Ich help..

[BubBleBee]

I bought some LF GBR's yesterday...today I noticed on two of em that they have white spots on their fins...they are in a established tank which has been up and running as a hospital tank for 8-9 months or so. I have quick cure and aquarium salt on hand but am uncertain which route to take...I have been gradually increasing the temp of the tank as well to aid in this matter. They are in a ten gallon Aqueon (temp) with an Aqueon 10 filter which came with the package. Do I take out the filter cartridge before commencing any treatment??? I am having to deal with this for the first time in my year or so keeping fish, so any suggestions and what worked for all you out there would be greatly appreciated..Thanx in advance...

[Diztrbd1]

If you use Quick cure or ich meds you have to remove the filter cartridge if it has carbon in it as carbon removes meds. Not sure which is the better course of action to take. If your going to go the raised temp route you'll need to add some salt too. Personally that's what I'd try for a couple days.

[BubBleBee]

How would I found out if the the filter cartridge has carbon in it..:s..may sound foolish but I'm accustomed to canister rather than HOB..I will google the name and cartridge to see if I can figure it out that way...so with me increasing the temp over the course of a few days when do I add the salt...it's a ten gallon so would 1tbsp be sufficient? Then I'm supposed to do a water change??? If so how long after and how often...Man I hate ich...heard from a few peeps it has killed off the tank...thank GOD, I put these bad boys in a quarantine tank prior to them goin in the 46 Bow....Sheeeesh!
Thanks John!

[Slopster]

Go the salt method and slowly raise the temp till it's 80+ and clean the gravel as the ich eggs will drop off and lay in the substrate
I find that the best way to do it, considering chems will not work with carbon filters and other meds may wipe out your good Bacteria, and theres no sense to go through the cycle again..

[BubBleBee]

When you suggest clean the gravel is siphoning it as I was doing water change sufficient? or should I just remove it for now and boil it or something? Sorry for all the questions...don't wanna fak crap up anymore than is...

[Slopster]

Siphon today nand then again 3 days from now what else is in the tank??? that the salt will not harm, like clown loaches and salt do not get along ..

[grizadams_7mm]

We had this problem a few months ago and we used a little bit of every method, Salt, heat and treatments as well as much shorter lights on period. I wanted to play it safe as well so the siphon and nets always got a heavy soaking in Hot, hot water. Also just use filter floss, no Carbon. Best of luck to ya

[BubBleBee]

Five GBR...gravel and a few plants is all...it's a hospital tank and I don't buy any fish excessively as it's a small tank to begin with to put a big load of fish into for quarantining purposes...the cartridge does in fact have carbon in it...so the salt method is prolly the best way...for now anyways...Can anyone suggest what the best method would be to introduce the salt?? Do I just put it in or mix it with some tank water then add it in?? How often do I add salt every 12 hours or so??

[BubBleBee]

We had this problem a few months ago and we used a little bit of every method, Salt, heat and treatments as well as much shorter lights on period. I wanted to play it safe as well so the siphon and nets always got a heavy soaking in Hot, hot water. Also just use filter floss, no Carbon. Best of luck to ya

Thank you...I will only have the light on for an hour or so for the next 5 days...enuff to be able to see what's goin on and to monitor the growth or treatment of the darn disease... When you were doing the salt how often did you add it and how did you first and continue to introduce it to the tank?

[Diztrbd1]

Plants and salt with the higher temps don't do well together either. Wiped out all my plants in my 50 that way and learned the hard way. If it's a HOB Bobbi, then it most likely has carbon in it just to answer that. Personally I would take the temp to 85, they can handle it. Salt can be added directly , it will dissolve , or you can put in a pop bottle with water and shake the hell out of it lol tho I am sure it willdissolve the same