Ich with fish-in cycle
So we recently got a 75 gallon tank and unfortunately, followed advice from a friend that has a stunning tank, and now we are managing a fish-in cycle. The tank only ran for about 2 days before we added fish. I’ve been adding seachem stability (daily, as directed) and seachem prime (as needed, but typically every 1-2 days to detoxify ammonia). We have two bubblers (one decent sized and one smaller) and are running an fx4 filter. Also have a heater set to 80 g(up 2 degrees from 78 since e discovered we had ich)
So far, ammonia has been hovering between .25-1ppm. One teensy spike of nitrites a fewd days ago, but no more than .25ppm and the next morning it was 0. Very little nitrates once last week, max 5ppm, and then consistently 0 since.
We added the fish about a week and a half ago and they were fine until we realized we had the ich. I’m positive it’s ich. Due to availability in my area, I picked up API super ick cure at petsmart.
We are obviously new to this and I want to protect the fish as much as possible with as little stress as possible. I’ve researched and researched and there is so much mixed information to be found. We did also add a little bit of aquarium salt - 6 total tablespoons, 2 at a time over the course of a day.
We have the following in our tank:
1 albino longfin bichir
1 blue acara
3 silver dollars
2 picture catfish
1 Thai sun catfish
Since we have scaleless fish, we have to do basically everything at half dosages. So here’s what I need help with…. Oxygen… are the two bubblers and the filter jet putting enough oxygen in the tank? I know the meds reduce the oxygen and so can warmer water. The fish seem to be fine and are not gulping at the surface. So I assume our oxygen is okay, but I don’t know.
Also, should we be doing water changes regularly? Or are we good since we’re using the seachem prime and ammonia isn’t sky high? We ARE doing 25% water changes per the instructions for the ich medication. Others online said they quarantine the fish with white spots and treat just the affected fish, but I can’t imagine that’s accurate since the ich free swim in the water and then reattach to fish, so you’re really treating the tank, not the fish. Right? So quarantining a fish is kind of pointless other than to potentially reduce the cycle for the fish not yet affected?
Any other advice I might not know I need would be greatly appreciated.
Posted Jun 3, 2026, 1:43 AM UTC