spots had cleared up, but will continue monitoring the fish.
How can one tell when to stop treating the tank? I understand that ich can still be in the tank, even if you cannot see white spots on the fish, i.e. they are in their free swimming form.
Also, one thing I noticed was that 2 of the clown loaches were breathing really rapidly, looking like they had suffered an asthma attack! Water parameters are near perfect - ammonia/nitrite 0, nitrate 10 and pH 6.6.
The other clown loaches are acting, swimming and eating like normal and so are the yoyo loaches, cories and tetras. Its just these 2 CL that are breathing so fast, non stop.
The only thing I can think of is a lack of aeration. The air pump I've been using all along is Hailea that pumps out 330L/hour, do I need to buy another air pump?
The other possible reasoning, could be that the clown loaches that are breathing so rapidly, might be feeling the effects of the white spots entering and leaving their bodies, as I've read that it can hurt their skin, as they are scale-less. Should I put in some Melafix to help them with their scales/fins?
Sorry for the long post, thanks if you got through it all and any feedback would be appreciated. I'm trying to do all I can to help the 2 poor clowns, hopefully they'll appear normal again by tomorrow.
At the end of the treatment, I did a 35% water change, and also cleaned the canister filter. However, later in the day, I noticed another white spot had appeared on one of the clown loaches, so I had to retreat the whole tank again.
Put in another dose of medication last night, and increased the temperature gradually from 26.5oC to 30oC (this happened over 24 hours), again when I checked earlier tonight, the white spots had cleared up, but will continue monitoring the fish.
How can one tell when to stop treating the tank? I understand that ich can still be in the tank, even if you cannot see white spots on the fish, i.e. they are in their free swimming form.
Also, one thing I noticed was that 2 of the clown loaches were breathing really rapidly, looking like they had suffered an asthma attack! Water parameters are near perfect - ammonia/nitrite 0, nitrate 10 and pH 6.6.
The other clown loaches are acting, swimming and eating like normal and so are the yoyo loaches, cories and tetras. Its just these 2 CL that are breathing so fast, non stop.
The only thing I can think of is a lack of aeration. The air pump I've been using all along is Hailea that pumps out 330L/hour, do I need to buy another air pump?
The other possible reasoning, could be that the clown loaches that are breathing so rapidly, might be feeling the effects of the white spots entering and leaving their bodies, as I've read that it can hurt their skin, as they are scale-less. Should I put in some Melafix to help them with their scales/fins?
Sorry for the long post, thanks if you got through it all and any feedback would be appreciated. I'm trying to do all I can to help the 2 poor clowns, hopefully they'll appear normal again by tomorrow.
