My First Outbreak Of Whitespot.....

[rodandalisonthompson]

I am currently treating my first outbreak of whitespot which started 5 days ago.

So far I havent lost any fish (even my clown loaches are surviving) but despite treatment I still havent been able to completely get rid of the whitespot. There is a huge improvement but there is still some whitespot remaining.

I have used this stuff - http/www4.sera.de/site/products/product....amp;language=en

The recommendation with the medication is for an 80% water change which I have not yet done - I am doing smaller frequent changes; I am concerned that such a big water change could kill my fish. I change 10l at a time, allowing the water to heat up in between.

I am slowly raising the temperature of the tank at the minute and am also giving them extra vitamins. I left the light off during treatment.


So my questions...:
1. what is the purpose of such a large water change? am i right not to
2. is the medication still effective after doing water changes ie will it have been absorbed by the fish?
3. should i retreat in 4-5 days which the medication says you can do?
4. how likely am i to loose fish now that treatment has started?

 

[andywg]

1) The purpose of the large water change is to remove all of the medication and prevent it sitting around in the water. one 80% water change will get 80% of the med out. 8 water changes of 10% will only remove 57% of the med.

So long as the water going in is roughly the same temp and the sameish pH then there is no risk of killing the fish no matter how large the water change.

2) the medication does not work on the fish, but the parasite, so after the water change it will no longer be as effective (if at all)

3) Always retreat until you have seen no sign of ich for at least 4-5 days.

4) The likelihood of loosing fish should not be too high, especially if the fish are showing signs of improvement.