HELP new tank and fish are dying.

Originally Posted by Byron

Seems there are new fish, so that is almost without doubt the cause of the ich. Stress, and the ich was already in the tank.

I would suggest letting the fish settle. If there is any doubt that the tank is not cycled, then any medication is going to make it worse on the fish that are already under severe stress. It's hard to suggest something, since i am not there to see what's happening daily with feeding, behaviour, colour, etc. I usually turn to treatment when I see more than one spot and on more than one fish.

If treatment becomes necessary, I would raise the tank temp to around 85F [I would suggest 90F, but the neons and corys would find this very difficult]. Do this via a major water change (half the tank or more) raising the temp a couple degrees, and adjust the heater up to finish it. After the water change, dose with CopperSafe as indicated on the label. Maintain the temp for one week. I usually lower the heater thermostat back to normal after 8 days and let the tank cool naturally back to 77F (it should be no higher than this for neons and corys). Wait another 3-45 days and then do another 50% water change. I do not re-dose CS. I have had some very bad infestations of ich and cured them with this method.

In general terms, ich can be prevented by reducing stress as much as possible [and remember stress occurs from many sources, see my article on stress] and keeping the water quality good. If this is not done after the treatment, ich will simply re-occur.

Byron.

Originally Posted by trishalove

Yep, I got the guppies and tetras one week ago. They are all extremely active and eating really well - I feed them twice a day and they eat every last drop. The Platy had babies. I've tested the water everyday for 7 days and all params are 0. I think I will just go ahead and follow your method below. The temp is currently at 79. Thanks for letting me know the best temp for cories/tetras, after this I will set it at 77.

So I don't want to up the temperature too much too fast, right? Should I replace the water with temp of 82 degrees? Then use heater to reach 85?

"3-45" days after the 8 day treatment seems like a huge range or did you mean to say 30-45 days?

Thanks so much!!!! I really appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Byron

Sorry, typo I didn't catch, I meant 3 to 4 days.

Originally Posted by trishalove

Hi Byron,

I thought about posting this on an Apple Snail site but since you helped me so much before thought I'd reach out to you again. Update on my tank - I got rid of the ick sucessfully using copper. I havent had one death. I rehomed my Apple Snail to a 2 gallon tank during the medication period. I bought a poly filter to rid the 20 gallon of copper. When it tested negative using Copper test I moved the Apple Snail back to the 20 g. Since then I have not seen him. I've checked periodically and he is stuck inside one of the rock decorations. i assume he is alive since he is suctioned to the rock. I dont really want to disturb or cause him stress. But - he was sooo active in the 2 g and he was also very active in the 20 g before I treated the tank with copper. He really became my favorite to watch and I'm concerned. He's been in the 20 g for about 2 weeks and has not come out from under the rock. Do you think he might be sick? All of my tank parameters are 0 - no copper - a little nitrate. Should I just give him some time? Move him back to the 2 gallon? Do you have any experience with snails?

Thanks!!
Trisha

Originally Posted by Byron

Sorry Trisha, but I can't help this time, as I have no experience with these snails. But other members have, perhaps a post in the Invertebrates section will get some attention from them? "Invertebrates" sub-forum is under the Freshwater and Tropical Fish section.

Byron.