Ick/salt?

Subject: Ick/salt? Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:47 pm

I did a water change today and see one of my Sevs has ick, I'm p.o.'d. It's been a while since I've had to deal w/it and don't want to put that blue/green medicine in there.
Is it true that I can use aquarium salt to treat, and how much for a 60 gallon tank?
Thanks guys. Shocked

The Turtle Whisperer Posts : 1930

Not sure what you have all in your tank besides the sev but..

You can try cranking the temp to 84-86 and then salting at 1 to 1.5 teaspoons per gallon. The temp increase will speed up the ich lifecycle and should hopefully burn it out quicker.

That being said if that doesn't work after a few day Formalin isn't green, is clear, and takes care of ich, but will nuke plants, snails and isn't kind on sensitive fishies either. Same to be said for Copper Salts.

I'd do daily water changes for it as well.

(edit: teaspoons not tablespoons. thanks you guys for catching that. I know I was thinking teaspoons.)

Subject: Re: Ick/salt? Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:49 pm

Thanks, also is it necessary to remove the carbon during treatment? And is it tbs or tsp? When I dissolve the salt into a jug of water, how should I add it to the tank? Every other hour, or a little each day Question

Subject: Re: Ick/salt? Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:59 pm

It should be 1 to 2 teaspoons of salt per gallon, not tablespoons. Be sure to increase the salt and the temperature slowly and keep a close eye on the fish for signs of distress. The salt should not be poured directly into the tank. Instead you should dilute it in some tank water in a bucket or cup and then add it to the tank. Good luck.

Subject: Re: Ick/salt? Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:31 pm

Yeah, I shoot for 2tsp per gallon....add slowly though maybe 1/2tsp per gallon every 12 hours and disolve it in tank water as stated....You can use any salt, table salt is fine. I would also keep the heat above 80 degrees 85 is better....It is ok to do water changes but just make sure you put the salt back in that you remove. With salt you don't need to remove the carbon but make sure if you do a med treatment to remove it.

Subject: Re: Ick/salt? Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:42 pm

Thanx guys! cheers

The Turtle Whisperer Posts : 1930

I usually use kosher salt, since it doesn't have the caking agent that's in table salt. Not that I think it will be a problem to use table salt, but my wife makes soft pretzels so we always have kosher salt around. Smile

In case you missed it above, thanks you guys for catching the tablespoon/teaspoon thing, need to brush up on my kitchen measurement abbreviations or something. Smile

Subject: Re: Ick/salt? Mon Feb 16, 2009 12:02 am

aquarium salt is cheap, you can get a box of it at petsmart for like 2 bucks, and its 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons not teaspoon, it even says on the aquarium salt box that its 1 tablespoon

GL with treatment

Subject: Re: Ick/salt? Mon Feb 16, 2009 12:11 am

I am pretty sure no matte what salt you use it is 2 tsp per gallon...pretty much any source you look at will be different but it will equal out to 2 tsp per gallon. By the way any updates on the fish.

Banned Posts : 910 Age : 31

Kosher salt or Aquarium salt should work.

Subject: Re: Ick/salt? Mon Feb 16, 2009 1:14 am

1 tablespoon is equal to 3 teaspoons. So if you're saying 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of water that equals 3/5 of a teaspoon per gallon. Not enough salt to cure ich from what I have learned. I usually recommend 2 teaspoons per 1 gallon like MC was saying.

Subject: Re: Ick/salt? Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:49 am

I put in 1 tsp. per gallon of aquarium salt and raised the temp to 85*, The full dose was in on Friday morning and the spots are gone so far, though I know they fell to the bottom and are going to probably try to resurface again.I will let you know the progress from here, but so far so good cheers

.
Thanks to all for helping me out as I was nervous about using the salt to begin with.
The red tail sharks seem a little under the weather from it, their bodies look a little burned or something, but not affecting their appetites in any way, or their behavior.
And yes mahemaheman85, it does say 1 tbsp. per 5 gallons , but I believe that would be enough to enhance their slime coat, reduce stress, and it says to prevent Nitrate damage to the gills. Or what their used to in the wild, especially fish like Guppies, Platies, and Mollies.
I will keep this up for the full 10 days.

Subject: Re: Ick/salt? Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:16 am

You should keep it up for at least 1 week from when the last sign of ich was. :rokon:

Subject: Re: Ick/salt? Mon Feb 16, 2009 3:09 pm

Yeah one week from the last spot of visible ICH and you should be fine. After that point do a aggressive gravel vac and keep the temp up for a few more days....At this water change you shouldn't have to add any more salt if you do a 50% change you will still have a 1 tsp per gallon concentration....start to turn the temp down a few days after the gravel vac. Then go about your normal maintnence schedule.