Okay To Add Ich Meds In Cycling Tank?

[Dana217]

This is by far the most informative site I have found - thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are cycling a 5 gallon tank (It is an Eclipse brand with a Bio-wheel). Sadly, we were told by the LFS that you could not cycle without fish and were later given something to create the necessary bacteria in our tank.

Well, the Nitrite was at .50 (running for almost 2 weeks). I have done 50% water changes and it was at 0.25ppm this morning before I did another water change.

I have a Glowlight Tetra that showed signs of Ich when I first got him home (just very light signs of white on his top fin). I asked the LFS what I should do. He said that it was from me having the new tank and that is actually when he gave me the stuff to speed up the bacteria. He did seem to clear up. THEN...

A few days later the little Tetra had about 5 white round spots. I did a water change and they were gone! I thought perhaps he was okay, but after reading the information here, I am guessing it is in the 3rd stage?! I also have a fantail guppy who has been rubbing his sides on some shells for a couple of days (no spots)

Should I treat at this point? I am so confused. I feel absolutely terrible about this process. It is sickening.

I lost my Mickey Mouse Platy yesterday morning after a day of gasping for air at the top of the tank!

I have a Cory Cat who has been struggling since the beginning. He was floating at the top of the water for several days off an on (like he couldn't stay down at the bottom, he would keep turning to his side and going up). I thought he was dead. I can not imagine this little guy's will to live! One minute I think he is gone (laying on his side or stuck to the filter!) Then he is out swimming again. I hope he makes it, but I can not imagine so. He is very lifeless right now and on the bottom of the tank.

Sorry such a long post (I guess I am partially ranting!).

I hope things begin to improve. I feel horrible for making these fish suffer. Now, I guess we are going to have to deal with ich!

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks so much!

 

[karlp]

Sounds like a regular nightmare and i'm sorry to hear about the trouble you've had.

Where are you based ?

The simple answer is yes. There are a number of medications on the market that don't damage the biological filter, Whitespot plus by Interpet is one such treatment in the UK. Just check with your LFS.

You can get rid of it just by increasing the temperature and doing more frequent water changes, but with the tank cycling the fish are already struggling, so the high temperatures could finish some of them off.

 

[Dana217]

Sounds like a regular nightmare and i'm sorry to hear about the trouble you've had.

Where are you based ?

The simple answer is yes. There are a number of medications on the market that don't damage the biological filter, Whitespot plus by Interpet is one such treatment in the UK. Just check with your LFS.

You can get rid of it just by increasing the temperature and doing more frequent water changes, but with the tank cycling the fish are already struggling, so the high temperatures could finish some of them off.

Thank you for your response.

I am in the US.

I am almost afraid to check with the LFS! I know that sounds horrible.

Is it possible to get rid of Ich by doing only large, frequent water changes?

Another question is... will doing the water changes rid the water of the necessary medication (if medication is the route to go) that I have added?

 

[karlp]

You'll control the ich population by doing lots of water changes, but you'll need to hoover the gravel well to get the cysts as well as draining off the parasites in the free swimming stage. There's a pretty good chance though that as soon as you slow down on the water changes it'll just come back again quickly.