Ich...temp And Salt?

[tmh0921]

Well, it would appear that a pair of apistos I got recently came with a little something extra - ich!

I have 2 pair of apistos, a pair of Kribs, 2 clown plecos, 12 zebra danio, 6 otos, amano shrimp, MTS, and an apple snail in this tank 75g 45.5"x17.5"x20".

Water params: PH: 7.0, ammonia:0, nitrites 0, nitrates 15.

The tank is planted, and as mentioned, has inverts.

Sooooo, rather than the toxic meds I want to try the raised temp and salt method. Their case of ich seems mild.

I've added additional aeration via airstones - anyone think salt and temp hike would be an issue for my stock for a period of around 10 days (recommended)?

The two apistos are the only fish with ich symptoms, but I've read if one has it to treat the whole tank.

 

[the_lock_man]

Not being an expert in plecs, I could be wrong, but I believe they are very intolerant of salt.

For what it's worth, I used a whitespot medication with assassin snails and amano shrimps without issue.

 

[tmh0921]

Which medication did you use? Did it impact plants?

Which medication did you use? Did it impact plants?

 

[tmh0921]

Well, did some extensive research, and weighed the pros and cons and ended up treating ich as follows:
Cranked the heat up to 86 degrees F over a slowly over several hours
Added aquarium salt to a ratio of 1.5 tablespoons per 5 gallons over a period of 3 days
Added 3 airstones, and pointed filter spray bar at the surface to agate the water to increase oxygenation

Left the tank this way until today. After day 2 no signs of ich on original fish, and to date no signs of ich on any other fish. I did loose the two Apistos that were infected, being shipped to me while infected with ich (won't do business with him again) and the treatment were too much for them. The rest of the tank is healthy. Today I did a 30% water change to start reducing salinity and started a gradual reduction in the temp back to normal.

All of my other fish (plecos included), plants, shrimp, and snails came through this well with no signs of stress.

I do have ich meds on hand, and had things not gone well would have used them.