[FishyFishy89]

Okay, I know you raise the temp/some add salt. I did a salt dip about a week earlier(for a separate issue) and my juvies took it HORRIBLY!

Can I get rid of ich by just raising the temp/vacuuming everyday? Or do you really think I should add a teaspoon per 5 gallons everyday? I already lost 1 angel to a salt treatment and almost lost another. I'm really nervous about doing another salt treatment....

 

[MoneyMitch]

im nervous about salt treatments too, what I usually do with ich is just get the temp at atleast 87 for 2-3 weeks and do my weekly w/c's. the higher heat will speed up the life cycle and cause the cysts on the fish to burst. once the eggs hatch and become free swimming the heat will kill them. again this is going to take like 2-3 weeks.

keep in mind if you set your heater to 87 make sure the water is actually 87 all through out the tank some heaters don't have the best thermostats on them. heat in my experience is a lot better on the fish then salt dips or meds.

goodluck!!!!

 

[FishyFishy89]

Thanks Mitch. I have my heat round 86F and I'm vacuuming/water changing everyday.

 

[MoneyMitch]

87 is the minimum, anything less will just make the outbreak that much worse as heat will quicken the life cycle

 

[jaysee]

"86" is the minimum, but many go a little higher to be on the safe side. I go to 88. Some strains are more resistant to heat than others, and while 86 will do the job the vast majority of the time, it is not a total guarantee. 2 weeks is the treatment length. By the end of the first week, all spots should be gone. The extra week is just to be sure. A third week is unnecessary. Adding salt is unnecessary as well, since the heat alone does the job. Many people say to vacuum every day - I do not vacuum, or change the water during the treatment. I haven't found it to be necessary.

 

[FishyFishy89]

Well I also have rummy noses/a pleco. I've already lost over half my rummy noses. Cannot tell if it was from the heat or the ich(probably the ich). I'm not sure how they'd take higher temps.