I am new, what's Ich??

Discussion in 'Fish Disease' started by Tyman, Jul 9, 2012.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. Tyman

    Tyman Plankton

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2012
    Messages:
    15
    Location:
    St. Louis, MO
    Just started cycling a 10 gal fish tank. No fish but wanted to understand Ich and the signs just in case. Inspecting to get some glofish and a bottom feeder. Any thoughts?? ALSO wanted to know how to lower my temp of my fish tank. The tank is in my room, on the second story (top floor) in the weather and humidity of Missouri... 95+ degrees. The tank has been holding round 80 degrees F.

    Thanks for the time! If I'm in the wrong place to ask these types of questions, just let me know!! :)
     
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2012
  2. Click Here!

  3. kwinter1

    kwinter1 Corkscrew Tentacle Anemone

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2011
    Messages:
    740
    Location:
    Indiana
    Ich is the devil. But, look closely at the fish you buy and those around it for active out break. Ich appears to look as if some one sprinkled salt on your fish. when picking fish make sure the eat, ask to have them fed and watch them eat yourself. Prevention a quarabtine tank is the best so you can treat it with meds in there opposed to your display tank(DT). It is a parasite that reproduces on fish ie the white granules. Try to minimize stress and feed your fish a good diet.
    Don't know anything about glow fish but I would get a goby or some sort of jaw fish for a bottom feeder depending on substrate. You can also pair it up with a snapping shrimp of some sort ie tiger shrimp.
    Easy way to cool your tank blow a fan across the surface. 80 is terrible though just dont let it go above 82 and you are good.
    hope this is a start for ya I can go more into ich if you want. Good way to avoid it is to not buy smoothe skinned fish ie tangs which your tank is to small anyhow. good luck
    how are you cycling?
     
  4. zackscott20

    zackscott20 Fire Shrimp

    Joined:
    May 17, 2011
    Messages:
    310
    Location:
    IN
    i think he is doing a freshwater tank if I'm correct Kwinter? haha. And Freshwater fish are welcome here! we have a freshwater section on this forum, even though the majority here is saltwater!
     
  5. Kevin_E

    Kevin_E Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2009
    Messages:
    4,551
    Location:
    Florida
    He has a freshwater tank and 80 degrees is way too hot for a glofish. You need mid 60-mid 70s. Getting your tank that low will be difficult. Don't even run a heater.

    What is your house temp. set at and do you have a fan in the room?
     
  6. kwinter1

    kwinter1 Corkscrew Tentacle Anemone

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2011
    Messages:
    740
    Location:
    Indiana
    well played my bad disregard
     
  7. Tyman

    Tyman Plankton

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2012
    Messages:
    15
    Location:
    St. Louis, MO
    It is a freshwater tank, house is set at 78 degrees. 17 years old, can't change that! Haha I have a fan in my room. I did put a frozen bottle in the tank to see if I can lower the temp. Didn't work as I planned!
     
  8. Click Here!

  9. zackscott20

    zackscott20 Fire Shrimp

    Joined:
    May 17, 2011
    Messages:
    310
    Location:
    IN
    yea, if you can't get your house lower than 78, it is probably not the right time to start a fish tank. you should probably start one later this year when it starts to get cooler. thats just my opinion!
     
  10. Vinnyboombatz

    Vinnyboombatz Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2010
    Messages:
    6,344
    Location:
    Dunnellon, Florida
    As long as the O.P. selects the right fish 80 degrees will be fine.Most FW fish live naturally in hotter climates which is why they are called tropical fish.;) As far as Ich is concerned as long as you buy healthy fish and practice good husbandry you should be able to avoid it.
     
  11. Kevin_E

    Kevin_E Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2009
    Messages:
    4,551
    Location:
    Florida
    Correct, but glofish isn't it. Keep you fan running without the heater and you will be golden for most fish.
     
  12. PghSteeler

    PghSteeler Tassled File Fish

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2012
    Messages:
    1,956
    Location:
    Pittsburgh PA
    I have done freshwater for many years of all different types. As stated many fish come from central and south america and can take the heat I have kept tanks at 80+ many times with cichlids and other types of fish. Just remember the hotter the water the faster the metabolism of the fish which means the more they need to eat, and the more aggressive/territorial they will be depending on species. Also as the water gets hotter it loses its capacity to carry more oxygen so hot tanks can hold less fish.

    As to the ich, you will see white spots on the fish that look like salt, starts off with just a couple maybe you see it on the fins or tail but will eventually cover the entire fish. Unlike SW ich FW ich can be killed with high temps. Higher temps will speed up its life cycle and at a certain points kills it. Also unlike a reef tank you can medicate a DT. I find malachite green with methylene blue meds do a great job. With tetras and scaleless fish though you need to be careful since meds are more harmful to them and they are more prone to developing ich.