- as a treatment for external diseases, abrasions and wounds caused by protozoans, fungi, and dinoflagellates. Often there is a combination of these infections, for which Ich-Attack is a suitable treatment for all of them.
- as a disease preventative for stressed fish, such as for those in quarantine
- as a disease inhibitor when netting, handling or adding new fishes, amphibians, and aquatic reptiles such as turtles
Use In Fresh, Brackish or Salt Water: Shake bottle well before each use. It is recommended to remove any activated carbon from filters so that the carbon does not reduce effectiveness of the treatment. Ich-Attack does not interfere with the use of protein skimmers or UV ultraviolet sterilizers. However, protein skimmers remove herbal organics from the water. It is best to discontinue the use of protein skimmers during treatments with Ich-Attack.
The Standard Dose of Ich-Attack is 10 drops (from a medicinal eye dropper) per gallon or 1 teaspoon (approx. 5mL) of Ich-Attack for every 10 gallons (approx. 45.5 liters) of water. In regular treatment repeat dose daily until 3-4 days after the last infection is observed, including in the mouth, gills, and nostrils. Cold water conditions may require a longer treatment time.
Water changes between treatments are not required for this treatment to be effective, and are not recommended to be done. After all of the treatments are completed, make a 20% or more water change. If tap water is used, it is recommended to use Kordon NovAqua Plus together with AmQuel Plus to detoxify the water being added.
The protozoan infections that are eliminated by Ich-Attack include "white spot disease" (Ich) which is recognized by the very tiny white spots that are on the body and fins of the fish, and in the nostrils, gills, and mouth of the fish. Other protozoan and dinoflagellate infections are detected by their epidermal tissue destruction, including desquamation (loss of scales, shredding of skin), hemorrhaging, and respiratory difficulties.
Fungus is recognized as slimy to cottony growths on the surfaces of the fish, that usually are variously whitish, to yellowish, to brownish in color. In extreme infections the fungus kills the fishes. It is normally a secondary infection, so it is important to determine what the primary infection is.
If the fish have white spot disease, also called Ich (Ichthiophthirius), the treatment will need to be made daily every day without omission until all of the "white spots” have hatched out and their young have been killed by the treatments. This may take weeks for all of the "white spots" to hatch out. While they are in the "white spot" stage on the fish, there is no known effective treatment. Only when the "white spots" hatch out and are in a brief free-swimming stage are they susceptible to treatment.
For Use as a Disease Preventative when no infections are observed:
Treat daily for one week, and continue for a longer period as needed for stressed fishes. Be aware that it is easy to miss seeing infections, particularly when they are out of sight, such as in the mouth, gills, and nostrils of the fish. Close observation is needed, including of the fish's behavior to observe abnormal movements.
For well established or severe infections: double the dose. Continue treatments until a cure is effected. It is recommended that for double doses per day, one should be in the morning, the other later in the day. Note that some species of white spot disease (Ich) have only a few hours in the free-swimming stage at which time a treatment is effective in exterminating them. For these species of Ich treatments twice a day are essential for eliminating them to be sure none of the Ich escapes treatment.
Do not skip any treatment. For Ich each white spot will produce up to 250 young (in marine species) or up to 1000 young (in freshwater species). If the Ich or other infection returns when Ich-Attack is used twice a day, it is safe to use a triple dose spaced throughout the day.
For Interconnected Multiple Aquarium Systems: Ich-Attack can be used in aquariums that are interconnected with a central filtering system and where one or more aquariums are infected while others are not. Ich-Attack will not harm the fishes, invertebrates, or plants of either the infected or non-infected aquariums. It will provide a means of stopping the spread of single-celled infections between the connected aquariums.
NUMBER OF TIMES PER DAY THAT TREATMENT IS NEEDED
It is described above, but considering the questions received on the subject it is stated again with additional information. The standard dose for Ich-Attack is once per day for a single treatment, preferably to be made at about the same time each day. If the treatment is needed for a species of white spot disease (Ich) that has a free swimming and reproductive stage that is less than a day in length, such as 18 hours, then two standard-dose treatments are needed per day, such as once in the morning, and another later in the day such as in the evening. If the species of white spot disease (Ich) has a free swimming and reproductive stage that is less than 12 hours in duration, then three standard-dose treatments are needed per day, such as once in the morning, once at midday, and the third in the evening.
The different species of white spot disease (Ich) cannot be discerned without microscopic examination and the ability to identify the different species. The simple way to determine how frequently the treatments are needed without identifying the species is --if there are reinfections (such as new white spots are seen on the fish while the once-a-day treatments are being made) two treatments per day should be used.
If there are reinfections while the twice-a-day treatments are being made, three treatments per day should be used.
Treatments should be continued until absolutely every white spot is gone and the disease is not recurring. Since the white spots can be out of sight and easily overlooked, it is best to go three days or more in treatments after the last white spot is observed, including in the mouth, gills, and nostrils of the fish.
NUMBER OF DAYS NEEDED FOR DAILY TREATMENT
This depends upon the kind of infection, its strength, whether multiple infections are involved, etc. If Ich-Attack is being used as a preventative and against mild infection, it can be that single daily treatments are needed for a week. If the infection is more serious, and multiple, daily treatments as described above are needed for several weeks -- daily treatments as described above may be needed for a month or more.
Without water changes, over days the brownish color of the successive Ich-Attack herbal treatments will increase in discoloration of the water. This is of no harm to the fishes and invertebrates. However, If this is unacceptable, partial water changes before a treatment can be made in order to keep the coloration from intensifying in the water. Otherwise, the water will clear over days after the end of treatments, particularly if a partial water change is made at the end of the treatments. If tap water is used for the water changes, it is recommended to use Kordon's NovAqua+ and Amquel+ each time in order to detoxify the water.
