Ick and my Black Moores

Question
Hi Amber ! I have a 20 gallon tank that houses my 3 Black Moores. They are about 2 inches in size. 1 I have had over a year and the other 2 for about 4 months. 1 of them is a butterfly moore...very cute! All levels were normal when A couple of weeks ago I brought home a baby pleco thinking that it would help with the algea on the glass...the little thing died 2 days after bringing it home and now I have dicovered that the black moores have ICK. I have been treating with Ick Gaurd by Jungle, but you have to change 25% the water every 24 hrs and add another dose...yesterday after only 3 doses (3 days) it looked like the Ick was gone so last night I added the carbon back in and this AM I could tell that they wernt quite over it yet so I took the carbon out and dosed them again (4rth dose). My delema is I have to go away this afternoon till Sunday...2 nights. I was thinking should I go and see if I can get coppersafe or another medication that you add and dont have to change for a couple of days...I dont want to stress them out with all the meds...I also heard that I should also be using an antibiotic. Any info would be greatly appreciated. They seem a bit pale in color, but are swiming around and not sitting on the bottom anymore. I increased the power head and they like swimming against the current, they are also back to begging for food! so Im thinking they are getting better. I havnt tested my levels while the medication is in the tank as I have been told that you get false readings. But was also told that it could mess with my benificial bacteria! What a state! Thank you so much for you time Amber!
Terry

Answer
Hello Terry-

You sound like a great "fish mom!"

A medicine I would recommend to you is QuICKCure (found at WalMart, PETsMART, etc.) It contains formalin and malachite green, two very powerful antibacterial agents. I use it on all my sick fish, even for diseases other than Ick. It's great, and you don't have to do daily water changes (though you ought to remove the carbon.) It will turn your water blue, so watch out!

As long as you dose once per day and change 25% weekly, the beneficial bacteria should be fine.

Hope this is useful, and I hope your little ones get well soon!
-Amber Worman