break the ick cycle? - APE - Aquatic Plant Enthusiasts

sajata · 12-05-2009, 06:55 AM

i was at a LFS the other day and they recommended that i keep my plants quarantined for 2 days since they had only had them for 4 days. As the story goes the ICK cycle is 6 days... I am assumeing that this means that if ICK is going to show up it will show up in the first 6 days and if it has not show up by then it will not after that? Anyway this store is obviously run by some very dedicated hobbyists. Very small store <5K sq ft, but jam packed with tanks [200+] each tank was in excelent condition, no sick or deased or dead fish anywhere. So i have to respect what they say, but i am not sure what 2 days in a bucket will do for me espically if there are no fish in the dusket as indicators

AquaZilla · 12-05-2009, 11:09 AM

I always give my plants a good bleach and water dip for a few seconds followed by a good rinse.

sajata · 12-05-2009, 11:36 AM

what is the ratio on the bleach?

AquaZilla · 12-05-2009, 11:52 AM

I use a 1:4 Bleach water mix. With a bowl of Prime and water to follow after. Heavy on prime

triarce09 · 12-06-2009, 03:58 AM

One of my fish has ick and I have a fresh water tank. when I go to the website they say "treat with drops for 14-15 days , take out the carbon and do a partial water change and turn the heat up" but when I went to the fish store I bought quick cure-which was recommended by the guy there. and the quick cure said to only treat for 3 days. help this is my first time with a tank and dont know what to do. ps. 3 more of my fish have died and I have only had this tank for 2 weeks.

sajata · 12-06-2009, 08:58 AM

i am not an expert, we can wait until one of them chime in; however, from everything i have read jack the temp up to 80-82 F until they can recommend the actual course of action. Cant go wrong with jacking the temp up.

AquaZilla · 12-06-2009, 02:02 PM

Temps in the 80's with aquarium salt has worked for me in the past.

dewalltheway · 12-28-2009, 10:31 AM

I use the jungle labs Ick Tablets. I drop in one tablet/10 gal and in 24 hours if ick is not gone I do a 25% water change and drop in another tablet. I continue until ick is gone. I have some 10 gal QT tanks I use so that I only use 1 tablet. I just had to do this with some hatchets I bought and after 3 tablets ick was gone and didn't lose any.

Also with these tablets, you don't need to raise the temp and they are plant safe.

ukamikazu · 12-28-2009, 01:12 PM

Just always follow the directions of whichever Ich product you're using. It's all formaldehyde and Malachite green, sometimes called Victoria green.

Just remember to never, but ever, handle it directly or without gloves or something! The stuff is cancerous to humans. Use half the dose for loaches, tetras and scaleless fish.

...But even if the directions don't specifically say it, raise your aquarium temperature between 82 and 84 degrees to accelerate the parasites life cycle from 6 weeks down to 3-10 days and thus exposing it at more stages in its life cycle to the medication and brine solution. Remember to aerate when elevating the temperature!

waterfaller1 · 01-25-2010, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ukamikazu

Use half the dose for loaches, tetras and scaleless fish.
!

Puffers are scaleless and should NEVER be dosed with meds.

12-05-2009, 06:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
sajata Planted Tank Guru Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chester Springs PA Posts: 212	break the ick cycle? i was at a LFS the other day and they recommended that i keep my plants quarantined for 2 days since they had only had them for 4 days. As the story goes the ICK cycle is 6 days... I am assumeing that this means that if ICK is going to show up it will show up in the first 6 days and if it has not show up by then it will not after that? Anyway this store is obviously run by some very dedicated hobbyists. Very small store <5K sq ft, but jam packed with tanks [200+] each tank was in excelent condition, no sick or deased or dead fish anywhere. So i have to respect what they say, but i am not sure what 2 days in a bucket will do for me espically if there are no fish in the dusket as indicators

12-05-2009, 11:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
AquaZilla Administrator Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,217	I always give my plants a good bleach and water dip for a few seconds followed by a good rinse. __________________ The Planted Aquarium Blog

12-05-2009, 11:52 AM	#4 (permalink)
AquaZilla Administrator Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,217	I use a 1:4 Bleach water mix. With a bowl of Prime and water to follow after. Heavy on prime __________________ The Planted Aquarium Blog

12-06-2009, 03:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
triarce09 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: United States Posts: 2	break the ick cycle One of my fish has ick and I have a fresh water tank. when I go to the website they say "treat with drops for 14-15 days , take out the carbon and do a partial water change and turn the heat up" but when I went to the fish store I bought quick cure-which was recommended by the guy there. and the quick cure said to only treat for 3 days. help this is my first time with a tank and dont know what to do. ps. 3 more of my fish have died and I have only had this tank for 2 weeks.

12-06-2009, 02:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
AquaZilla Administrator Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,217	Temps in the 80's with aquarium salt has worked for me in the past. __________________ The Planted Aquarium Blog

12-05-2009, 11:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
sajata Planted Tank Guru Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chester Springs PA Posts: 212	what is the ratio on the bleach?

12-06-2009, 08:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
sajata Planted Tank Guru Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chester Springs PA Posts: 212	i am not an expert, we can wait until one of them chime in; however, from everything i have read jack the temp up to 80-82 F until they can recommend the actual course of action. Cant go wrong with jacking the temp up.

12-28-2009, 10:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
dewalltheway Almost Guru Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 127	I use the jungle labs Ick Tablets. I drop in one tablet/10 gal and in 24 hours if ick is not gone I do a 25% water change and drop in another tablet. I continue until ick is gone. I have some 10 gal QT tanks I use so that I only use 1 tablet. I just had to do this with some hatchets I bought and after 3 tablets ick was gone and didn't lose any. Also with these tablets, you don't need to raise the temp and they are plant safe. __________________ Journals: Tranquility ~~ Restful Hideaway Visit ~~ *Riparium Suppy* ~~ For all your Riparium Needs

12-28-2009, 01:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
ukamikazu Moderator Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Austin, Texas, USA Posts: 271	Just always follow the directions of whichever Ich product you're using. It's all formaldehyde and Malachite green, sometimes called Victoria green. Just remember to never, but ever, handle it directly or without gloves or something! The stuff is cancerous to humans. Use half the dose for loaches, tetras and scaleless fish. ...But even if the directions don't specifically say it, raise your aquarium temperature between 82 and 84 degrees to accelerate the parasites life cycle from 6 weeks down to 3-10 days and thus exposing it at more stages in its life cycle to the medication and brine solution. Remember to aerate when elevating the temperature!

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