Think Ive Got Ich.

[Ashers]

Have a 90litre set up for 4 months know. It is heavily planted and has 4xottos 4xcardinal tetras and 6x rummy nose tetras and also have a few shrimp and snails. Looking at them today have noticed they have white spots on them that look like sugar grains. Know about the life cycle of the parasite but would like some help on that and how to cure it with a medicine that preferably doesnt have copper in so it doesnt harm the shrimp and snails.
Thanks

 

[Carlovel1]

The best thing is to raise the tank temp to around 29C & move the shrimp and snails to another tank as these can't tolerate high temps.

 

[Ashers]

what size would the tank need to be and what filterage? also what medication should I use and how do I go about it?
Thanks

 

[Ashers]

Anybody?

 

[karin]

When I had ich I raised the temp to 30C and after a couple of dead end treatments ended up with a formalin/malachite green treatment (pretty common one here in US is Quick Cure, but there are others). I removed my snails to another tank but my amano shrimp lived through the treatment. Only thing I have to say is do full dose treatments and the full duration. Too many people quit when the spots disappear and then the ICH returns and may be more resistant. Also my plants suffered, get ready for that.

Oh and increase aeration as higher temps lower the available oxygen in the tank.

So, raise temp, increase aeration, take carbon out of your filter, do full doses of medication as directed by the medication supplier. And be patient.

 

[the biffster]

put your temp up to 81 82 then i
use http/www.fishworldoldham.co.uk/ws3-info.html
i find this is the best off the self
treatment you can get for white
spot fallow directions on the bottle
to the t and then you cant go far wrong

 

[Ashers]

Thanks guys. How bad will the plants suffer, as I'm very fond of my plants and if its worth moving them to another tank?
Thanks

 

[karin]

My plants definitely suffered. But I'm not sure you have a choice. Sorry. You could move them I suppose. Most of my plants did rebound afterwards however.

 

[Ashers]

Thanks for the input guys, great help. I've dosed the tank today and it says that it is harmless to plants, it's an interpet one.
Thanks