Oh Great, I've Been Hit With The Ich Stick

[ZoddyZod]

Just noticed a few fish have got what clearly looks like Ich. Small little white dots have appeared on at least 7 fish and I've seen some flicking/rubbing.

I understand that I need to use one of these meds:
Malachite green, methylene blue, quinine hydrochloride, mepracrine hydrochloride
But which brands are recommended?

Also, I need to raise the temp. right? But how high can I raise considering I have danios in there who prefer cooler waters?

Do I need to buy carbon to remove the meds after use, or will they just fade away after several water changes?

Here's the answers to the standar questions, just in case I am missing something and it's not Ich.....
1. Water parameters. (ammonia 0, nitrate 20, nitrite0, PH 7.8, temp 24.5,)
2. A full description of the fishes symptoms. Small white dots on fins and body
3. How often you do water changes and how much. Once a week, at least 25%
4. Any chemicals and treatments you add to the water. Seachem Prime only
5. What tank mates are in the tank. 10 Zebra danios (2 with spots) 10 Neons (at least 5 with spots) 1 BN & 1 Dwarf gourami & 3 male guppies (no spots)
6. Tank size. 125L
7. Finally Have you recently added any new fish? 1 week since adding 10 neons. No spots visible at that time

 

[Ludwig Venter]

I have never considered Ich as a problem disease..... merely raising the water temp to 31 degrees Celsius for about 3 days have always worked for me....(no additives or any medicines) just raising the temp for 3 days and then slowly back to my original temp of (about) 27.

 

[ZoddyZod]

I have never considered Ich as a problem disease..... merely raising the water temp to 31 degrees Celsius for about 3 days have always worked for me....(no additives or any medicines) just raising the temp for 3 days and then slowly back to my original temp of (about) 27.

Even when I have Zebra Danios in there? Do you think they'll cope with the heat?

 

[WILDER]

You need to increase aeration as meds and high temp reduce 02 in the water.
If there plenty of aeration the fish should be fine with the high temp.

Anti whitespot med by interpet a good whitespot med. make sure you can use the full dose as neons are sensitive to whitespot meds.
Some brands of methylene blue wipe the benefical bacteria out in the filter.

 

[ZoddyZod]

You need to increase aeration as meds and high temp reduce 02 in the water.
If there plenty of aeration the fish should be fine with the high temp.

Anti whitespot med by interpet a good whitespot med. make sure you can use the full dose as neons are sensitive to whitespot meds.
Some brands of methylene blue wipe the benefical bacteria out in the filter.

I've got a venturi running on the filter so I'm hoping lack of oxygen wont become an issue.

I've just been out and purchased the Interpet Anti White Spot. Only fish they say you cant use it with is Elephant Nose. Jut added the first dose which has turned the water a nice blue (glad I removed the resin rock now in case it stained), have also started to crank the temp up getting it to 27c over the next few hours, then will rise it again to 30c in the morning.

 

[WILDER]

Keep a close eye on the fish to make sure the handling the med ok.
Good Luck.

 

[ZoddyZod]

Keep a close eye on the fish to make sure the handling the med ok.
Good Luck.

thanks, will do.

Just seen that my BN appears the worst affected. He/she has got at least 6 spots. Must have had a break out of the parasite over the last 18hrs or so because I was watching them for a long time last night with no signs at all.

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
Let us all know how you get on.
Good Luck.

 

[bitteraspects]

heat and salt is all you need

 

[WILDER]

Neons and plecs don't tolerate salt to well.

 

[bitteraspects]

i have done it personally, and so have tons of other people, with great success. i am only giving suggestions based on what i know. if you chose not to do it, thats your business. there is a lot of information on salt treatment for ich online. i would suggest researching it for yourself, and making a decision on what you want to do.
but like i said, i have done it personally, and it worked for me (with neons and plecos)

 

[ZoddyZod]

looks like the heat is not an option. Seems my heater (150w) can only manage to get the tank to 28.5c.

I have not seen any negative effects from the Anti-White Spot yet. I've read in other places that I should do the course one more time after this one has finished, just to be sure. Is that something anyone else would recommend?

I added 13ml yesterday, will add 13ml again on Wed (as per instructions) then should I water change at the weekend and start again?

 

[ZoddyZod]

If I can only get the tank to 28.5c, is there actually any point in doing so?

Is 28.5c enough to kill off the parasite?

Is 28.5c hot enough to speed the parasite cycle, thus increasing the chance of getting ALL of them over a week using the meds?

I dont want to run the tank at this temp if there is no benefit at all, whilst makin the fish uncomfortable.

 

[WILDER]

Usually you have to get temp up to 30 to speed the cycle up of the parasite.

Its best to treat another week once spots have gone.

 

[ZoddyZod]

Usually you have to get temp up to 30 to speed the cycle up of the parasite.

Its best to treat another week once spots have gone.

OK, thanks. There is no clear instruction on the bottle as to how long to wait, before either doing another course or water changing, after the second dose. How long do I leave the second dose in there for? How long before I can start the next course of treatment? (Interpet Anti-White Spot).

Also, the lfs that sold it said I didn't need to remove it with carbon as it would "naturally degrade". As this was coming from a shop that needs to sell things, such as carbon, to earn their crust I took it for gospel and didn't buy any. Is this true, however? Or do I actually need to use it?