Ich strikes...

[risxsoul]

Ive been sorta busy of late but felt like I had a good handle on the fish tank.

Wrong.

I added 3 Cory peppers and 4 blue Neons Friday last week. As usual I added the Stress Coat and Stress Zyme as I added the fish. Everything was fine over the weekend. My Ammonia was spiked on Monday so I did a 10 gallon WC. Tuesday it was the same so I did 10 gal more. Both times I treated the new water with Stress Zyme and Stress Coat to remove chlorine. Wednesday all was well it seemed with the fish moving in their normal patterns. Thursday morning some fish didnt rise to feed right away but they did liven up. Thursday night several seemed to be moving slow. Another 10 gal water change though the readings were what I thought looked good.
No ammonia, no Nitrates, Ph a steady 6.
Friday morning no feeding all I got was a quick glance and decided no food today...I got home 3 dead platys, 3 dead Mollies, 3 dead guppies, 2 danios with white fluff on their fins and tails. This was the first time I saw it. 4 Slow moving Corys, the remaining Danio was zipping around, Neons schooling fine. Saturday morning everything dead except the 4 Neons...
I took the water to the store and told them to check it. They advised me my Ph was to low which would cause stress , lower immune system and let Ich attack. I didnt have any salt in for the platys and mollies and although the other fish can take a lower PH the same Mollies and Platys need at least 7.0. And they need some salt.
Anyway my beautiful fish tank looked quite forlorn.
Well so I bought a large bottle of Ich killer and some PH up as well as a new Aquaclear 50 and a hose that goes to my kitchen sink(Im tired of dipping water.)
Saturday I replaced half the water, took the charcoal out of my Top Fin 60 filter, installed the AQ 50 filter, added Stress Coat, added the Ich med, added the ph up.
Sunday I replaced half the water and added Stress Coat, Ich med and Ph up.
I have not lost any more fish... fingers crossed.
Also I have moved my temp up so it is 80-82F.

On the plus side my plants seem to be doing well and one of the bulbs has sprouted spade shaped brown leafy stalks.

[Rue]

Good luck! I had a horrible outbreak last year (thanks Walmart!:fish2: ) and was expecting the worst...but the malachite green I used cleared it up promptly and I haven't had a recurrance...

[risxsoul]

Thanks, Rue.

Should I add the Rid-Ich+ (made by Kordon) anytime I add new fish? I dont have a tank set up to quarantine new fish.

[Rue]

Personally, I don't like using chemicals if not needed. In the 30 years I've had fish, I've only had 2 ich outbreaks.

The first one killed my tank (I didn't know very much way back then)...but this 2nd outbreak cleared up promptly...

I'd suggest you only use it if you need it...and at least visually inspect the tank that you're getting your fish from. If ANY of the fish look suspect, don't buy from that tank.

[risxsoul]

I was looking back at my old posts and my PH was 7 at one time. So, I messed up and let it drop to 6. I wonder if the new tank rocks etc might have raised the PH and my water changes have lowered it. Ill check my tap water next time I am doing my testing.

At the pet store they have about 100 tanks but they all use the same water tank, except the gold fish are on a different water tank. I was told this when I asked the assistant to check their water for ph. Theirs was 7.0 for everything- Ciclids, guppies, mollies, platys, hatchets. Corys, etc, etc.

I was told 7 is neutral. When I told him I had live plants he said to raise it slowly with the liquid not the solid. Apparently the plants dont like the solid PH Up.

I dont think I want to add this Ich med unless I know its needed, either.

[wynnEZ]

When you changed your filter did you seed it with any media? You could have just lost all your benifical bacteria.

I would raise the PH and would lower the temp back down as you are only helping the Ick spread with the heat unless you really turn it up.

[risxsoul]

Hey WynnEZ,

I didnt change the filter out I just added a second filter unit on the back of the tank. So, I have old media in the Top Fin 60 filter and I am growing new bacteria in the new AQ filter.

Still have the remaining Neons. So, perhaps the worst is over.

So, turn the temp back to 79-80F-ish ?