What Would You Do?

[Shelster]

I appreciate having a hospital tank is for isolation of ill fish to treat. However my filter sponge is still maturing in my external filter, and has only been in since dec 1st so not quite ready to be used in my hosp tank 30litres)
I have noticed that two of my mongoose/Pakistani (not us which - rescue) have ich. Now I understand for these type of fish I need to use half the treatment dose for twice the length of time, however, should I try to isolate them and treat them or treat the whole tank anyway because it is highly contagious and I could be stuck with removing a few fish and trying to do treatment days at different times which wouldn't work.

Current stocking :

5 honey gourami
7 neon tetra
6 copper harlequin
9 glowlight tetra
3 Pakistani loach
2 hillstream
5 corydoras
2 rosy tetra

Tank vision 180 litres 35 litre change weekly with RO water.
Water change due tonight, parameters of amonia and nitrate 0 + 20 yesterday.

 

[nikkifro8994]

I would treat the entire tank, just to be sure that you won't have to deal with ich again in the near future. Make sure to remove the carbon frim your filter (provided there is other media). Carbon will remove the medicine from the water. As you said, you will have to use a half dose because you have fish like tetras.

 

[the_lock_man]

Definitely treat the whole tank. The parasite has 3 stages in its life cycle, only 1 of which is when it's visible as the white spots. Furthermore, it is only vulnerable to medication in one of its stages, and that is not when it's attached to a fish.

I have used Protozin by Waterlife, it worked absolutely perfectly, although as you say, with your loaches you would need half-dosage.

 

[Shelster]

Great thanks guys, that's the medicine I have too. Will do water change tonight and add meds after. It won't Matt if I put plant feed in at the same time will it? Or best to leave until after treatment?

 

[nikkifro8994]

I added plant food when I was treating my betta for ich. I didn't see any harm. You should be fine.