Freshwater dipping fish

I have done fresh water dips w/ Methylene Blue,use an airstone, and stay nearby in case Mr./Mrs. Fish decides to go crazy and that means time is up.

Good info on FW dips. Look under Methylene Blue
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/dips_baths.htm

 

If he has ich the dip will only be a temporary fix. Unless the tank is rid of the it he will be reinfested at some point down the road. All of your trouble will be for nothing.

 

Here is a link to someone who has much more knowledge on the subject than I have. He has studied this since the early 70's. Take a look at this and you will have a better understanding of the Crypto Caran (Ich) life cycle.

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/fish-diseases-treatments/23132-marine-ich-myths-facts.html

 

Sadly the only real way ive seen is to QT all your fish for a while. 6 weeks or so. Treating one fish and putting it back in a tank that might still have paracites in the rock work or dormant on another fish is just spinning your wheels.... good luck on everything rhough. Looks like your going through everything quick and getting it all out of the way!

 

FW dips aren't going to cure the Ich problem, only way that's going to happen is go fallow, transfer method, QT w/copper, yadda yadda yadda. Will the FW dip get rid of some bad crap? Maybe, maybe not. Something is better than nothing. I mean you can only band-aid Ich for so long, there's no short term cure per se, just band-aids.

 

Per Leebca the parasite burrows under the mucus layer therefore a dip alone will not cure. This is why cleaner shrimp or fish are not effective with removing them. You will need to medicate as well and copper is the only thing readilly available for aquarist to use. This would require a HT unfortunately. I think you would be wasting your time with a dip in this instance if the issue is truely Ich. If it some other parasite that is on the outer layer then this could be effective. Give it a shot and see if it helps, don't know until you try. Good luck and hope he pulls through.

 

Respectfully, you asked for an answer and you were given an answer. The fact that completely irradicating ich in your tank isn't convenient/feasible for you doesn't change the facts, unfortunately.

In the long run, the effort is worth it to have a parasite free tank IMO.

 

Quarantine, copper treatment, fallow tank method is the only way to shake it.
I use the quarantine tank transfer method. It is based around Ich's life cycle
here are a couple of links that discuss it further:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1996525
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2182483