Ich Outbreak

[ali12345]

Tank size: 500 gallon
pH: 7.2
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: <40
kH: 6
gH: hard
tank temp: 25 C

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): white spots on several fish , no change in behaviour

Volume and Frequency of water changes: 40% weekly

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: none

Tank inhabitants: catfish , loaches, barbs, tetras

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): all fish quarantined for at least 2 weeks and appeared ok. Been slowly adding fish over last few months and moving over my existing fish and filters too.

Exposure to chemicals: none


I am currently raising the temperature and am considering this as first line treatment on its own but wonder should I use medication as well or instead?
Totally incapable of thinking straight at the moment.
Realise it is my decision and have read through the options but just wanted others opinions.

 

[Welshweeks]

I would personally treat with meds asap as I'm pretty sure that raising the temp only speeds up the ich cycle and does not eradicate it. I found Esha Exit a good treatment.

 

[fluttermoth]

You can cure ich just with heat, but you need to keep the temp at 30°C/86°F for at least ten days and your fish might not like that.

 

[fishprotector]

I would add medication as well as the increase in temperature. I am currently experiencing my first outbreak of ich (possibly due to the fluctuations in water temp with the crazy summer weather) and am dosing with JBL Punktol. Fingers crossed it works. Good luck with yours.

 

[ali12345]

I haven't got any in date medication to hand and I worry that with scaleless fish which will need half dose, I could be only killing off some of the ich, leaving the stronger ones.
Also if I add meds then the oxygen available goes down even more and I probably kill off filter bacteria. Also with meds I have to switch off the uv steriliser running which may lead to a faster outbreak.
I am so torn between meds and not.

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes, I'd use a meds as well as the heat (I should have said that earlier, but I'm watching the Olympics at the same time )

Do check on the bottle though as some meds aren't suitable for scaleless fish, like loaches, or they may need to be used at a half dosage.

 

[fishprotector]

I am using the JBL Punktol at full dosage and my pictus and plecos are doing ok up to now. It also does not harm the filter. You will need to increase airation, but you would even if only relying on the temperature increase as warm water carries less oxygen.

 

[joefish72]

I keep a few larger tanks and I can say from experience you can use Tetra Lifeguard tablets to cure your problem. It's a 5 day treatment and you can't screw up unless you can't figure out the math for one tablet for every 5 gallons. They sell the tablets in bulk, I buy boxes of 150 tablets. I used it in a tank with several loaches and they were fine.

 

[Jay-93]

Tank size: 500 gallon
pH: 7.2
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: <40
kH: 6
gH: hard
tank temp: 25 C

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): white spots on several fish , no change in behaviour

Volume and Frequency of water changes: 40% weekly

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: none

Tank inhabitants: catfish , loaches, barbs, tetras

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): all fish quarantined for at least 2 weeks and appeared ok. Been slowly adding fish over last few months and moving over my existing fish and filters too.

Exposure to chemicals: none


I am currently raising the temperature and am considering this as first line treatment on its own but wonder should I use medication as well or instead?
Totally incapable of thinking straight at the moment.
Realise it is my decision and have read through the options but just wanted others opinions.

500 gallons!?!?! Thats the size of a small room!

 

[SouthernCross]

Just be careful. I treated with a med this week, killed three clown loaches and the med removed so much oxygen from the tank it almost killed everyone else as well, I got to them just in time. Turn your aerators RIGHT up, especially if you up the temp too.