I'm a little heartbroken as I write this - despite using heat, salt and a dosing of Quick Cure (formalin & green malachite), an attack of ich has killed 9 of the 10 fish in my smaller planted tank. The one who's still with me looks in reasonable shape, but I thought that about the two others I found dead this morning.
I realize the ich attack is my fault because I didn't quarantine the one new fish I added. Obviously, I'm going to have to invest in a quarantine tank now because I am not going through this again if I can help it.
I assumed the Quick Cure would also kill my snails and shrimp, but so far that hasn't been the case, happily.
My questions:
1. If my last tetra survives, I know I need to keep the heat and salt treatment up for at least two weeks. Is it then safe to add new fish? How long should I wait?
2. If my last tetra doesn't survive, how long before the tank is ich free? I've read everything from 6 hours to 30 days before the theronts are dead due to no host being available. Do I need to strip it and clean it? Replace the filter? Will the cycle survive with a few snails and a shrimp in there? Do I need to clean or ditch the live plants in any way?
I will say if my last tetra doesn't make it, I'm probably going to pull out all the gravel anyway and redo the tank with sand like my big one.
Ich has to be the most depressing thing that's ever happened to me as a tank owner. Man, it sucks hard.
I realize the ich attack is my fault because I didn't quarantine the one new fish I added. Obviously, I'm going to have to invest in a quarantine tank now because I am not going through this again if I can help it.
I assumed the Quick Cure would also kill my snails and shrimp, but so far that hasn't been the case, happily.
My questions:
1. If my last tetra survives, I know I need to keep the heat and salt treatment up for at least two weeks. Is it then safe to add new fish? How long should I wait?
2. If my last tetra doesn't survive, how long before the tank is ich free? I've read everything from 6 hours to 30 days before the theronts are dead due to no host being available. Do I need to strip it and clean it? Replace the filter? Will the cycle survive with a few snails and a shrimp in there? Do I need to clean or ditch the live plants in any way?
I will say if my last tetra doesn't make it, I'm probably going to pull out all the gravel anyway and redo the tank with sand like my big one.
Ich has to be the most depressing thing that's ever happened to me as a tank owner. Man, it sucks hard.