i'm confused...

[sairie]

okay. a few weeks ago i was asking a question about my substrate(that's the thingy that goes in the filter, right?). i was (and am now again) treating my mollie for ICH. i took it out and it's just sitting somewhere, not damp or in a bag or anything. it's all dried out. the first time when i asked on here they said that when i was done treating for ich i could just put it back in even if it was all dried out.

so that's what i did and like the next day the fish had spots all over it again. this time i'm treating it for 5 days after the visible signs went away.

earlier this week when i had a question about transporting my tank, people were saying to either keep the substrate in some tank water while i move or keep it in a plastic bag so it would stay damp and the bacteria wouldn't die.

so... is that what i should be doing for this, too? it's been out of the filter for a week or so now again. should i just go buy another one for when i'm done treating for ich?

*confused*

 

[tstenback]

your substrate is the gravel/sand/material at the bottom of your tank which does support the bacteria colony. the filter depending on the type will have some type of filter material ie. floss/sponge/carbon/zeolite etc. this is where the important bacteria colony exists as all water passes through the filter many times a day.

If the filter material was exposed to a virus of any kind it would be appropriate to replace it and not reuse it. Don't know if this is fact but it would be erring on the side of caution which is good for your fish.

With ich the treatment is usually several weeks as i believe the life cycle of the bug is about that long. Someone with more technical knowledge might want to verify that.

 

[Bol]

I think the "life cycle" of ich parasites is seven days or so.

But, you've got the right idea this time, sairie, treat for at least five days after you see no more spots. From what I understand, you don't really kill many of the parasites while you see them on the fish (the white spots are the parasites forming cysts), but the time to get them is after they fall off, and are hanging out in your tank, waiting to infest fish again.

I've read that ich parasites can live through being dried out, so it may not be a good idea to put your old filter cartridge back in afterwards. Also, many people suggest you disinfect your siphon, if you use one, after treating for ich.

 

[sairie]

thanks guys! i'll go get another one. should i let it sit in the tank before i put it in the filter, or just put it right in the filter out of the package?

 

[Bol]

Sitting in the tank won't do you much good.

If the cartridge contains carbon granules, you will probably want to rinse it first (as it will most likely give off some carbon dust). Preferrably, rinse it in siphoned off tank water.