Quick ick question

Iamfish

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I just have just had an ick outbreak in my 55 gallon.(rip multiple fish orders, guess they will have to wait) and am treating it but was wondering if I should be concerned about my 125 setup since I use the same gravel vac for both tanks and used it right before I discovered the ick. ( I just used it in the 125 and had not used it since the ick appeared in the 55, so the vac was had not been in water in over 3 days). I am probably just paranoid but thought I would ask.
 

Dee eng

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To be safe do a WC, add salt and bring your temperature to about 84-86 for about a wk or two. This should kill them off. Easy and safe way.
 

skjl47

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hello; Treat the infected tank as described. I would wait to treat the other tank until you actually see the parasite. Not sure if three days is certain. Many suggest continuing treatment of an infected tank for up to ten days after the last parasite is seen.
 
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pops

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I would crank both tanks to up to 87 to 90, this will not hurt your fish. make sure to have good aeration, if running HoB filters should not be a problem. keep the heat up for 2 weeks after you no longer see them on your fish.

can add salt if you want, the theory being it irritates the fish causing them to make a thicker slim coat.

The heat speeds up ICKS life cycle to the point they burn them selves out before they can reproduce. this takes about 3 weeks when they are noticed on your fish.
in most cases the ICK will get a bit worse before it gets better.

pics would be great to confirm that it is ICK.
 

Iamfish

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hello; Treat the infected tank as described. I would wait to treat the other tank until you actually see the parasite. Not sure if three days is certain. Many suggest continuing treatment of an infected tank for up to ten days after the last parasite is seen.
I am treating the infected tank as you described, it is my other tank I am wondering what to do. I was more asking could it spread without and water involved
I would crank both tanks to up to 87 to 90, this will not hurt your fish. make sure to have good aeration, if running HoB filters should not be a problem. keep the heat up for 2 weeks after you no longer see them on your fish.

can add salt if you want, the theory being it irritates the fish causing them to make a thicker slim coat.

The heat speeds up ICKS life cycle to the point they burn them selves out before they can reproduce. this takes about 3 weeks when they are noticed on your fish.
in most cases the ICK will get a bit worse before it gets better.

pics would be great to confirm that it is ICK.
It is 100% ick, there is no visible ick in my 125( the only fish in their atm is a synodontis catfish) the question was more about how contagious it between tanks. It was actually more then a week ago I used the vac in the 55 and I used it today in the 125 and was wondering if it was possible to have spread.
 

Hendre

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If any free swimming ich or cysts somehow moved between tanks then there is a potential for infection.
 
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skjl47

Goliath Tigerfish
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am treating the infected tank as you described, it is my other tank I am wondering what to do. I was more asking could it spread without and water involved
Hello; I just do not know for sure if using the gravel vac in both tanks can move the parasite. That is why I suggested to just keep an eye on the other tank. Pop's suggestion is sound. If the ick is present the extra temp should make the eggs hatch a bit sooner then at least you will know.
good luck
 
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duanes

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What salt does, is increase the osmotic pressure (create imbalance) on the outside liquid pressure of new emerging ick protozoa, this pressure forces them to lyse, in others words, lose their insides to the water that surrounds them. Their normal fresh water pressure tolerance is under 3ppt salinity.
A salinity of over 3 ppt forces the liquid to rupture the cell wall to lyse (blow out their guts) similar to what we would do in outer space without a suit.
Heat makes their life cycle speed up, allowing the osmotic pressure to destroy the new ick when vulnerable.
This is also what happens to some bacteria when meds are added to the water, the med compromises the cell wall, killing the bacteria.
Hence the name for Lysol.
Just to be safe, putting your siphon in a bucket of bleach water after use on the infected tank, will kill anything in a short time, then completely dry it. This is good practice before using on another tank, or even on the infected tank to "not" reintroduce dormant ick.
If it smells of bleach, add new water and use a dechlorinator.
 
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