Planted freshwater tanks with Ick

Discussion in 'Fish Disease' started by Dustin75, Mar 12, 2009.

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  1. Dustin75

    Dustin75 Fire Shrimp

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    Does anyone have experience with treating Ick in a planted tank? I currently have jumbo neon tetras, powder blue dwarf gouramis, marble angle, panda cory cat, Mickey Mouse Platies, and Marigold Platies for fish. For plants I have Anubias nana, horn-wort, and jungle val. So far the only treatment I have found is to increase the water temperature 86 and add 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon of water every 12 hours, 3 times. Is this safe and effective for the fish and plants that I have listed above, or is there a more effective way?

    This is what I get for starting a freshwater tank, should have just stuck with saltwater.

    Dustin
     
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  3. grubbsj

    grubbsj Gigas Clam

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    Digging back in history...when we ran a fresh water tank, we treated ICH with Cu...what I cannot remember is if we had plants in at that time or not...as we used both real and plastic plants with the FW tanks...(the fish did not eat the plastic plants!!)...sorry, we have been out of FW for about 15 years...

    Have you cross checked your fish with some of the Cu treatments out there?
     
  4. sostoudt

    sostoudt Giant Squid

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  5. Dustin75

    Dustin75 Fire Shrimp

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    Thanks for the link, I will give the formulin a try and see what happens.
     
  6. grubbsj

    grubbsj Gigas Clam

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    It's been a week, any progress to report?
     
  7. Dustin75

    Dustin75 Fire Shrimp

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    I believe the ick is gone no more "dots" on the fins. I increased the temperature to 86f, added about 3/4cup of instant ocean salt (over 3 days), and added half the recommended dosage of formalin for 6 days straight. Also performed a water change (20%) on days 2 and 6 of the treatment. The temp is still at 86f, will decrease it slowly starting Saturday, and started treating with Metronidazole on Sunday, today will be the last treatment. With any luck the ick is gone or at least dormant.

    Thanks for asking.
    Dustin
     
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  9. grubbsj

    grubbsj Gigas Clam

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    Sounds like positive progress, your plants still looking good? Tks for the update.
     
  10. Dustin75

    Dustin75 Fire Shrimp

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    The plants are growing like crazy, especially the hornwort.
     
  11. grubbsj

    grubbsj Gigas Clam

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    Great, any new pics?
     
  12. dirtydavenkc

    dirtydavenkc Purple Spiny Lobster

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    you say your tank is plated. are you infusing co2. ick is common in planted tanks due to co2 levels being too high (co2 poisoning) if thats the case water change and repeat. when it happened to me, i move my fish to a huge rubbermaid container and medicated. i had 75 fish and lost 12.
     

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    Last edited: Mar 31, 2009