The Dreaded Ich

[Gilli]

I've tried to follow the ich link on here but is corrupted! This is the first time I have encountered it so need advise please - thank you in advance!

250L tank - external filter - not using carbon

gravel vac and water changes 30% weekly

Water stats

Ammonia 0

Nitrite 0

Nitrate 20


fish in tank


10 x neon tetras

5 x black phantom tetras

1 x platy

2 x german blue rams

4 x cockatoo cichlids

1 x BN plec

3 x amano shrimp

3 x panda corys

3 x peppered corys

Im off to the fish shop tomorrow morning for meds. Which is the best to use (im in the UK).

Also will it be safe for my BN plec and my corys? I know I will have to put my shrimp in the quarantine tank while i treat the main tank. Any tips or do i just follow the meds instructions?

 

[WILDER]

You will have to move the strimp out of the tank as they don't tolerate parasite meds, and they can kill them.
Raise temp to 30 and increase aeration in the tank.
Remove black carbon.
I would try half dose first to see if the plecs and corys handle the med.
Only had whitespot once myself and used anti whitespot med by interpet.

 

[Gilli]

Thank you for your help Wilder. I have taken the shrimp out because the meds would kill them but - does that mean they dont get affected by ich? I wouldnt want them to reinfect everyone when they eventually go back in the tank.

I have upped the temp and increased aeration and have now purchased interpet no 6 treatment for ich and halved the doseage for my corys as you instructed. The dosage is dose on day one then again on day 4.

The instructions say 7 days after the last dose a redose can be used - should I follow this advise or re-treat again before then? Also how many retreatments do you recommend I do? Ive been trying to read up on the net and a lot say aquarium salt should be used alongside the treatment but I dont think I can use it with corys is this right?

Also I did a water change and good gravel vac before I dosed the tank. when the last treatment goes in how long should I leave it before doing a good gravel vac and water change again please ?

Sorry for all these questions but if the pinned article on ich was working i would have read it.

 

[WILDER]

Best to treat another week once spots have gone.
I had to do two rounds.
If you preform a water change and gravel vac just add the correct amount of med back to water removed.
I wouldn't bother with the salt if you have corys they can only tolerate a small amount.
When the first treatment ended just do a water change and gravel vac.
If you have to do the course again you might need to run some black carbon for half aday before you start the second round.

 

[Gilli]

Thank you very much for your help.

 

[WILDER]

Good Luck.