Hyposalinity treatment of ich

[andrewo]

Hi folks, I started the treatment about 10 days ago after much reading but am having second thoughts now if I did it correctly.

Hospital tank is 20G; I moved all fishes (1 small tang three inches;2 wrasses,2 clownfish and 1 blenny) with display tank water. Have in there a heater and wavemaker and small biological filter with only floss and little carbon inside. However its not seeded beforehand.

My worries is have I made a mistake by not seeding the biological filter first? I was on the understanding that even if seeded there will be a die off from hyposalinity conditions hence I did not.

But I got worried when I detected ammonia with my red sea test kit. It rose from 0.2 ppm (day 2) to 0.4 (day 4) and now hovering around 1ppm.

From 2nd day onwards I have dosed Prime 1.5ml every 2 days. Also perfoming 20% water change every 3 or 4 days.

I just got thinking, treatment might last up to 8 weeks; can I keep dosing Prime every 2 days? Will I be overdosing and killing fishes? And should the ammonia level come down soon? What if it continues to rise?

What is the proper process for hyposalinity ich treatment with regards to filtration? Seed a biological filter for 2 or 3 weeks in display tank sump first?

All fishes are eating good(feeding very very little twice a day) and white spots not visible 3 days after salinity of 1.009 reached. Should I abandon treatment; slowly raise salinity and move all fishes back to main display? ;( Really don't want to lose the fishes...

What should I do now?

Thanks

 

[scooter31707]

It would be much better if you had seeded media, but for now you need to stay on top of the water changes to keep the ammonia and nirites in check. With those small fish, Petco is having a $1/per gallon sale. Get you 2 20 gallon long tanks and start the TTM, which IMO is less stressful on the fish and more effective.

 

[andrewo]

Hi. Thanks for reply. I will read up TTM but am thinking it's a waste to give up on hypo treatment now. Ammonia keeps creeping up unfortunately hovering at or above 2 ppm now sigh.

I'm still dosing 2 ml prime every 2 days and doing 40% wc every 3 days. Fishes are all active and eating well. Just worried about the ammonia levels.

 

[snorvich]

It would be much better if you had seeded media, but for now you need to stay on top of the water changes to keep the ammonia and nirites in check. With those small fish, Petco is having a $1/per gallon sale. Get you 2 20 gallon long tanks and start the TTM, which IMO is less stressful on the fish and more effective.

This. TTM is by far the most reliable

 

[Deinonych]

This. TTM is by far the most reliable

+1

And somewhat conveniently, the quickest (12 days if executed correctly).