Instructions
Clean the tank when you notice the parasite is free floating in the water. This is the best time to begin treatment because once the spots are on your fish it will take much longer to cure them and their chances of not surviving increase.
Raise the water temperature at the first sign of an outbreak. The parasites can not survive above 85 degrees F and while it's not safe to raise your water temperature that high for most fish, you can safely raise your tank to 82 degrees F. Raise the water temperature every 4 to 6 hours over a period of several days to give your fish time to acclimate to the new temperature.
Add aquarium salt to your tank. Start out with 1/4 amount that the professional at the store would recommend to ensure your fish can tolerate the change in water. Slowly increase the amount every day over a period of 4 to 6 days.
Remove any filters in the tank. The parasite can become trapped inside any filters, fish nets or artificial plants. Sterilize these by boiling them in water for up to 20 minutes a day during treatment. Replace all accessories and filters with new ones after the treatment to ensure they're free of bacteria.
Treat the entire tank and fish for up to 2 weeks. The parasites life span is 4 to 6 days. However, because they can multiply and spread so rapidly it may be possible to have the outbreak continue for up to 12 days. Treat the tank for a couple days after that ensure it's cured.
How to Cure White Spot Disease on Fish
White spot disease, or "Ich," is one of the most common parasitic infections fish owners will encounter. Ich is the shortened version of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. This parasite can spread rapidly, so treating your entire tank and all the fish at the first site of an outbreak is essential to saving your fish from this potentially fatal parasite.