What's the right amount of aquarium salt to treat ich in my fish?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
When using aquarium salt to help treat ich how much do I use? The box says 1 teaspoon per gallon and everything that I have read says 1-5 tablespoons per gallon. I've raised my temp up to 82 so far.
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on June 30th, 2017
If your fish are salt tolerant, use one teaspoon of plain aquarium salt per gallon of water to treat Ich. Dissolve it in a cup of tank water then pour it slowly into the tank. Increase water temperature to about 85-86 F and hold for 10 days. Vacuum the substrate once your fish lose the "dots".
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on January 31st, 2019
First, perform a partial water change, vacuum gravel thoroughly and wipe down any tank furniture. This is critical because clean water is the cornerstone for treatment and recovery. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Next, you can use any one of the commercial ich medications, such as Ich Guard (Tetra), Super Ick Cure (API) or Rid Ich Plus (Kordon). These can be found in the Aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully. This method will typically work with most fish. Another option would be to use plain aquarium salt ( NOT table or Epsom salt). Dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt per 5 gallons of water in a cup or two of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. At the same time, gradually increase the water temp to about 86 F. Hold it there for 14 days. The warm temps will speed up the life cycle of the parasite and the salt will kill it. Afterwards, gradually reduce water temp and perform another partial water change. You can break down the tank, but you would need to cycle the tank all over again. This can take weeks. To prevent infection, purchase only healthy fish. ideally, they should be quarantines in a separate tank for at least 2 weeks before being added to the main tank. Keep the tank clean, monitor chemistry and perform regular water changes.
3Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
I need your advice on the best ich treatment for a ten gallon tank with live plants, snails, a Corydora catfish, a Betta, an Ottocinclus, and a baby Bristlenose Plecostomus. The ich is very minor at point right now, but feel I should treat before it
The safest treatment would be a temporary increase in water temperature and some plain aquarium salt (NOT table salt). Ich is very sensitive to temperature. Gradually increase water temperature, by no more than 1 degree F per hour, up to 86 F. Hold it at that temperature for at least 2weeks. This will speed up the life cycle and prevent reproduction. You can perform partial water changes (30%) and vacuum the substrate during treatment. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. An airstone should be used to increase oxygenation since warm water does not hold as much oxygen as cooler water. This could affect some the fish. Aquarium salt can be dissolved into the tank at 1-2 teaspoons per gallon of water. Dissolve it in a cup of tank water then pour it gently into the tank. When performing water changes, treat only the amount of water being replaced with salt, not the entire tank volume. After 2 weeks, gradually decrease water temperatur
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi. My betta has ich. I have 3 mystery snails in the tank. Is it okay to put in aquarium salt for the treatment with my snails in there? I put them in separate tanks so I could do a water change on my 5 gallon.
Ich can only be killed in its free swimming stage. After it feeds off the fish, it drops into the substrate where it forms cysts and multiplies. Then the new ich parasites swim out of the gravel and find new fish hosts and start the cycle all over again. That is why it is important after all white spots have disappeared to continue treatment, you should continue treating for an additional 2 weeks after all symptoms are gone. After the spots disappear off the fish, I would vacuum the gravel to suck up any cysts. If you increase the temperature the life cycle of the ich becomes faster. Snails will be likely killed by the salt so it is best to remove them before treating. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi my fish has white spot and i am treating it.how long should it approximately take to cure?
Ich, or white spot disease, can take about two weeks to treat. You can increase water temp gradually to 86F. This will speed up the ich lifecycle. Once the spots fall off your fish, vacuum the substrate thoroughly, clean plants or tank furniture and rinse the filter media (with tank water). You can use a commercial ich treatment or dissolve 1 teaspoon of aquarium salt (NOT table salt) per gallon of water into the tank. Either are effective when used in conjunction with a temp increase. Whichever method you choose, treat for about 5 days after the last symptoms resolve then gradually decrease water temp back to normal for goldfish. This would be between 65F and 72F.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Whats a low cost treatment for my infected fish with ich that already have the white spots on them
Gradually increase the water temp to about 80 F. This will speed up the lifecycle of the parasite. Once all the spots have dropped off the fish, you can use a commercial ich treatment. Look for one in the aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully. If you have just a few fish in the tank, you can remove them to a separate tank after the spots have dropped off. Leave the main tank empty for 4 days at 80 F. The ich parasite cannot survive without fish, so they will die. After 4 days, perform a partial water change, vacuum the substrate, wipe down tank furniture and return the water temp to normal. Acclimate the fish to water temp before returning them to the water.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My 10 gal freshwater tank has been infected with ich. I am treating the tank, but still my fish are dying. If I were to just clean it out and start over with fresh water, new substrate, and a clean tank, would that get rid of the ich? Can I clean it
First, perform a partial water change, vacuum gravel thoroughly and wipe down any tank furniture. This is critical because clean water is the cornerstone for treatment and recovery. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Next, you can use any one of the commercial ich medications, such as Ich Guard (Tetra), Super Ick Cure (API) or Rid Ich Plus (Kordon). These can be found in the Aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully. This method will typically work with most fish. Another option would be to use plain aquarium salt ( NOT table or Epsom salt). Dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt per 5 gallons of water in a cup or two of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. At the same time, gradually increase the water temp to about 86 F. Hold it there for 14 days. The warm temps will speed up the life cycle of the parasite and the salt will kill it. Afterwards, gradually reduce water temp and perform another partial water ch
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi. I have recently added two new female sword tail to my aquarium. I had only one male and one female previously. Since adding them, the female has been having clamped fins. Hiding and later one rubbing herself against gravel and now shimmer... No w
Maintain water temperature at 86F for at least two weeks. Add an air stone during this time to increase aeration/oxygenation. Monitor the other fish for similar symptoms or stress associated with the warmer water. Up to 2 teaspoons of plain aquarium salt (NOT table) can be used to treat ich (white spot disease). It can take a couple weeks to effectively treat ich. In the future, it is recommended to quarantine new fish prior to adding them to the main tank to prevent infection.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
I just purchased imagitarium aquarium salt for my betta. I have never used aquarium salt before and It says on the label that I can combine it with sprinkling in a little bit of food once a day. Does this mean it is safe to add the salt in with my fi
Aquarium salt can be used as a general tonic to reduce stress, improve gill function, treat minor infection and aid in any recovery. Dissolve up to 1 teaspoon per gallon of water in a cup of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. You don't want to use it for more than 14 days in a row. You will need to perform partial water changes to decrease salinity. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Pristine water quality is critical in treating or preventing fin rot and other infections.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I fish jus died after three dsys of having them gold fish they white things on there fins an started to swim funny then they died i will like to know hiw to treat the fishs an clean the tank
It sounds like your fish developed white spot disease, also called ich (ick). White spot disease, scientifically named Ichtyopthirius multifiliis, is commonly referred to as freshwater ich or ick. The disease is caused by single-cell organisms (protozoa) that attack fish with lowered immune systems. If your goldfish have recently survived an infection, sudden temperature change, or long period in dirty water, they could be vulnerable to white spot disease. If you have any fish left, slowly raise the water temperature to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, about 2 degrees per hour. The heat stops the ich parasites from dividing into many more. You can also add salt, which will help your fish develop their slime coat to help them ward off reattachment from the parasites. Use salt specifically for freshwater fish (aquarium salt), not table salt. Follow the directions on the back of the container for best results or add 1 tablespoon (3 teaspoons) for every 5 gallons (19 liters) of aquarium water. Man
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have new aquarium with few gold fish and milky white carp fish. Some skin problems is infecting in all my fishes like skin coming out. And all fishes are showing abnormal behavior. Please help me fr saving my fishes
This may be a severe ich infection. It is an ectoparasite that can affect fish. You will need to treat the entire tank. You can use a commercial ich medication found in most pet stores. Follow label directions carefully. Quarantine new fish for 2-4 weeks before adding them to the main tank. Another option would be to gradually increase tank temp to 86 F and hold it there for 2 weeks. This will speed up the lifecycle of the parasite. Once all the spots have dropped off the fish, perform a partial water change, vacuum the substrate and sanitize any tank furniture. Afterwards, gradually decrease water temp back to normal for goldfish, between 65 F and 72 F. Plain aquarium salt (NOT table or Epsom salt) can be used at 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of water to aid in treatment and recovery. Since goldfish are cold water fish, this method may be stressful to them. Consider adding in a bubble wand or air stones to increase oxygenation during this time period.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi, Got a marine fish tank 120L. The blue tang got white ich a week back and it died and post that within a week all the other fishes died. Had a pair of clowns and various damsels. Now with no fishes in the tank, what should I do next? I plan to
Ich (Cryptocaryon) is an obligate parasite. This means it needs fish to survive. If your tank has no fish, continue to run the filter and tank empty for at least 6 weeks. You can increase temp to about 86 F to speed up the life cycle of the parasite. If your tank is not a reef tank and has no inverts, you can treat the tank with copper. Once treatment is complete, decrease temps to normal ranges. Continue to monitor salinity/chemistry. Quarantine any new fish for at least 10 days in a bare bottomed, established tank to prevent re-introduction of parasites into the main tank.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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