ick ?? now what?

Question
I have a ten gallon tank that has been set up since March 10th. I have to lyre tail mollies, and seven baby guppies (I'm ordering a bigger tank but I had to put them in this one until the other one arrives). I ordered the fish from a teacher catalog. After they were in my tank for about two weeks I noticed that my molly had some spots on the tail and it look at little chewed on the ends. I thought it was ick so I cranked up the heat to about 80 and added some salt. I went to Petsmart and bout some ick tablets (which turned everything blue). The spots didn't look too bad the next day but they weren't gone. I took out 25% of the water and added another tablet. The fish didn't look better although he was swimming okay...no shaking or laying down. I thought it would be best to isolate him. He died the next day.

Now what should I do with my tank? Should I do a water change...via gravel cleaner to pick up any waste as well? HOw much water do I change?

What's the rule on changing water? Am I suppose to let it sit until its room temperature for a day (a co-worker told me this but I didn't believe him) then add the new water. Should I break it down to the bare bones and start all over??

I'm so confused please help!!!

Answer
Hi Janice;

It is best not to break down the tank and start over. Your tank will have to start over with the "break-in period" and it's already about halfway through it. It's a very difficult time for the fish. (more about that later) Just make a 25% water change and hopefully the rest of your fish will be okay. Keep using the medicine if you haven't treated for the full recommended treatment time. Even if you don't see spots on the other fish they could develop them. The ick parasites burrow into the skin and it takes a couple of days for the spots to show. They can't be killed while still on the fish. They have to develop to the next stage where they burst out of the spots into the water and the medicine then kills them. The spots can take several more days to heal up after that stage too.

It is best not to gravel vac on a new tank. It disturbs the beneficial bacteria down there too much. If you really need to do it, vacuum very lightly.

You don't need to let the new water sit out before adding it to your tank. There is no real benefit to doing that these days with the availability of modern instant water conditioners. Get one that removes chlorine/chloramine and helps with stress. Water conditioner should be used every time you add or change water in your tank and it works instantly. Make sure the new water is the same temperature as the old water too. Put the new water in a bucket using hot or cold tap water to adjust it as needed and an aquarium thermometer to be sure it's the same as the tank. Add the water conditioner to your tank right before you slowly pour the new 'temperature equalized' water into it. Add a full dose of water conditioner for a ten gallon tank, no matter how much water is replaced.

Your tank is still in the break-in period so the stress from that probably allowed the ick to latch on to the fish and multiply. Here is more about it on my web page to help you know what your fish are going through right now and how to help them get through it easier;

http://www.xanga.com/Expert_Fish_Help

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins