Fish Hobbyists: Curing Ich in 10 gal Tank

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around methods for treating ich in a 10-gallon aquarium, particularly focusing on home remedies and commercial medications. Participants share their experiences and suggestions for both treating infected fish and preventing future outbreaks.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses regret for not quarantining new fish, leading to an ich outbreak and seeks solutions.
  • Another participant recommends a two-step treatment using Quickcure and antibiotics, emphasizing the importance of removing charcoal from the filter during treatment.
  • A different approach involves using 1% hydrogen peroxide and tobacco to treat ich, with caution advised regarding application near sensitive areas of the fish.
  • Some participants advocate for treating the entire tank to reduce stress on the fish, while others suggest using a quarantine tank.
  • Salt is mentioned as a potential treatment, with one participant asking about the correct concentration for use.
  • A participant suggests using a UV sterilizer and increasing water temperature to speed up the life cycle of the ich parasite, along with frequent water changes.
  • Concerns are raised about fish gasping at the surface after treatment, leading to discussions about oxygen levels and the importance of maintaining water circulation.
  • There is a clarification regarding the use of antibiotics, noting that they do not affect protozoan parasites like ich but may be necessary for secondary infections.
  • One participant recommends eSHa EXIT as an effective treatment for ich, citing it as a standard in their inventory.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple competing views on the best treatment methods for ich, with no consensus reached on a single effective approach. There are differing opinions on the use of antibiotics, salt, and various chemical treatments.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note the limitations of certain treatments, such as the potential for re-infection if the tank is not treated comprehensively. There is also mention of the stress that salt can cause to freshwater fish, indicating a need for careful consideration of treatment choices.

DaveC426913
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Doh. I should have quarantined my new fish. Now my tank's infected with ich.

Like to hear your home-brewed solutions for curing ich. (And if anyone swears by any particular meds (Furan II?), I'll hear that too).

10 gal tank, cherry barbs, kuhli loaches, betta, and one shrimp (an invertebrate, which I'll sacrifice if it comes to it.)
 
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I always go for a 2 fold cure, first I use a product called Quickcure, then a antiboitic, just in case they pick up a secondary infection. Make sure to follow the correct lenth of time for treatment. Also remove the charcoal from the filter durring treatment, or the meds will get stuck in it.
Hope your little guys will be feeling better soon!
 
hypatia said:
I always go for a 2 fold cure, first I use a product called Quickcure, then a antiboitic, just in case they pick up a secondary infection. Make sure to follow the correct lenth of time for treatment. Also remove the charcoal from the filter durring treatment, or the meds will get stuck in it.
Hope your little guys will be feeling better soon!
Do you directly treat your tank, or a quarantine tank?
 
After a malachite green disaster, I started swabbing my ich cases with 1% hydrogen peroxide (just cut drugstore stuff 3:1), and adding tobacco, couple Chesterfields or Pall Malls to a 75 gal tank --- so maybe a quarter of a cigarette in 10, to kill the rest of the arthropods. Move your shrimp to a mason jar --- there's no point to gratuitously sacrificing the little guy.

If you do try the peroxide, use a Q-tip, and keep it away from the eyes and gills --- I don't know that anything bad would result, but I didn't want to take the chance, and haven't had problems since.

Your mileage may vary.
 
I treat the whole tank, I found it was less stressful.
 
Bystander said:
After a malachite green disaster, I started swabbing my ich cases with 1% hydrogen peroxide (just cut drugstore stuff 3:1), and adding tobacco, couple Chesterfields or Pall Malls to a 75 gal tank --- so maybe a quarter of a cigarette in 10, to kill the rest of the arthropods. Move your shrimp to a mason jar --- there's no point to gratuitously sacrificing the little guy.
If you do try the peroxide, use a Q-tip, and keep it away from the eyes and gills --- I don't know that anything bad would result, but I didn't want to take the chance, and haven't had problems since.
Your mileage may vary.
This will treat the fish but it won't treat the tank. They'll just get re-infected.
 
Oh. I'd almost forgotten about salt as an excellent treatment and preventative.

Anybody know the correct concentration?
 
As far as the salt concentration, if you have any aquarium salt it should state on the package what dose to use for regular maintenance and that should probably run the same for treatment.

I always found a UV sterilizer to be a nice way to treat/prevent Ich, but that's a bit extreme for a 10 gallon. You can also jack the temp up a bit (as high as 80F, I think) to speed up the life cycle of the inverts and do a lot of water changes, being sure to vacuum the gravel to get all life stages of this parasite.

Also, here's a http://www.wetwebmedia.com/index.html" for advice on practically any aquarium-related stuff.
 
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DaveC426913 said:
This will treat the fish but it won't treat the tank. They'll just get re-infected.

The tobacco is the tank treatment, nicotine being being toxic to most arthropods.
 
  • #10
Two of em didn't make it.

Put a few drops of Quick Cure in my tank. Man, are they unhappy. Wiggling around - the itching must be driving them crazy. (Though, strange: they're not scraping themselves like they usually do - more like wiggling.)

I'm worried about something though - they are gasping at the surface. I wonder if that's an indication that their gills are badly infected with parasites. I had intended to leave the pump off so they don't have to fight the current in their weakened state, but with this gasping symptom, I fear the low oygen saturation in stagnant water might be worse for them.
 
  • #11
and don't forget frequent water changes
 
  • #12
I'm sure you have already TURNED THE PUMP BACK ON. You should add antibiotics ASAP.
Salt as a cure, is really tricky and many fresh water fish get stressed from it.
Sorry to hear you've lost a few:frown:
 
  • #13
hypatia said:
You should add antibiotics ASAP.

Not to be picky but by definition antibiotics do not affect protozoan. It only has an affect bacteria. I am microbiologist and the misuse of the term antibiotics tend to bug me :wink:

These are the chemicals that are effective against ICH: Malachite green, methylene blue, quinine hydrochloride, and Mepacrine Hydrochloride. I have two of these in the lab and quinine hydrocloride is the bittering agent in tonic water.
 
  • #14
No the antibiotic are for any secondary infection from the open wounds, which happen very often with fish. As noted in my above post.
 

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