ich in a planted tank

[RTRJR]

Ich can last without a host for one life cycle, period. If the tomites do not find a host quickly, they die, dead end. That cycle time is strongly controlled by temps and is in the weeks in the 50sF, but at tropical tank temps, 10 days = forever as far as Ich is concerned. In the mid and upper 70s to low 80sF the cycle time is about 3 days, minimum for the parasite.

Ich can be destroyed by heat alone, but it is a bit high for most tropical tanks, especially those with the fish's gills damaged by Ich. The combo of low dissolved O2 and damaged gills is a rough one. Remember that Ich is a gill parasite primarily. The temp of 86F is the magic number there. At and above that temp, reproductive failure occurs in the parasite. Below that level, temp is just speeding the cycle so that the the free-swimming parasites (tomites) can be hit by whatever agent is used. Neither the embedded parasite on the fish nor the encysted parasite on the substrate or decor/plants can be hit by meds - they are too well protected. That is why 10 days is about the minimum for treatment, regardless of the agent - none are 100% effective, and insufficient treatment span gives rise to chronic sub-clinical infections. That in turn gives rise to most of the Ich mythology and misinformation.

HTH

[JMLenke]

Well I think that the Mollies may not truly have Ich as much as they arent in a hot enough tank.

The one barb that had popeye seems to have gotten rid of it by himself.

I left the tank alone and other then water changes I have done nothing to the tank. The mollies still look like they have ich but the barbs have no issues that I can see (watched the tank over the weekend and also again last night and saw no issues).