Hotpocket

Ok, I have Focus, Garlic Guard, Metroplex, General Cure and Prazipro. No Kanaplex, but just ordered on Amazon.

Very interesting Mmiller2001. Prazipro or Metroplex will not help with this?

After studying them closer this afternoon, I would say that two of the three are clearing up now. As far as the third, he is in pretty bad shape, covered with spots and weak. It hit me a bit ago that a few days ago while syphoning water, I walked a way for a minute to come back with one of the loaches bent over and stuck in the tube. I pulled him out and we was in pretty bad shape. Fell to the bottom and laid there motionless until fish came over a nipped him and he took off. He was swimming with the other loaches that evening fine. I do think by the marks on the third one that we was the one that got caught and probably the stress from that is what caused the ich to worsen with him. It really sucks after all of this work to make a stupid mistake and cause the situation to worsen. At least I think the other two will survive. The third might be ready for the clove oil, as I do not want him to die in a hidden spot with the worry that the ich on him will be loose again in the water.

Anewbie, I should have mentioned that I have been doing gravel vaccing daily for the last three weeks ands also get the water temp within .5 degree when re-adding.

Yes Colu, I might do just that. Just hoping that switching over to a new chemical is not going to start putting the other healthy fish at risk.

Hi anewbie. Thanks for the reply. I am fairly certain it is ich, but I guess there is always a chance that it is not. When it first appears it looks like salt sprinkled on them but as it progresses it looks like they were rolled in it. I understand that loaches are more susceptible to ich, but still cannot comprehend how all other fish are totally fine, especially after 3 weeks. It is like it is something loach specific. I do have the temp at 85, it has been at 83 or higher for the last week+. I might try going to 86 today.

Hi Colu. Thanks for replying. I have been considering that, but not sure if I then need to first do a 50% water change, and add carbon back in for 24 hours before starting Rid Ich Plus. This is the routine Hikari told me I needed to do to switch over to Prazopro. And now going on three weeks and getting no where, doing 30+ gallon water changes daily, myself and the fish are probably at the end of the rope and don't know how logical it is to start up with a whole new round of chemicals just as an attempt to save the 3 remaining loaches, one of which is more than likely not going to make it past the next few days. Today's water change and ich-x dosing is coming up in a few hours, so will need to make a decision then.

Water tests this morning show 0 nitrites and .5 nitrates, 7.6 low ph and 7.4 high ph. As far as ammonia, it is never at the pure yellow that is on the API test chart, but I have tested it against tap water and it is the same. I have also taken to get tested an a local pet store and they said it was fine. I also use Hikari Ultimate water conditioner after being told by them to not use Prime because it is sulfate based. I also use a Seachem Ammonia Badge that never leaves the safe zone. The 30% daily water change as well as the daily Ultimate dose should bind any ammonia even if there was a slight bit, I would think. Two of the loaches are looking a bit better, possibly, but the 3rd is looking worse (included in the photo) and I am guessing only has a few days left. The last one that seems to have passed (because I have not seen him in 3 days now) was the first loach put in the tank and the first to show ich. As far as the other inhabitants of the tank, there is a King Kong Parrot, a blood parrot, a polar blue parrot, a pink convict, two red devils, a green terror and a gold severum, a bristlenose pleco and a polka dotted pleco. Stress level seems to be low in the tank, with the King Kong doing a bit of chasing, but no attacking, and none of the fish bother the loaches from what I have ever seen. It seems like my options would be to stop all treatment and just sacrifice the loaches, which seems inevitable at this point, or keep using ich-x, which I feel cannot be good for the other fish long term. I believe I started the ich treatment on the 16th or 17th of March. My biggest worry about stopping treatment is if it will jump to the other fish, but it almost seems that they are immune from it? None have showed a sign at all of it and I am thinking that the ich was already in the tank when the first loach was added, but will only attach to the loaches. I could also do what Hikari suggested and quit the ich-x and try Prazipro. I also have a bottle of Kordon Rid Ich Plus I could try switching to, but just not sure another medication would be helpful or safe to the other fish after going through already weeks of treatment.

Hi Cory. The parameters are good, but will do testing in the morning and will send over specifics as well as pic of tank (lights off now and don't want to stress them). As far as pictures of the loaches with the ich, it will be hard to catch because depending on light and their angle, it is hard to see sometimes. I thought it was getting better yesterday, but then today I think that might have been some wishful thinking. I have been told that with loaches that even after the ich is gone that they can have scarring for a bit that appears to be ich. That might be what I see to a degree, but when I see it on the tails and still some raised bumps, I am sure it is still hanging on.

Been treating over two weeks with ich-x. Definitely ich. First week was treating with 9 teaspoons daily for 125 gallon after 30% water changes, past week using 12 teaspoons daily. Heat at 85. Carbon removed. Water specs are perfect. Only clown loaches have been infected, all other fish are fine. 3 of 6 loaches left. Water specs are good, no stress as far as chasing. Hikari advised to stop ich-x and switch to Przaipro thinking it will finish it off. What would you recommend at this point? I am wore down. Thinking about just stopping with the understanding that the last 3 loaches will not make it, and hopefully it will not jump to the other fish, which seem totally immune from it. Some have advised to switch to Safe Copper Aid, which I think will take out the last of the loaches anyway and might put unneeded stress on the other healthy fish, so thinking that just stopping and doing nothing further might be more logical, except for maybe moving to Prazipro. I understand that Prazi is not helpful for ich, so not sure why Hikari thinks it might finish it off.