Ahhhh..ICH!

Question
Hello Nathan, I'm afraid I have fallen victim to the horrors of ich.  I'm actually not 100% sure, since I've never had ich before, but it looks like all the pictures I've seen.  Anyway, here's my setup:

47 gallon tank (it's a tall skinny one)
5 red wag platties
2 silver mollies
2 black mollies
2 clown loaches

This is a newer tank, we've had the whole setup for a couple months now.  First noticed a peculiar spot on one of the loaches about a week and a half ago, and now both of them are full out spotted  :(  I've been doing research and would like to try to cure this without the use of chemicals, which leaves high temps and salt, right?  Now, I have also learned that loaches don't have scales, therefore making them more prone to ich and a bit more sensitive to treatment than the other fish in the tank.  I do currently have the tank slightly salted (Oceanic Natural Sea Salt Mix), at a ratio of 1 Tablespoon per 5 gallons.  I do regular water changes of about 10%, and add the 1 Tablespoon of salt into the 5 gallons of (hard but treated) replacement water.  Recently had the water tested at the local pet store and everything checked out fine, just slightly high ammonia levels.

So here's my questions:
~How much salt to add, and how (directly to tank, dissolved in some tank water first..)?
~How high of a temperature should the loaches be able to survive?
~Should I do a water change before starting treatment?
~How long to treat/not change the water?  I read to treat at least 10 days/3 days after spots are gone?  I'm guessing you're not supposed to change the water during treatment?  Possible 50% change afterwards?

I also read about getting some extra oxygen into the water, and I have an extra air stone I will probably throw in there before I begin treatment.

Thanks so much (in advance) for your help!  The loaches are our favorite, we love those little guys, and I really don't wanna lose them.

Melissa


Answer
Hi Melissa,

Here are the answers to your questions:

1)If you want to stick to a natural treatment of Ich, the salt concentration should be raised to about twice as much as you are using at the moment. If you do not have a hydrometer, simply add twice as much (two tablespoons every 5 gal.) Before starting treatment, perform a 20-50% water change first. Dissolve the salt in the replacement water that you will add to the tank. It's good that you're using ocean salt, as opposed to aquarium (regular) salt, as it has many additional benefits.

2) Your Clown Loaches can withstand a temperature of up to 86F+. I recommend that you raise the temperature no more than a degree every hour, until it reaches this temperature. At 86F, the Ich protozoan cannot function well, and will start dying off. If it does not die off, it will still speed up the life cycle, meaning it will get killed faster.

3) Perform a 20-50% water change before treatment to reduce stress and improve water quality.

4)You can change the water during treatment, provided the same quantity of salt/medication is applied back to the replacement water. You will have to treat the water until ALL spots are gone. Continue treating a few days (2-5) after that, as a preventative measure. I'd recommend that you DO change the water during the treatment to control the ammonia.

5) If you are raising the temperature above 80F, you MUST add an extra airstone with an air pump to increase oxygenation. Higher temperatures mean less dissolved oxygen available.

If the salt/temperature does not work, you will need a medication. Medications are the most effective way to treat Ich, and don't harm the fish. If you are going to use a medication (recommended), use it at HALF DOSE because Loaches are scaleless fish. Remove any carbon from the filter if you are using medication. Use EITHER salt OR medication. High heat works in conjunction with both.

Good Luck, and Happy Fishkeeping!