by Mark Stone on Tue Oct 25, 2005 10:27 am
[quote][i]Originally posted by wemery12 [/i]
[b]should i do a water change after the ick is gone? or leave it alone [/b][/quote]Yes. :thumbsup:
The reason why it's [b][i]super[/i][/b] important to follow the directions [i]exactly[/i] on the medication is because Ick lives a cyclical life -- it lives on the fish, then separates from the fish and drifts down into the gravel. While in the gravel, it surrounds itself with a jelly-like covering, and then reproduces. Then all the babies break out of the jelly-like covering and go searching for a new host. During the time that Ick is [b]on the fish[/b] and during the time that it is [b]in the jelly-like covering[/b] it [i]cannot[/i] be treated; it can only be treated when it is in transit between it's two "states". So, following the instructions on the medication ensures that you are treating the disease for enough time and in the correct dosage. [b]DanRad[/b] suggests increasing the temperature to 80 and removing carbon from your filter. The reasons for this is that increased temperature speeds up the Ick's cycle, basically giving your medication more opportunities to kill the disease; and carbon in the filter soaks up the medication, which you don't want to happen. But, I'll bet you a buck cash money that removing the carbon is in the instructions on the Ick-Away box:thumbsup: Ick is a very common disease. I've heard experts say that it's [i]always[/i] in an aquarium, but only becomes a problem when it has a "population explosion". I don't know that to be true, though. But enough of us have had battles with Ick that I can say to you "Welcome to the Club!":D But it's a [i]very[/i] treatable disease, and your pets should come out fine.
--Mark:cool: