Glofish with Ick

[cherry_420]

Hi, I’m new to the forum and I created an account just for some help!

My glofish tetra has had ick for a couple of days now and I decided to use meds (Super Ick Plus) and it was working for the first couple of days but now my fish has new spots. Today, I am scheduled to do a water change and I’m not sure if I should continue using the medication or switch to heat and salt? Also, I removed the carbon from my filter and the treatment says to replace the carbon after 4 days. How am I supposed to replace the carbon without changing the filter cartridge completely? I know there is beneficial bacteria inside of the cartridge that I don’t want to get rid of... I’m super stressed out any help would be great

 

[Essjay]

I would switch to heat - raise the temperature to 86 deg F (30 deg C). Do a water change and use water warmer than the tank water to refill. Hoover the bottom of the tank during the water change. Then turn the heater up to heat the water the rest of the way to 86 deg. keep the water at this temperature for 2 weeks.

Can I suggest you read post #1 in this thread then post #17 in the second page. They explain things very well.

What is ICH?

This is a common question that is often asked, what is ich and how is it recognisable and what causes it? The real term is ICHTHYOPHTHIRIASIS. OR commonly known as white spot. It is an extremely comon parasite that affects aquarium fish. It is highly infectious and potentially lethal and...

www.fishforums.net

Does your filter have anything besides the carbon cartridges? If it doesn't, there is a way to modify the filter. Cut a slit in the cartridge and throw away the carbon. Put the empty cartridge back in the tank as the 'fabric' part will have bacteria on it. Next buy some filter sponge, any make. Cut the sponge to the same size and shape as a cartridge, then cut the cartridge 'fabric' off the frame. Hold the fabric and sponge tightly together and place them in the filter in place of the cartridge. Sponges do not need to replaced, just washed in old tank water taken out during a water change. they last for years. And there is now no carbon in the filter so nothing to remove if treatment is used in the tank.

 

[cherry_420]

Thank you so much! Do I put the filter fabric around the sponge? I have a tetra whisper filter for a 10 gallon tank. Also, how often should I be performing water changes? And should I purchase an airstone in order to increase the amount of oxygen in the tank? Thanks again, any tips are great! The more I can learn the better.

 

[Essjay]

You can have the cartridge fabric wrapped round the sponge or layered against it. As long as the two are touching, that's the best way to get the sponge populated with bacteria.

Water changes normally should be at least 50% every week. While you have ich, change at least 50% with a substrate clean as part of increasing the temperature, then 50% every week. During the 2 weeks of heat, add new water at the same temp as the tank water to stop it dropping.
If the filter outflow creates ripples on the surface, that's fine. If it doesn't then an airstone will help. the warmer the water, the less oxygen it holds. Extra surface agitation will get more oxygen into the water, and the bubbles from the airstone churn the water up.