Severums and Tinfoil barbs with severe disease! Please reply SOON!

Question
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Followup To
Question -
Hello,
I have a 55 gallon tank with 4 Severums cichlids
and 3 Tinfoil Barbs. The Severums, about 8 days ago (4-15-04) have gotten ICK. I began
treatment by addding "Quick Cure" and raising the
water temperature to 80-81 degrees. I think the
reason my Severums got Ick in the first place was
because my FIRST heater wasn't of a high quality and
never heated the water well. And (after feeling
terribly guilty) I got a better heater and now
the temp is as I've said before 80-81.

I'm so worried the Ick hasn't falled off my
Severums since day one and now they have developed
a secondary infection of fungus! My Tinfoil barbs
eyes are getting cloudy and their tails are shred-
ing!! I have recently added "MARDEL marycen plus"
for the fungus as suggested by a very good LFS
employee but they said I shouldn't add any more
Quick Cure even though they still have ICK.
whats your opinion on this?
I have been doing up to 50% water changes about
every day or so. I'm so worried my Severums and
Tinfoil barbs won't make it. All of these fish
I have raised from little babys and I am very
attatched to them.
Am I doing all I can to help them?
What do you think I should do?
To get things straight:
Occupants of 55gallon:
4 Severum Cichlids
3 Tinfoil barbs.
Day Ick started:
(4-15-04)
Treated with Quick Cure for about 7 days.
Fungus showed up started treament of Fungus with
Mardel marycen plus for 1 day (stopped with Quick cure.
Tinfoil barbs eyes went cloudy on around maybe
day 6. Tails are getting frayed at day 8.
Water temperature: 80-81 degrees
Water quality: unknown. I worry the ammonia or PH
tests would be false because of the medication in
the water. True Or False?
Increased oxygen with Airstones and lowering water
level.
Feeding a good quality diet with variety.
Doing 25% moved up to 50% water changes everyday.
The fish are obviously stressed.

I have seen NO improvements except one of my green
Severums losing a LITTLE bit of his Ick on his
tail but nothing else.
Does it just need more time?

I am so scared I'm going to lose them so if you have any suggestions
please email me them back as soon as possible.

Thank you for your time and help,
Susan.

Answer -
Hi Susan;

You are doing everything just right. Sounds like a stubborn case and they probably have a secondary infection as you said. Keep using the antibiotic and another round of quick cure to make sure it is gone. Sometimes it takes 3 to 4 weeks to eliminate these little nasties.

Also add aquarium salt. It helps the fish with stress and weakens harmful parasites, bacteria and fungus so the fish can fight them off. Use one teaspoon per gallon of water. Add more for water that gets changed. For instance, if you remove 10 gallons of water and replace it, add 10 teaspoons of salt back to the tank.

Followups welcome

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins
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Hello again,
I'm worried about using two differant Medications with my fish.
I've read somewhere that you shouldn't mix medications. Would it
really be alright to mix "Quick Cure" and Mardel "Marycen Plus" together? (I'm not meaning to say you don't know what your doing) But 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon almost sounds like a brackish water tank. Are you certain it would be alright?
How long should I keep treating my fish with the two differant meds?

Thank you for your great help,
Susan*

Answer
Hi Susan;

Yes, both meds are fine to use together. The salt amount of one teaspoon per gallon is for treating disease, called a "long term bath". Once the disease is cured, then don't add more. It will go away as water changes are made. I have used this dosage of salt and these medications for many years and they work fine with all types of fish.

Keep up the good work!

Followups welcome.....

Chris Robbins