Double Checking Ich Medication

shootingstar26

There were no more ich spot neither yesterday or today. I'm using Rid-Ich+ once a day; pouring 5 mL in my aquarium. I've taken out the carbon filter (and put in a cotton substitute). The plants can't be absorbing the chemicals, can they?

Byron

I would do a water change tomorrow, half the tank; use a good conditioner. Leave the carbon out, with plants you don't want it anyway as it removes nutrients.

I have never yet found any medication that does not stress fish to some extent, and the longer it is in the water the more it stresses them. All catfish seem particularly bothered by chemicals. Did you notice increased respiration (breathing) by the cory and pleco? This is usually the first sign that something is wrong.

To answer your question on plants absorbing chemicals, yes, depending upon the chemicals. Heavy metals like copper which is the basis of most ich medications will be taken up by plants and detoxified to a certain extent, but probably not sufficient for the medication to become ineffective, though I am just guessing at this. But the demise of the cory and pleco would tend to suggest that the medication was not being taken up by plants.

Byron.

shootingstar26

I think towards the end my pleco might have been laboring, but that could be (un)wishful thinking.


Thanks for your advice Byron. I will do what you said.