Ich is a widely common disease occurring in aquatic animals. While it is relatively easy to treat ich if spotted early on, the presence of aquatic plants can complicate the matter. Without proper medication, you may end up saving your fish at the expense of your plants.
So, what is the best ich treatment for planted tank? Keep reading to find out the answer right below!
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Best Ich Treatment For Planted Tank
Before getting down to ich treatment, you must first determine whether your fish are infected with ich.
Ich is mostly identified by the accumulation of tiny white spots scattering across the entire body of your fish. In simpler words, ich-infected fish look like they have been sprayed with salt.
While the entire body of fish is subject to ich, it is better to examine the fins first and foremost. This is because fish fins are less covered with protective slime coats. Thus, ich parasites find it easier to penetrate the skin and grab hold of the body.
Now, you should also be aware of other physical symptoms. For example, ich-infected fish tend to rub themselves against the glass walls to relieve their itchiness. They also experience a loss in appetite and do not spend as much time swimming around.
If your fish have all of these signs, then chances are ich has already invaded your tank. Should this be the case, let’s move on to the treatment and how to monitor its impact on the plants.
Find the right ratio for the water
Most ich treatment comes in the form of powder or liquid. It is easy enough to dose the fish right away, but do not forget about the proper ratio. If you put in too much ich treatment without regarding the needs of your plants, they may end up being withered.
Hence, every 10 gallons of water only needs around 5ml of ich treatment. Exceeding this number and you will see devastating results on the aquatic plants.
Change the water and redose frequently
Ich treatment has its lifespan. Once the effective duration is over, make sure you remove all of the contaminated water and replenish it with new water. Every time you put in new water, make sure to redose it immediately.
If you leave traces of ich lingering in the tank, it may end up being kept there for a long time. Subsequently, your plants will fall prey to these parasites.
Be patient
Eradicating ich requires lots of patience. This disease will not be wiped out in one single day. Instead, you will have to repeat the treatment process every day until all signs of white spots are gone.
Hence, do not forget to be consistent with the treatment. If you are attentive enough, the disease will be handled in no time.
Check the tank regularly
Do not assume that ich is killed off after you have dosed the water with treatment. To ensure that ich no longer concerns your fish and plants, you will have to check the tank from time to time. Look closely at the wandering fish and see whether they have recovered from white spots.
Also, examine the nooks and crevices of decorative pieces and substrates inside the tanks. These can potentially become the hiding spot for ich, so make sure no salt-like items are to be found there.
What You Should Avoid When Treating Ich For Planted Tank
There are tons of treatments available for ich. However, not all of them are suitable for planted tanks. Below are two products you should avoid putting in planted aquariums.
Coppersafe
As the name already indicates, coppersafe contains copper. Hence, it does not make for a great ich treatment for planted tanks. However, some people have noticed how coppersafe manages to be extremely fast in its curing effects.
Thus, you may consider moving your sick fish to another tank and treating them with coppersafe.
Malachite green
Malachite green can be found in almost all brands of ich treatment, ranging from Super Ick Cure to QuickCure. While it is undoubtedly helpful when it comes to treating ich-infected fish, this chemical substance can be detrimental to your live plants.
FAQs
1. What is the fastest way to cure ich in a planted tank?
If your aquatic plants can tolerate a slightly warmer temperature range, you may want to raise the temperature to around 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Next up, let the tank run its water for at least a few days. The continuous change of water and hot temperatures will kill off ich and alleviate its impact on your fish.
2. Can ich live on plants?
Yes. Aquatic plants can carry ich on their roots, surfaces, as well as leaves. If your tank’s water is heavily contaminated with ich, it should be no surprise when the plants are affected as well.
This is the reason why live plants also need treatment regarding ich. If left uncontrolled, they may end up transferring ich to healthy or newly cured fish. When you detect ich inside your tank, do not forget to cure the live plants as well.
3. Can you use bleach to disinfect ich-infected plants?
Yes. In theory, hydrogen peroxide and bleach are helpful when it comes to disinfecting plants. That said, not everyone knows how to handle such powerful chemical substances. Therefore, you will have to be very careful when trying to rid your plants of ich parasites.
Conclusion
Finding out the best ich treatment for the planted tank should be easy enough for you now. Once you find out your tank has been infected with ich, do not hesitate to follow the tips and tricks above. Rest assured that your tank will once again come back to its normality.
