Help! Treating Ich With Out Changing Heat?

[Melzama]

hey guys i had another thread about my ich problems i'v been treating the ich in my 29 gal for about a week and a half or so.. and it hasn't been going away. One of my cherry barbs died today and i am getting very upset about my ich problems. I'm a teenager and i don't have much cash to buy a new heater my heater in my tank doesn't adjust at all it stays at 75-78. I'm pretty broke at the moment and my parents don't understand the how urgent this is. So i can't buy a new heater. I'm using quick cure 15 drops a day changing water 25% every 3 days like it says on the bottle but this isn't doing anything. Please help. ( i have tetras in my tank thats why i only do 15 drops)

 

[fatheadminnow]

If you cannot increase the heat, then just keep up with the meds.

Also, add some salt to the tank, I am not sure on the recommended amount though?

-FHM

 

[Mayu]

Heaters really aren't that expensive. I bought my heater for my 30 gallon for $20. Seeing its something you'll use for a long time, it pays for itself in the end. Maybe offer to do some extra chores for the $20. That worked for me when I was a kid. I'd vaccum once or twice, and do some dusting, and my mom would toss me and extra $20 when I'd go shopping or went out.

My tank just had a major ich outbreak. What I did was raised the temp, added 1 tbsp of aquarium salt per 5 gallons of water (Some say every 10 gallons, but I followed the recommendations on the salt box and it said every 5 gallons)... (aquarium salt is cheap, you can get it at walmart). Then I'd do small water changes every other to every third day...

but if you can't do that because you can't get a heater, I'd do a water change, add salt and keep up with the meds you're using.

a gravel vaccum would be helpful to clean up the gravel when you do a water change. This will pick up loose spores that fall off the sick fish. they're fairly easy to use too. You just plug one end with your thumb, put the other end in the gravel, remove your thumb, and place that end in a bucket to drain the water. it takes some work, but once you have the hang of it, it's not hard.

Keep up with the meds you're using if you can't get a new heater. Just follow the directions and dosages. Keep the heat up as high as your thermometer can go (which you said is 78). That, with the salt and water changes, should help.

Using heat and salt therapy... in 2 weeks my ick was gone, and I didn't lose any of my fish.

 

[Melzama]

2nd cherry barb death 2 in 2 days. UPDATE i bought salt at walmart great price and i am going to use.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Melzama

If you can't get aquarium salt, perhaps you can get some kosher salt. This is pure salt, which is a little coarser than table salt and can be bought in the supermarket. It has no additional ingredients like iodine or anti-clumping agents and can be used in cooking. It will work as well. Use 1 tablespoon of salt per 5 gallons of water. When you do water changes, add enough to replace the amount you have removed.

 

[roadmaster]

hey guys i had another thread about my ich problems i'v been treating the ich in my 29 gal for about a week and a half or so.. and it hasn't been going away. One of my cherry barbs died today and i am getting very upset about my ich problems. I'm a teenager and i don't have much cash to buy a new heater my heater in my tank doesn't adjust at all it stays at 75-78. I'm pretty broke at the moment and my parents don't understand the how urgent this is. So i can't buy a new heater. I'm using quick cure 15 drops a day changing water 25% every 3 days like it says on the bottle but this isn't doing anything. Please help. ( i have tetras in my tank thats why i only do 15 drops)

Have not read other thread but would recommend that any filter material containing carbon be removed from the filter if carbon is being used. Carbon will adsorb the medication before it has a chance to work.
Have used product Quik cure just as you are doing. It may take repeat treatments at half dose but considering you have tetras ,half dose is recommended.Hang in there.

 

[Melzama]

I bought salt at walmart, good thing they have a cheap fish section yep, the inside of my filter is taken out because of the carbon thing =O going to start treating now.

I was thinking.. would 45 drops a day doing a 25% change each day be better then doing 15 drops for 3 days then 25% water change?

 

[Mayu]

I bought salt at walmart, good thing they have a cheap fish section yep, the inside of my filter is taken out because of the carbon thing =O going to start treating now.

I was thinking.. would 45 drops a day doing a 25% change each day be better then doing 15 drops for 3 days then 25% water change?

I would really do what the dosage recommends. Overdosing could cause you more problems than you started out with. It would be like if a doctor says, take 3 painkillers a day, for 3 days, and you take all 9 at once.

but that's just what I would think, I could be wrong when it comes to fish meds. I did my ick treatment without meds, so I don't know.

 

[Melzama]

anyone have any suggestions on when to add more salt? i was thinking in about 3 days when i do a water change. i know you only put as much salt in as you took out

 

[Mayu]

When I was doing it I did it with my water changes, like you said, adding back as much as you took out, so if its 1tbsp per 5 gallons, if I took out 5 gallons of water I put one tbsp in. So if you only do a 2.5 gallon change, you'd add half a tbsp. (I've always been bad at math so I'm assuming that's right. lol)

Don't add it directly to the water... Disolve it first. I added it to one gallon of my replacement water, shook it up, then let it sit while I finished doing my gravel vaccum or what not, then when I started adding the replacement water, I'd start with the gallon of water with disolved salt. (I always use empty water jugs and filled them with tap water.)

if you haven't added it yet at all, do it the next time you do a water change, and however you add replacement water... add the full dosage to that, stir it and let it disolve before adding it in. so if you have a 30 gallon tank, it would be 6 tablespoons of salt. (1tbsp per 5 gallons) or whatever the recommended dosage on your salt box says. (I am going by the dosage from the box of salt I used.)

from there it's just add as much salt as you remove in each water change... Salt doesn't evaporate, so it will only be removed in water changes, so only add more salt as you remove water. Don't add more if you have some evaporation of water. only when you physically remove water.

 

[roadmaster]

I bought salt at walmart, good thing they have a cheap fish section yep, the inside of my filter is taken out because of the carbon thing =O going to start treating now.

I was thinking.. would 45 drops a day doing a 25% change each day be better then doing 15 drops for 3 days then 25% water change?

I would really do what the dosage recommends. Overdosing could cause you more problems than you started out with. It would be like if a doctor says, take 3 painkillers a day, for 3 days, and you take all 9 at once.

but that's just what I would think, I could be wrong when it comes to fish meds. I did my ick treatment without meds, so I don't know.

I fully agree. Always follow directions on meds, more is not better. Mixing medications,overdosing,nearly always cause more problems than any benefit they might provide.

 

[Melzama]

can i still use quick cure + salt? or is that overdosing?

 

[Mayu]

can i still use quick cure + salt? or is that overdosing?

as far as I know, you can use both a salt treatment with a medicine treatment. Just watch dosages and keep to what is recommended.

 

[Melzama]

can i still use quick cure + salt? or is that overdosing?

as far as I know, you can use both a salt treatment with a medicine treatment. Just watch dosages and keep to what is recommended.

yep, i've looked on the net, as far as i know its safe. Thank you very much for your help Mayu.

 

[Mayu]

can i still use quick cure + salt? or is that overdosing?

as far as I know, you can use both a salt treatment with a medicine treatment. Just watch dosages and keep to what is recommended.

yep, i've looked on the net, as far as i know its safe. Thank you very much for your help Mayu.

No problemo