Ross Vandegrift wrote:
Hello everyone. One of my clown loaches is ill, and it appears to be
Ich, since the other loaches in the tank all have a dot or two. The
infirmary tank is already setup and the temperature is stabilizing.

A while back, there was a suggestion that Aquarisol + MelaFix helps with
clown loaches' Ich [1]. I'm definitely dosing this in my 5gal infirmary
tank, and will try some of the other suggestions (though I don't have a
UV filter). Sick dude will be moved tonite.

The question - what to do about the main tank? In particular, I have a
few shrimp in there, so the Aquarisol would be a bad idea. MelaFix
doesn't have a similar warning on it, and it doesn't appear to contain
copper - is it safe for everyone?

Of course water changes and temperature (though see my next post about
the Marineland Dual-temp heater...)


[1] http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...a66bd311de89ef specifically, though the thread is interesting before the flamewar.

I've gotten lucky and successfully treated clowns with Quick Cure. If I
had a loach with ich again, that's what I'd personally try first.
However, your reference mentions clowns dying with formalin/malachite
preparations. It probably depends on how sick the fish are before you
hit them with the somewhat toxic medicine. I tend to treat ich fast and
early before it weakens the fish.

Did you find this reference? http://www.loaches.com/copper.html It
talks about Coppersafe, Jungle Ich Guard II (straight formalin) and high
temps/salt to treat ich on loaches.

For the main tank, I just cleared ich out of my tank last month with 85
degrees and 1 tsp/gallon salt. I didn't want to add the usual
tbsp/gallon because the tank is planted. My crypts "melted" a bit
anyway but they've grown back nicely.

As for MelaFix, I don't know much about it since it's new since I was
last keeping tanks.

--
__ Elaine T __
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