Anti Ich Dosage Methods for Fish Tanks

The most common fish illness found in freshwater or saltwater aquariums is the disease white spot or ich, pronounced "ick." Caused by a microscopic protozoan named Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, affected fish sport white spots on their body. This disease is highly contagious and treatment must begin immediately in order for the fish to survive. There are several methods used to treat ich in fish tanks.

  1. Hyposalinity for Marine Tanks

    • Hyposalinity means treating a saltwater tank medicinally by reducing the amount of salt in the tank's water. In order to reduce salinity, perform partial water changes twice a day. Removing one fifth or one quarter of the water not only removes saltwater but any free-swimming protozoan parasites in the water. Replace the discarded water with newly made water with reduced amounts of aquarium salt. Use a refractometer or hydrometer in order to check the salinity level. On the first day, make the salt 2 parts per thousand (ppt) lower than usual. Keep performing partial water changes and reducing the replacement water by 2 ppt until the entire tank's salinity level reads 18 ppt. Keep checking the water's alkalinity so that it stays constant.

    Copper Sulfate for Marine Tanks

    • Copper sulfate medications for fish-only saltwater aquariums can be purchased at pet stores and aquarium supply websites. Use one drop per gallon of water in the aquarium. For example, a 55-gallon tank would need 55 drops. One drop contains 0.15 parts per million (ppm) of copper sulfate. Place the dosage in a copper testing aquarium kit to ensure the copper is at 0.20 ppm or below, which is safe for the fish. Copper sulfate cannot be used for any tank housing invertebrates, saltwater sharks, live rock or live coral reefs. The medication kills these creatures.

    Salt and Heat for Freshwater Tanks

    • A combination of salt and heat is the recommended ich treatment in the book "Freshwater Aquarium Problem Solver." Raise the temperature of the aquarium's heater so the water is at 90 degrees F for 48 hours, then lower into the 80s. Add another air stone to pump more oxygen into the heated water. Heat kills the ich protozoa as they emerge from the white cysts on the fish's body. Perform two water changes about every 12 hours. Remove and replace half the water in the tank each time. Add 1 tsp. salt for every gallon in the tank.

    Medications for Freshwater Tanks

    • Commercially available medications used to kill ich in freshwater include copper sulfate, malachite green and formalin. Each dosage will vary depending on the manufacturer of these products. Do not use copper sulfate if the tank contains fish without scales, such as loaches or plecostomus, advises "Freshwater Aquarium Problem Solver."