I really need help with my CLs!!!

[edmo24353]

I have a 55 gallon and I went away to visit a college this weekend, and when I came back, all six of my clown loaches were exhibiting signs of ich on their fins and some spots on their bodies. I quarantined all 6 of them and put them into a 6 gallon hospital tank and used Super Ich Cure as well as raised the temperature to 82 degrees. I also lowered the water level in the 6 gallon so that the filter would cause disruptions. None of the other fish in the 55 gallon are sick so I have left them alone, but will my loaches be okay for 5 or 6 days in the 6 gallon while I treat them with the medicine. I plan on doing daily 25% water changes in the hospital tank because the loaches are sensitive to medication. I moved them to the hospital tank because I feared for my other fish getting ich, I did not want my red-tail or syndontis to get sick because of the loaches. Any advice on what I should do? I really need help I'm pretty much a rook.

[loachcoach]

I used the heat/salt treatment on my clowns with good results. Raise the temp of your tank to 86-88 degrees and add 1 Tablespoon of aquarium salt for every 5 gallons.....raise the temp and add salt slowly...like over a couple of days.

Retain the salinity in the same ratio when doing water changes. Be patient, the ich will likely get worse before it gets better. Continue the treatment for two weeks past the time you see the last spot disappear. Then SLOWLY (like over a week or two) return the hospital tank water to the same parameters as the original tank.

There are lots of other treatments out there, but I have used this one with success so I stick with it.

[Crispy]

You'd better clean your tank that the loaches came from.. if one fish has ich, then it's everywhere in your tank. Vacuum the gravel well and keep the water clean (don't necessarily medicate just yet).. keep the loaches medicated (half the dosage for scaleless usually) in their quarantine tank and waterchange one day, medicate the next, and so on... you should see improvement after a week.

[edmo24353]

so i put all 6 in the hospital tank on Sunday and started treatment. I've been treating them every other day but the ich just seems to be getting worse?! Now all six of them have it and its worse than ever. I don't know what to do, I've been doing 25% gravel vacs every other day and half-doses of medicine every other day, but it seems futile and I seem destined to lose the fish. ANy further advice?

[nick]

hi i had the same ICH infestation and the best thing to do is go out and buy a good UV sterilizer about $80 run it for about a week or two . I know its expensive but the medication WILL kill at least one or two of your loaches. The uv is safe for all and you wont need any meds :22: