How soon can I add new fish after treating for Ich?

[ichimuj]

I have been SLOWLY adding fish to my 29g, carefully monitoring water, etc...THEN is added 5 tetras and 3 of them got ich. I've treated the tank (thanks for the great advice on this forum for that!), gravel vac'd, 30% water change, and I'm even adding a little preventative "quick cure" (one third of the dose that's recommended) for 3 extra days, just in case there are some no-see-um ich buggers in the tank...

Once I've added the carbon filter again, perhaps even do another water change, when can I add my final fish (planning on Bolivian rams)? I don't have a quarantine tank...

[Lady Hobbs]

You are slowly adding fish because you have been cycling it? If so, you should not have cleaned the gravel or are removing bacteria. Once you are done treating, there is no point in adding small doses of the medication as it takes a full dose to do anything. Just dose for as long as is recommended for the medication you are using. You removed the charcoal (if using it) correct?

[Mvjnz]

Most medications kill the bacteria in your filter, so you'll wanna check that your filter is still cycled before adding more fish.

I would wait at least a week after all symptoms of ich are gone before adding more fish.

[ichimuj]

It has already been cycled for some time now (2 months), I was adding fish slowly to try to reduce stress (which apparently didn't work since some of the "newbies" got ich...although maybe they brought it from the LFS...who knows...). I just have 2 male guppies, 2 oto's, and 3 tetras (there were originally 5 tetra's, but 2 didn't make it). I'm putting the charcoal filter back in today, and I'll let it run for a week before adding 2 Bolivian rams (final fish). Thanks for the help...I just wasn't sure when it would be safe to add fish after treatment for ich. Quarantine tank is such a good idea...wish I had one.

[Dr.Fragenstein]

I would wait a good week preferably two before adding new fish. That'll give the filter time to catch up but also make sure there is no lingering ick cysts in the tank.

Good luck