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I just read Al Sabetta suggesting a salt bath for treatment of gill flukes. He does not give concentrations or duration. Can people please give their recommendations for the concentration of the salt bath and how much time to subject the discus to the treatment?
Thank you,
Al R
How To Do a Salt Dip
The following are Paul's (pcsb23 - an Administrator on SD) instructions for a salt dip. I thought these instructions would come in handy at some point for someone:
Salt dip:
2 tablespoons per gallon water. ANY salt so long as there are no anti-clog additives. Iodised salt is safe, cooking salt is cheaper.
Mix in a clean bucket with water of the same temp or from the tank. Net fish and place into bucket. After 30 mins remove back to clean water, BUT if the fish rolls over before the 30 minutes is up then remove it straight away to clean water.
I normally give the tank a good clean through when doing this or put them into a newly setup tank, but not everyone has the tankage.
The dip can be repeated daily (even twice daily) if needed for as long as necessary (well easily 2 weeks).
It is typical to see the fish drop slime, I normally do a mini w/c an hour or so after to remove the slime if its visible.
http://www.forum.simplydiscus.com/sh...-Do-a-Salt-Dip
Very good method! Here's one very similar (a little more step by step detail) that was given to me by Cary to get rid of external parasites, bacteria, and protozoa (gill flukes, etc.) in your tanks. Two tanks are used here.
1. Transfer all fish to one tank (tank may be overstocked).
2. Empty all water out of other tank.
3. Sanitize tank as follows:
- Spray inside of tank down w/ rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl alcohol)
- Boil driftwood and rubber for 20 minutes
- Soak sponges and put in microwave for 2 minutes
- Soak everything else (canister filters, plastic, air hoses, etc.) in a mix of clorox and water
4. Refill tank and run a fishless cycle on this tank. Be sure to do 90% water change before fish are introduced.
5. Once tank is cycle, run treatment on fish
- Set up four buckets, each at about 84 degrees and with an air stone
- The 1st bucket should have 2 tbs. per gallon of non-iodized salt. The fish should be in this bucket for 6 minutes.
- Remove fish and dip in 4th bucket with clean water
- The 2nd bucket should have methylene blue at 4 drops per gallon. The fish should be in this bucket for 15 min.
- Remove fish and dip in 4th bucket with clean water.
- The 3rd bucket should have 1 ml per gallon formaldehyde 37%. This dip will last for 15-20 min. This is very important. The fish will act normal for the first bit, then they will come up to the top of the water and gasp for air. DO NOT remove them yet, wait until they start to fall to the bottom or when the time runs out. THEY WILL LOOK LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO DIE, BUT THEY WON'T.
- Pull them out and dip them in the 4th bucket, and put them into the fresh tank. This tank should be at 84 degrees - no higher - and have 1-2 tbs. per 10 gallons of non-iodized salt. They will probably lay on the bottom on their sides for the first day or so. They won't die, don't worry. Don't feed for the first day or so, wait until they are swimming around.
6. Break down and sterilize the tank they came out of
7. Run a fishless cycle on this tank
8. After it's cycled and the 90% water change is done, you can move the fish you want back into the other tank.
This will eliminate the external bacteria/parasites/protazoans and clean your fish. This is the most assured and complete method to do so.
thanks Francis
thanks Brian