Well My new Electric Blue Rams have Ich and after a day in half of research I began treatment last night. I am super OCD about doing something wrong and I am the type that likes to find very detailed instructions and/or opinions on the issue. I know Ich is very common disease and this is not my first rodeo but I feel like the last time I just got lucky since all i did was use chemicals to treat. In my research that i gathered from Site to Site and believe it or not a book. I decided on the High Heat Salt water treatment vs the chemical. I've read many opinions on both and although the chemical way has worked just fine I am only going to use that method has last option.
First I am not advocating that what I list below is the correct or proper way for this treatment. This is just for my educational learning experience and constructive feedback to guide me along this process.
There were other factors that made the Heat/Salt treatment more appealing due to the fact I have lots of MTS that I actually like to keep alive. and did not want to waste time and removing Lots of MTS. But there were two minor CONS with Heat/Salt
1. I have three plants and obviously salt is not good for them. Luckily I found documentation that the plants I have Low light Moderate have survived in brackish water. Java Moss, Banana Plant, Hornwort and a Moss Ball, honestly i just realized to research the Moss Ball.
2. I also have some Tetras and Turquoise Rainbow only the Blue Neon and Turquoise show max heat at 77-78º so I hope they make it through as i do not have a back up tank for them and the will not survive in my 55 gal with Oscar plus i don not want to infect that tank as well.
I really could not find concrete theory of doing a water change before beginning so i just went with my instinct.
Day 1. Increase Heat Gradually-
The day before yesterday 1/26/16 (right before bedtime) I started to increase the heat from 77º to 85-86º over at least a one day period. I read either form 48 hour period to +2º every two hours. The next day when I came home from work the temp was at 82º compared to 80º that morning. I feed fish a good amount of blood worms; I read and heard that increase heat equals increased metabolism. I did a 50% water change with light gravel cleaning and only added 1.5 Tbsp Aquarium salt to 15g of treated water( I assume you can treat s usual when adding salt). I dissolved the salt in buckets before adding to the tank using the cup method. I also made sure the temp of new water was at least 82º it was actually at 81.7º when i begin adding the water.
side note -
Observing the fish after the water change I can see that the Ich is showing a lot more on the EBR's with very little to no signs on the other fish but I did spot one white spec on a silvertip tetra.
Two days prior when i came home one of the triggers i thought something was wrong is when i turned the lights on all of the fish were almost frozen looking and twitching but stated moving around normally about 15 minutes after; well normal to me, I am still learning how fish are supposed to act. I checked Nitrates / Nitrites and Ammonia all 0ppm Ph has been steady at 7.3 which i am trying to get to 6.5 range for the EBR's by adding driftwood (new block added 4 days ago, was this the issue?)
I continued to increase the heat a little and I also hooked up a air pump with tubing into the tank to help with adding oxygen as well as moved the internal filter higher to give more surface ripples or whatever you call it. Something about high heat plus the symptoms of Ich fish have trouble breath and it's good to add some oxygen aid, there is more scientific reasons but i will not get into now. Befor going to sleep temp was back to 82.1º so increased a little more.
Day 2. Temp is at 84.7º
MTS are more prominent at the top of the tank but they do that at night but seems like a lot more then usual. Before i headed to work i up the heat knob just barely.
You are supposed to use the High heat method for at least 10days or 3-4 days after white spots are gone and then gradually reduce heat.
I will keep everyone posted as I go and I welcome any encouragement/ advice.
First I am not advocating that what I list below is the correct or proper way for this treatment. This is just for my educational learning experience and constructive feedback to guide me along this process.
There were other factors that made the Heat/Salt treatment more appealing due to the fact I have lots of MTS that I actually like to keep alive. and did not want to waste time and removing Lots of MTS. But there were two minor CONS with Heat/Salt
1. I have three plants and obviously salt is not good for them. Luckily I found documentation that the plants I have Low light Moderate have survived in brackish water. Java Moss, Banana Plant, Hornwort and a Moss Ball, honestly i just realized to research the Moss Ball.
2. I also have some Tetras and Turquoise Rainbow only the Blue Neon and Turquoise show max heat at 77-78º so I hope they make it through as i do not have a back up tank for them and the will not survive in my 55 gal with Oscar plus i don not want to infect that tank as well.
I really could not find concrete theory of doing a water change before beginning so i just went with my instinct.
Day 1. Increase Heat Gradually-
The day before yesterday 1/26/16 (right before bedtime) I started to increase the heat from 77º to 85-86º over at least a one day period. I read either form 48 hour period to +2º every two hours. The next day when I came home from work the temp was at 82º compared to 80º that morning. I feed fish a good amount of blood worms; I read and heard that increase heat equals increased metabolism. I did a 50% water change with light gravel cleaning and only added 1.5 Tbsp Aquarium salt to 15g of treated water( I assume you can treat s usual when adding salt). I dissolved the salt in buckets before adding to the tank using the cup method. I also made sure the temp of new water was at least 82º it was actually at 81.7º when i begin adding the water.
side note -
Observing the fish after the water change I can see that the Ich is showing a lot more on the EBR's with very little to no signs on the other fish but I did spot one white spec on a silvertip tetra.
Two days prior when i came home one of the triggers i thought something was wrong is when i turned the lights on all of the fish were almost frozen looking and twitching but stated moving around normally about 15 minutes after; well normal to me, I am still learning how fish are supposed to act. I checked Nitrates / Nitrites and Ammonia all 0ppm Ph has been steady at 7.3 which i am trying to get to 6.5 range for the EBR's by adding driftwood (new block added 4 days ago, was this the issue?)
I continued to increase the heat a little and I also hooked up a air pump with tubing into the tank to help with adding oxygen as well as moved the internal filter higher to give more surface ripples or whatever you call it. Something about high heat plus the symptoms of Ich fish have trouble breath and it's good to add some oxygen aid, there is more scientific reasons but i will not get into now. Befor going to sleep temp was back to 82.1º so increased a little more.
Day 2. Temp is at 84.7º
MTS are more prominent at the top of the tank but they do that at night but seems like a lot more then usual. Before i headed to work i up the heat knob just barely.
You are supposed to use the High heat method for at least 10days or 3-4 days after white spots are gone and then gradually reduce heat.
I will keep everyone posted as I go and I welcome any encouragement/ advice.