Quarantine tank

[Anonymous]

Two of the fish in my nano have a terrible case of ich. I have set up a 10 gallon q-tank and have added a formalin/malachite green concoction I picked up at the LFS. Besides a heater and air stone, what else do I need in there? Also, I am supposed to add 2 drops per gallon every day...should I be doing daily water changes? TIA for your replies!

 

[ahrpr]

Two of the fish in my nano have a terrible case of ich. I have set up a 10 gallon q-tank and have added a formalin/malachite green concoction I picked up at the LFS. Besides a heater and air stone, what else do I need in there? Also, I am supposed to add 2 drops per gallon every day...should I be doing daily water changes? TIA for your replies!

you don't really need anything except for water and airstone and food, its just a QT tank.

 

[sediener]

You can get one of those ammonia alert badges and as soon as it starts showing any ammonia do a water change.

- sed

 

[ChrisRD]

Personally, I would add a few PVC fittings or pieces of pipe that the fish can hide-in to make them feel more secure (ie. decrease stress).

 

[Anonymous]

ChrisPy, I've had great success with garlic and Hypo. Get the liquid Kryolic garlic, and soak everything you feed them in it. Also, if you just have fish in the QT, lower the salinity to about 1.015. That stops the cycle of cryptocarion so that they can't breed.

FWIW, the Malichite green stuff did nothing but make my hands green.

HTHs,
~wings~

 

[WRASSER]

Keep the heater too :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice, guys! I forgot to add that I do have a few small pieces of PVC in there, and they are both using them as cover.

It's been a while since I've done this...and I'm a little jittery about it!

 

[ChrisRD]

I hear ya - it's been ages since I've had a fish with ich. If I had to treat for it now I would probably go with hypo - I'm not a chemical/medication fan if it's at all avoidable (although copper sure gets the job done).

 

[flanders]

i have had some success with daily water changes.. it keeps the ammonia out and you dont want anything else stressign them if you can avoid it

 

[WRASSER]

Isnt the water madicated, if you do that you dilute the medication, NO? :?: :?

 

[Anonymous]

The medication disappears (visually, at least) in a few hours. I wonder if it loses its potency, as well. Regardless, I am dosing 2 drops per gallon a day, every day...so I'm not that worried about dilution.

ChrisRD mentioned copper...if this doesn't work in fairly short order I am switching to that.

 

[WRASSER]

Good luck and keep us posted 8) 8)

 

[Anonymous]

Both appear to be doing better, but are not eating. I'm doing a w/c this afternoon...time will tell.

 

[Anonymous]

If they're not eating, I would go the hyposalinity route... it will stave off the cycle of crypto.

~wings~

 

[Anonymous]

I'm gonna do that in the next few days!

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear that Chrispy....keep us updated.

 

[Anonymous]

What kind of fish, Chris?

I would use the hypo with a little melafix or the copper and test often. Raise the temp above 80 too.

 

[Anonymous]

It was a clown goby, which I lost tonight doing a water change , and a basslet, which is hanging in there. Melafix? I'll have to do a search on that...I'm not sure what it is.

 

[Anonymous]

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear that, Chris.

Melafix is a freshwater pond antibacterial treatment for open wounds, ulcers, fin rot and damage. It works to help heal skin and fin damage and claims not to hurt the bio filter. I have used it in my tanks before - salt and fresh. It is mostly tea tree oil which I use as an topical antibiotic myself.