Poor College Student Needs Help With Ick Problem

[Farah]

I have three baby parrot fish in a 35 gallon (yes, when they are older I will upgrade). I saw some strange behavior yesterday, they were all laying on the bottom of the tank on their sides. I went up to the tank and as soon as they saw me they swam up and started begging for food. They DEFINITELY seemed to be eating fine and swimming fine (when they actually were swimming).

Their behaviors seem to be just fine except that they lay on the bottom. But then this morning I noticed that they had ick...BAD! They were covered in it. The last two times my fish had ick they always seemed worse after I put the medication. So I went to petsmart and bought some Coppersafe to cure the ick. I also bought some salt and some stress zyme. I've never put salt in my tank before. I've put one tablespoon per 5 gallons. How many times a should I add salt, once a month? week? Is there ANYTHING else I should do? Also, how long until the Coppersafe starts working? Thank you!!!

 

[Farah]

I have three baby parrot fish in a 35 gallon (yes, when they are older I will upgrade). I saw some strange behavior yesterday, they were all laying on the bottom of the tank on their sides. I went up to the tank and as soon as they saw me they swam up and started begging for food. They DEFINITELY seemed to be eating fine and swimming fine (when they actually were swimming).

Their behaviors seem to be just fine except that they lay on the bottom. But then this morning I noticed that they had ick...BAD! They were covered in it. The last two times my fish had ick they always seemed worse after I put the medication. So I went to petsmart and bought some Coppersafe to cure the ick. I also bought some salt and some stress zyme. I've never put salt in my tank before. I've put one tablespoon per 5 gallons. How many times a should I add salt, once a month? week? Is there ANYTHING else I should do? Also, how long until the Coppersafe starts working? Thank you!!!

Oh and I did removed the carbon. But, when can I put it back in the filter?

 

[tttnjfttt]

The first thing I would check is your water stats (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH). Fish often become sick when they are stressed, and a major source of stress is poor water quality.

As for the salt, you only want to add more salt after water changes. Only replace what salt you have taken out. So if you take out ten gallons worth of water, add back in 2 table spoons.

The final thing you can begin doing is to slowly increase the temperature in your tank. Increasing the temperature will speed up the ich life cycle. Ich meds only work on the parasite in one of its four life stages, so increasing the temp will help get the parasites to the vulnerable stage. Go no higher than 30 C.

 

[Farah]

Yes, I did all of that (check the water-which was perfectly fine, slowly raise heat) before I put in the ick medicine! Phew!

I do have one more question. Why did I have to removed the carbon? Does Carbon help with ick growth?

 

[oneponygirl]

The carbon will actually remove the meds you just put in the water. Put the carbon back in once you are done medicating.