Treating Ich With Salt?
- Thread starter lrhodes
- Start date
The December FOTM Contest Poll is open!
🏆 Click to vote! 🏆
BelldandyShanny
Fishaholic
I don't know how well plecos will tolerate salt, but what I was told to do is raise the temp to like 82 and add the salt
Meeresstille
Fish Addict
I've had to treat ich twice so far and each time I've used the heat salt method. If it is the best method? I don't know, but I've heard quite often that people had difficulties getting rid of ich using medications, and went from one kind to another. Maybe there is truth to it that there are medication resistant strains of ich. Having to treat with different medications and for longer amount of time is stressful for the fish too.
As long as you go slow in increasing the temperature of the tank and adding the salt, your fish should be able to handle it. Make sure you dissolve the salt before adding it to the water, and get to the salinity you want over a three day period.
Table salt is fine, as long as it does not have any caking agent in it. Some people buy aquarium salt which is fine too, just don't use marine salt since it has buffers in it that you do not want in a fresh water tank.
As long as you go slow in increasing the temperature of the tank and adding the salt, your fish should be able to handle it. Make sure you dissolve the salt before adding it to the water, and get to the salinity you want over a three day period.
Table salt is fine, as long as it does not have any caking agent in it. Some people buy aquarium salt which is fine too, just don't use marine salt since it has buffers in it that you do not want in a fresh water tank.
well i bought lifeguard and aquarium salt... Trying to decide which to use. Lifeguard is for basically everything... So I might use it in the cichlid tank since don't why they are flashing. And use the salt for the 55 gallon... Even though I don't know how the plecos are going to react..
BelldandyShanny
Fishaholic
can you move the plecos? or do they have it too?
BelldandyShanny
Fishaholic
well I've used the same medication you just got, and I had my loaches in the tank while I did it and they were just fine, so it'd probably be fine
BelldandyShanny
Fishaholic
=(
Blondielovesfish
Kia Ora
Since you have a pleco, just do a weaker solution.
I can't remember how much salt you add, but hopefully someone will come along that does
Just making sure, are you aware that the common pleco will need a bigger tank as it ages? They can reach over a foot long.
I can't remember how much salt you add, but hopefully someone will come along that does
Just making sure, are you aware that the common pleco will need a bigger tank as it ages? They can reach over a foot long.
Good news... No fish died over night! That I can find!
The back of the package said a tablespoon per five gallons... Right now I have added enough for 25 gallons.. And raised the temp 84-86.
But it looks like their spots doubled.. Is that normal?
And yes... I know a 55 won't work forever.
The back of the package said a tablespoon per five gallons... Right now I have added enough for 25 gallons.. And raised the temp 84-86.
But it looks like their spots doubled.. Is that normal?
And yes... I know a 55 won't work forever.
Meeresstille
Fish Addict
Those spots will fall off in time and bury into the substrate. With the raised heat they will soon hatch and those free swimmers will be looking for a host. You can reduce the risk of re-infection by doing daily gravel vacs. This will especially benefit fish that like to stay close to the substrate, since the salt can only affect and kill the parasite in the free swimmer stage. Some free swimmers may get to the pleco before the salt has been able to be effective.
Ensure you replace the amount of salt you've taken out during the gravel vac. Oh, and don't forget to increase the oxygenation of the water by either adding an airstone (with air-pump and air-line-tubing) or if you have a waterfall type filter you can reduce the water level in the tank to create more splash from the water falling into the tank.
If your pleco seems OK with the half dose, try to increase the dosage some more, keep a close eye on any distress so you can reduce the amount again if necessary.
Ensure you replace the amount of salt you've taken out during the gravel vac. Oh, and don't forget to increase the oxygenation of the water by either adding an airstone (with air-pump and air-line-tubing) or if you have a waterfall type filter you can reduce the water level in the tank to create more splash from the water falling into the tank.
If your pleco seems OK with the half dose, try to increase the dosage some more, keep a close eye on any distress so you can reduce the amount again if necessary.
Similar threads
Most reactions
-
365 -
203 -
193 -
192 -
185 -
176 -
160 -
158 -
144 -
109 -
92 -
92 -
83 -
82 -
79