Help! Treating Ich With Out Changing Heat?

[Inchworm]

Hi Melzama

It's important to remember that heat speeds up the life cycle of the ich parasite. Since you are not using heat, eliminating the problem will take much longer.

I keep mostly corydoras and they don't seem to get ich, so I've never had to deal with it by using heat which is a method that seems to have become popular during the last few years. I seem to remember using medication and salt and treating for twice as long as suggested on the bottle.

Let me ask the other mods and see if one of the other long time fishkeepers can help you out on this.

 

[steelhealr]

Is malachite green still available on the market? It wiped out my ich in days. I highly recommend that you find a heater..or borrow one. It makes all the difference in the world. SH

 

[Mayu]

call me stupid... but wasn't straight Malachite Green outlawed in some places because of how dangerous it is to use?

I think they really only have meds that contain small dosages of Mal Green on the market right now... not sure if they have straight Malachite.

 

[OldMan47]

It can be treated with common salt treatments but the required time will be longer using it n a low temperature tank. Have a look at the reference material linked in my signature area called Ich Info. That will give you lots of options for treatment and an understanding of the ich life cycle, which definitely impacts the treatment methods that work or don't.

 

[steelhealr]

I still have some. It worked great but I think it may be restricted now. I keep mine in case. Raising the temp may reduce your losses by shortening the treatment time if you can get a heater. SH

 

[kribensis12]

Easiest most effective drug to treat Ich is Copper Safe. It will set you back about 6 dollars, but the ich will be gone in about 2 days. I have only had ich about 3 times, and every single time, Copper Safe has saved my butt. I have never lost a fish to Ich. Plus, you only treat once, and it lasts FOREVER. How old are you? I am 16, and I have a job. They aren't too hard to find. I can easily afford just about anything fish wise that I need. Just look around for jobs.

 

[Melzama]

Hey guys treatment is going well,the ich isn't on the fish anymore but I can still see a little bit of it in the water. i was just wondering if i stop treating with quick cure and just finish up with aquarium salt if i would be able to put my carbon filter cartage back in my penguin 200. 5 years of keeping fish first time I've ever had any problems with parasites or diseases. First time with live plants, I'm pretty sure its what caused it. My ich started a few days after i introduced the plant, I washed them off good but i guess it wasn't warm enough or thorough enough.

kribensis12 :About my getting a job for cash, I live in a Very-Very small Town and the nearest city is about 1 1/2 hrs drive(my dad does that everyday)(the time is another reason my parents weren't so happy to drive the pet store.) so i'm kind of out of luck right now for finding a job

 

[kribensis12]

There are two major theories for ich.

1. Ich is always in your tank, ever present, and your fish get it once you have stressed them out to the point their immune system no longer can hold back ich.

2. You introduced it into your tank.

I think number 2 makes more sense. It if was ever present in my tanks, then wouldn't it make sense that every time I re-arrange my tank, that my fish become ill with ich? You plants may have brought it in. I wouldn't pin point it on them. If you bought any fish within the last month, that'd be what I would put my money on.