unclenedsfishfactory.com

Ned,

I've got a 55 gal tank with a ick.
Fish (none small) include: severums, clown loaches, pleco, upside down cats

I was in on Saturday and got "Cure-Ick".
You also recommended 2 tsp salt per gal.

1 TBL = 3 tsp
1 Cup = 16 TBL

That's 48 tsp/cup

I needed approx 100 tsp (50 gal * 2 tsp)
I used 2 cups (or 96 tsp) - close enough

I've used 5 capfuls of Cure-Ick each time.

Treatments to date:

Sat: 50% water change, Cure-Ick, 2 Cups Kosher Salt

Sun: 50% water change, Cure-Ick, 1 Cup Kosher Salt

Mon: 50% water change, Cure-Ick, 1 Cup Kosher Salt
(The clown loaches were (are) more infected than everyone else. They spend a lot of time hiding in the driftwood. So thinking perhaps the driftwood was harboring the Ick, I took out all driftwood before the water change. The fish are unhappy having fewer hiding places.)

Tue: Cure-Ick

Today a couple of the clown loaches look worse than ever.

Suggestions?

Thanks.

Without seeing the fish or a picture of them

I am assuming "the ick getting worse"
is actually the ick getting better...

what happens is the ick is literally attched to the fish
so when it comes off
it leaves an actual tear or rip in the fish's skin

so sometimes the "ick getting worse" is just
the wounds left as the ick leaves the body of the fish

If you dont see major improvment in 2 days we can switch to copper medicine
instead of
the "cure ick" which is malachite/fomalin medicine

double check the directions on the "cure ick"
because it's a pretty diluted medicine compared to "quick cure"

turn the heat up to 82 degrees also

make sure you stay with that high salt level of 2 TSP per gallon

Ned,

I've emailed a couple of pictures of the clown loaches. I hope they help - they're not so good because they don't stay still long enough.

On most fish, there are less spots. On a couple of the clowns, way more. I'm pretty sure it's the Ick - the clowns are doing a lot of scrapping against rocks and gravel; their dorsal fins are down.

You only had the "cure ick" (diluted stuff) on Sat.

Directions say: "1 capful per 10 gals". I've been using 5 capfuls.

I've turned up the temp. It was at 80 (according to my thermometer that I never really trust).

"cure ick"

use this at least twice a day
it works best
with the lights out

do NOT use carbon in the filter

Ned,

I ran out of "Cure Ick" yesterday, but was able to get "QuICK Cure" locally today (sorry).

It says 1 drop/gallon daily. After 3 treatments, change 25% water.

Would those be your recommendations as well?
Continue with the salt?
Do a water change before starting with the QuICK Cure?

Is it safe for the fish I've got: clown loaches, severums, plecos?

Thanks.

ran out of "Cure Ick" yesterday, but was able to get "QuICK Cure" locally today (sorry). SAME STUFF...less DILUTED

It says 1 drop/gallon daily. After 3 treatments, change 25% water.
GOOD

Would those be your recommendations as well? YES
Continue with the salt? PROPORTIONALLY, YES
Do a water change before starting with the QuICK Cure? ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA

Is it safe for the fish I've got: clown loaches, severums, plecos? YES

Ned,

After 4 treatments with Quick Cure (water change after 3rd) , the clowns look better.

Should I treat the tank for some days more to be certain no Ick remains? If so, how many?

Thanks.

another 4 days probably
can't hurt
if you keep the salt up too
the ick can't come back

Ned,

Last question, I hope (as do you too by now):

Recall I took out a bunch of driftwood. It's been sitting in a bucket with tank water. Do I need to treat it in some fashion (for ick) before returning it to the tank?

Thanks again.

no

ick dies by itself in about 2 weeks
unless it has a live fish to feed on