Ich

[sacramonel]

I seem to have an ICH Infestation. I have bough the the medication (can not remember the name. same company that makes stress zyme). I was told by my LFS that I should reduce the water to 50% of total capacity and keep it there until the ich is gone. This does not sound right. Can someone please comment. Also if someone can please let me know the best way they have erradicated this issue. I do not have a hospital tank (i live in an apartment so there is no room for one).

As an FYI here is my stock and water parameters.

45 Gallon Tank
9 Neons
6 Black Widow Tetras
3 Hatchet Fish
3 German Rams
3 Velvet Sword Tails
2 Cory's
1 Pleco

Amonia -0
Nitrate - 0
Nitrite - 0

Also have CO2 injections via DIY cannister and numerous plants.

Thank you.

 

[Phoenixfish]

would have been better in the tropical emergencys sect
i think you can raise the temp by a bit tho to help, if you lower the water the consentration of the med will be greater

 

[Bignose]

You don't want to increase the concentration, the concentration of the medicine is set to be effective against ich yet not endanger the fish.

The reason the water level is to be lowered (just a little bit, 50% seems way too much) is that if you increase the temperature and add medicine, the oxygen level the water holds will be a little less. Lowering the water level allows a little more splashing from the filter return which will increase the rate oxygen gets into the water.

Please read this webpage http/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/ich.shtml

There is a lot of really good information about ich on that page, including treatments. Especially read and understand the section on the life-cycle of ich, because that will help you understand exactly how to defeat this parasite. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask on the forums here, that's really what we are here for.

Finally, there are a lot of ich myths debunked on that page, too, so you will be armed with the actual facts and not just rumor.