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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

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

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

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
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

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Related Questions

How to treat ich in a 10-gallon tank with plants and sensitive fish?

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 temperature back down to species appropriate levels.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Is aquarium salt safe for mystery snails when treating betta ich?

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 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

How to treat fish ich white spots affordably and effectively?

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.

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My swordtail has clamped fins, rubbing, no white spots. Is it Ich?

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 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

How do I safely add aquarium salt to my betta tank for fin rot?

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.

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My marine fish died from ich. How do I prepare the tank for new fish?

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 23rd, 2025

My white skirt tetra has a red face wound and ich. How do I treat him?

Separate him into a smaller quarantine tank. You can use a broad spectrum antibiotic to treat him. Read package directions carefully and remove the carbon insert if necessary during g treatment. Plain aquarium salt (NOT table salt) can be used concurrently to aid healing. Dissolve 1 teaspoon per gallon of water into the tank. The Ich can be managed by gradually to about 86 F. Raise it no more than 1 degree per hour to prevent stress. This will speed up the life cycle of the parasite. Once the "dots" drop off your fish, you can vacuum the gravel daily and sanitize any tank furniture. Keep the temperature elevated for about two weeks to ensure resolution. Reduce the temp gradually after this time period. A medication such as API's QuickCure can also be used in conjunction with a temperature increase.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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