Recurring Ich

[alihar]

Hi all

I appear to have a problem with recurring ich.
I had my first ever outbreak around 7 weeks ago,
it appeared to be very mild with only a few fish affected with no more than a dozen spots on them.
I treated with waterlife protozin and it appeared to clear up.
I added an EBR 3 weeks ago, didn't quarantine and the next day it was showing signs of ich
The fish only showed around a dozen spots and no other fish was affected.
I treated again with protozin and all seemed ok.
Ive just come home from work and checked in the tank as always and have noticed 3 of the fish have 1or 2 whitespots on them again.
Everyone is active and feeding

Tank is Roma 200
Fluval 406 Filter
Well planted with gravel substrate.
Weekly 30% water change
Ph 7.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20
Temp 26.5

1 GN pleco, 1BN pleco, 2 rams, 1 apisto,6 cardinal, 5 lemon tetra,4 cherry barbs,6 praecox rainbow, 8 rummy nose
Feed once or twice a day varied diet of flake, frozen, micro pellet, novo tab, veg, algae mix, tetra delica.

I'm assuming I haven't completely killed off the parasite, it was re introduced by the EBR or there is a stress factor that needs addressing.

Any help appreciated.
Alison

 

[onidrase]

Make sure that you continue treatment for 3 or more days after the spots are no longer present on the fish. Though it's equally possible that the GBR brought the ich with it.

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

In general the parasite is always present in tanks and fish, unless you run a UV filter. However it does not bother the fish and remains inactive. Stress or other infection will trigger the out break of the parasite to be come active and reproduce. Medications do not kill the parasite in the fish, but rather kill the free floating spores produced as the parasite reproduces. If you don't kill the spores they will infect other fish and multiply...... and so the cycle goes. As Onidrase points out it may look like you have got rid of it, but the spores are still in the tank. As well as administering the medication for the full course as directed on the bottle, also raise the tank temp by a couple of degrees(29C), as this will speed up the life cycle of the parasite and help you kill it faster. Also reducing the stress on the fish will help. Leave the lights off for the period of treatment, as this will keep the fish calmer. Good luck

 

[alihar]

Thank you both for the swift relies.
I'm a little concerned about subjecting the fish to another round of meds.
As I have plants I have just been reading up on heat only treatment.
The article suggests raising the temp to 30c, increasing aeration and doing daily 25% water changes using a dechlorinator such as api stress coat for 10 days.
As it appears to only be mild outbreaks would you try this method or go with the meds?
I have garlic guard that I soak food in once a week to boost immune systems but it claims to aid with the treatment of ich.
Do you think heat treatment, daily water changes and daily garlic guard to be a better approach?

Many thanks
Alison

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

Thank you both for the swift relies.
I'm a little concerned about subjecting the fish to another round of meds.
As I have plants I have just been reading up on heat only treatment.
The article suggests raising the temp to 30c, increasing aeration and doing daily 25% water changes using a dechlorinator such as api stress coat for 10 days.
As it appears to only be mild outbreaks would you try this method or go with the meds?
I have garlic guard that I soak food in once a week to boost immune systems but it claims to aid with the treatment of ich.
Do you think heat treatment, daily water changes and daily garlic guard to be a better approach?

Many thanks
Alison

Alison, heat and aquarium salt(not table salt) will do the trick. 1 heaped teaspoon for every 10 liters of water you have in your tank. Mix the salt with water in a bucket, and then do your 25% water change and slowly add the salt solution as you add the water. The salt won't harm anything in your tank. You may see you fish swim around quite fast for a while after you add the salt, but don't worry. This is a natural reaction as they are trying to swim away from it, but they will quickly calm down. Then do your daily water changes and add salt at the same ratio(only to the volume of water you are changing). Do this for 5-7 days, and the itch will be gone.

 

[alihar]

Thanks again
I have aquarium salt so will give it a try.
If I lose plants so be it the fish are more important
Alison

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

Thanks again
I have aquarium salt so will give it a try.
If I lose plants so be it the fish are more important
Alison

It won't harm your plants.

Best of luck