Severums with Ick disease! please REPLY SOON!

Question
Hello,
I have a 55 gallon tank that has been up and running for around a year now. It's current occupants are the following:
4 Severum Cichlids
3 Tinfoil barbs
---------------
I have been keeping tropical fish for a long time
now and have a lot of experience with them.
Unfortuanantly six days ago (4-15-04) I noticed the Severums had Ick disease.
I began treatment with "Quick Cure" and raised the water temperature to 80-81 degrees.
The only reason I can think of of why my Severums had caught Ick was that my heater was not very good quality and never heated the water right.
Recently we've had a cold front come through
and I think the tank's temperature was affected
by maybe having a severe swing during the night
and the heater couldn't control the temperature.
Now (after I've felt terribly guilty) I got a better heater and now it keeps the tank warm at 80-81 as I've said before that goes along with the treatment.

Okay so it's already been six days or so the Ick has only gotten worse. I know the life cycle of Ick I thought it was suppose to fall off the fish sooner. The Severums are clearly stressed one of my gold severums is even head down in the plastic plants but comes back up for food. I'm worried that they won't make it through the disease or the medication. I have been doing daily water changes of about 25%.
I have raised these Severums since they are around quarter size babies and now they are big and beautiful at around 4-5 inches. I don't want to lose them.
Is there any step I should take to help them fight off the disease better?
Am I doing all I can?
I'm just so worried that they won't make it.
Should I just give it more time?

And also do you know anything about the proper tank size for 3 Tinfoil barbs? What is their minimum tank size?

Thank you for your time and help,
Sincerely,
Susan


Answer
It sounds like your are doing the right thing for your severums. I'd agree with your assessment of the cause of the Ich. I also think it was a good idea to buy a new heater, and increase the temp to 80-81 (normally 78 is ideal). I would continue with the Quick Cure treatment as this is the best medicine availible. You may also want to try adding some aquarium salt as per the directions on the package. (approx. one tablespoon per 5 gallons). I would not do water changes when you are treating, unless you think that there may be a water quality issue. Even then, I wouldn't be doing it more than once per week. Also, make sure that you take your carbon filters out while treating.

I would estimate that you'd need around 40 gallons per adult tinfoil barb. In other words, you've got alot of big robust fish in that tank...possibly too many. You may want to consider moving the severums to another tank. If these fish have been in the tank for any length of time there is likely going to be some over-crowding issues. Water quality problems are often associated with over-crowding, and poor water quality is often linked to diasease. It wouldn't be a bad idea to check your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.

I hope this helps,
Good Luck.