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	Ick help
nitro Big Fish Posts: 395 Kudos: 823 Votes: 50 Registered: 20-Nov-2003	I noticed about two and a half weeks ago my fish flicking against objects especially my neons and i noticed my BN flick once aswell. So i started to treat with Ick treatment (by Interpet) and i have been for the last two and a half weeks.I do a 10-15% water change after 4 days before redosing. i also raised the temp to 26-27. My BN and lone guppy have stopped flicking but there still some neons flicking against objects. It is staring to get to me why they are still unwell when all the water conditions are good which they always are. All the fish are showing great colours and are eating well. i cut down on feeding aswell a little. There are however 3-4 neons which hide alot of the time but come out of feeding( However my neons were very shy, it took them 2 weeks after i got them before they starting showing themselves properly) Am i doing anything wrong here because i am beginning to get worked up about it? Also i havent added anymore fish or plants for a while.(neons about 3 months ago, plants about 1-2 months ago) Should i continue treating with Ick? or would you suggest different?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:35
krige Big Fish Posts: 405 Kudos: 1088 Votes: 377 Registered: 24-Jul-2003	Are you sure you have ich,are there any whitespots visible as this would be normal but not conclusive.Some times fish get an itch just the same as we do ,i have on occasions seen my fish flick the sand as they swim along and i was paranoid about it for awhile until i realised all were eating weel ,colours and behaviour are normal and it had been months and months like this with no problems , so now if i see the odd fish flicking i don't worry about it.(may be different if it was continuous) Gibson SG you know you want one!!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:35
garyroland ---Prime Fish--- Posts: 7878 Kudos: 4010 Votes: 103 Registered: 31-Dec-2001	What you have is an old problem with an old remedy that works... Ich is not the name of this sound-alike problem but "itch" is the problem. "Itch" is caused by numerous organisms that sometimes start with too many settlings on the tank bottom. The nice part is it's never fatal but rather bothersome. Ask your pharmacist for "permanganate of potash" and dose 1/8th grain to the gallon for two hours. Siphon the bottom of the tank drawing off about half the water and replace with chlorine-free same temp water. The remaining permanganate (purple) will clear itself. --garyroland.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:35
nitro Big Fish Posts: 395 Kudos: 823 Votes: 50 Registered: 20-Nov-2003	Thanks for the replies. Some questions Gary Do i need to siphon every part of the substrate? Will it kill the filter bacteria? Would you suggest me adding NIC after because of the large water change? Im a bit confused with the wording of and dose 1/8th grain to the gallon for two hours How often do i have to add the 1/8th of the grain in the 2 hours or is it just the once? Thanks again Last edited by nitro at 03-Jan-2005 13:18
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:35
garyroland ---Prime Fish--- Posts: 7878 Kudos: 4010 Votes: 103 Registered: 31-Dec-2001	Actually just the surface syphoning of the gravel is plenty without disturbing anything... The potassium permanganate is dosed all at once, 1/8th of a grain per gallon, and left for two hours to kill the organisms. Measure carefully without overdosing. Then you do the syphoning, just about half the water in the tank, and replenish with new water, as mentioned. NIC or Bio Spira dosing would be a good idea to restore any damaged good bacteria that should occur. --garyroland. Last edited by garyroland at 03-Jan-2005 15:39
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:35
nitro Big Fish Posts: 395 Kudos: 823 Votes: 50 Registered: 20-Nov-2003	Thank you once again. I will give the potassium permanganate i go as soon as i can this week providing i can find some.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:35
nitro Big Fish Posts: 395 Kudos: 823 Votes: 50 Registered: 20-Nov-2003	Gary, Ive been reading up on Pottasium manganate and it seems to be quite dangerous and i am having second thoughts about adding the pottasium mangante. http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/treatments/potassium%20permanganate.htm Is this the only way to solve my problem? (sorry for the questons)
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:35
garyroland ---Prime Fish--- Posts: 7878 Kudos: 4010 Votes: 103 Registered: 31-Dec-2001	When used as I directed, at the dosage I mentioned, the permanganate is safe for all fish... It does get a bad rap from those looking for a reason to give it a bad rap. It's been used for years by experienced hobbyists to kill off organisms that cause itch in trops and is a great anticeptic. Others on this Site have used it with complete and safe success. Don't forget that a "1/8th grain" per gallon is super small. --garyroland.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:35


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