I Got Ich!

[dmsnodgr]

I have ich in my tank!!!!! AHHHHH what do I do? I got some Rid-Ich stuff that is dying everything blue, but how do I know when it is working, and how long do I treat the tank for? I started putting it in the day i noticed some white spots on one of my Chery Barbs and haven't noticed any developement on other fish (its been 2 days now) does ich attack other life forms (plants, snails or frogs, in particular)? the stuff sas to treat untill the ich is gone, but how do I know if the ich is completly gone from the tank? also, this is a new tank and my first. I've been monitering the amonia, nitrite and nitrate levles daily, if not twice. do most ich treatments cause the amonia measuremetns spike up a bit?

 

[nino]

Welcome to the forum!

I'd suggest posting in the emergency section as not many people read the newbie section for problems like Ich.

 

[@ombomb]

Pinned thread on ICH: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=15537

 

[Barry P]

Increase temperature to at least 28 degrees, take out any carbon filters, and medicate as per the instructions on the box of medicine. Thats all i have for you. It could take up to 4 weeks to get rid of it so be patient and keep and eye on the fish. Make 10% water changes at least per day...CAN SOMEONE BACK ME UP ON THIS???

 

[dmsnodgr]

Thanks for the information and tips. this is only a ten gallon tank, will it that long finish off teh ich? also, how do I know if I have a carbon filter. there were to types of filters that came with the water pump, one was blue, and the other was something that I don't change out, I guess its for bacteria(?). is this where the amonia and nitrite eating bacteria grows? gosh, i have so much to learn about fish tanks, sorry if some questions seem a little knowledgeless, its only becoause I know nothing kabout fish, not yet.

 

[Torrean]

chances are pretty good that the blue one is the carbon filter. You can do two things here. If the filter cartridge has a clip on it you can open the bag and dump out the carbon. Then replace the bag to save the bacteria on it. THen when ithe treatment is over refill the carbon bag with activated carbon. Or you can throw away the carbon filter cartridge and replace it when treatment is completely done.

The reason it takes so long for the treatment to work is because of the life cycle of ich. I'm sure one of the links posted earlier can explain it MUCH better than I can. The ich only dies from the meds when it is free swimming. The life cycle from ?cyst? to free swimming organism is fairly long so you have to treat all the way through it to kill enough ich for your fish to heal.

One more thing. Does the medication contain copper or say that it is not safe for invertabrates?