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OK, I tend to worry too much, and I don't know if that's the case here or not.

A while back I noticed some white spots on a few of my fish. I assumed ick and treated w/ Maracide (and 82-84 F temp) for 7 days. (When I first noticed the spots, I also had a lot of air bubbles in the tank.)

I noticed a white spot on a female a few hours ago, and it is no longer there. The max time it could have been on her was a few hours. And my water level is down a bit, so I do have some bubbles from the power filters.

So my questions...
How long could an air bubble stay on a fish? And how easy is it to confuse that w/ ick?
And how long would a trophont (?)the white spot) stay visible on a fish?
And are there any other visible signs of ick in a tank?

I just don't know if I should retreat the tank, or if I am just paranoid. I plan on using Rid Ick + this time, if I do.

Christina
(55 gallon, 3 swordtails, pH 7.3, ammonia/nitrites 0, nitrates below 5)

I was paranoid once, Christina, perhaps twice...

Answers you are seeking are hard to find but here's your answer:

Good healthy fish possess good healthy immune systems. The ich parasite just hates good immune systems.

It's very possible that your fish have had the beginnings of an ich invasion more than once, one or two white spots that look like a salt sprinkle, but their immune system kicked in and the parasite didn't have a chance.

We get concerned when the salt sprinkles become numerous, perhaps a dozen white salt sprinkles. That's when the ich med comes into play.

You'll be looking for an increase in spots. If no increase, let the fish do its thing.

--garyroland.

Thanks Gary. I have been trying to keep calm, so I am keeping an eye on them. I have the temp higher still, so I'll maintain that for a while longer. Fish seem fine with it.

Should I treat the tank anyway? Or just let it be?
I have a 20 gal I wanted to move those fish to (and use 1 of the AquaClears on it for bacteria)... I'm just wondering what the safest way to do that is, so I don't have 2 tanks w/ issues.

Christina

Should I treat the tank anyway? Or just let it be?

Personally I'd let it be and keep observing them. Using meds when they are not necessary can be more harmful than good.

I have a 20 gal I wanted to move those fish to (and use 1 of the AquaClears on it for bacteria)... I'm just wondering what the safest way to do that is, so I don't have 2 tanks w/ issues.

I would leave them in the tank they are in for a few more days for observation. If what you saw was the beginning of ich then moving them could hurt them. Moving them will stress them out which will lower their immune system and allow the ich to 'attack'.

Jason