Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)
Hi,
John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.
I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.
With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.
I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.
If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.
I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.
I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.
Thank you
Darragh Sherwin
white spot?
- convict84 (sean farrell)
- Offline
- Senior Member
-
- Posts: 323
- Thank you received: 2
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- serratus (Drew Latimer)
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 937
- Thank you received: 14
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
-
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 2030
- Thank you received: 102
What type of fish have you got ? Also you will most likely need to increase your temperature in then tank also but you need to let us know what fish you have first as we need to know if the fish can cope at higher temps. you need a antiwhitespot medication also I would suggest. Have you already added a medication previously ?
Gavin
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- convict84 (sean farrell)
- Offline
- Senior Member
-
- Posts: 323
- Thank you received: 2
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- LimerickBandit (Donal Doran)
- Offline
- Premium Member
-
- Posts: 696
- Thank you received: 0
What is the treatment you are using?
Do you use carbon in your filter?
Have you increased the temperature in then tank?
LB
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
-
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 2030
- Thank you received: 102
Do you know if API White Spot Cure can used in half doses on a tank that has shrimp in it ?
I cant determine from the label if it contains copper.
I swear it seems anytime someone here has whitespot issues that my tank gets it too

Also anyone know if woodshrimp are safe in a tank with an angel. The shrimp are large at over 2 or 3 inches in length.
Gavin
Ps: Sorry for the thread hijack,but it is related to your problem.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- LimerickBandit (Donal Doran)
- Offline
- Premium Member
-
- Posts: 696
- Thank you received: 0
I have never used API White Spot Cure so i couldnt advise
What i use is king british ws3 at half dose and it is fine on shrimp
http://sk1.yt-thm-a01.yimg.com/image/ddb91984f50b990e
LB
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- LimerickBandit (Donal Doran)
- Offline
- Premium Member
-
- Posts: 696
- Thank you received: 0
Just found this
API White Spot Cure
Works quickly to rid tropical and coldwater fish of white spots disease (Ichthyophthirius) a highly contagious parasitic disease.
It also adds a slime coat for further protection.
Ingredients:
Contains 1.3mg Malachite Green and 1% PVP
I would think they would say if it contained copper but im not too sure
LB
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
-
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 2030
- Thank you received: 102
But I know there was no cherry shrimp in the tank then,also I cant turn up the temperature as I have hong kong plecos in the tank so limited to temperature I can have.
Ive treated the tank tonight at half dose,will do another half dose in 48 hours.
The shrimp have all been removed into another established tank,Ive had to put the 4 cherry shrimp into a breeding hatch,they arent comfortable Id imagine but Im going to add a fake plant which will provide protection for them as its too bare at present.
The two bamboo shrimp are being acclimatised at present and they will go directly into the main tank as the angel is unlikely to eat them given that there are quite large and have lots of hiding places if needed.
Hope the treatment works now,my neons have the white spot also so abit concerned,one of the mollys isnt good at present,switches between sulking and then moving again,some of the other fish are itching off the plants etc on occasions.Damn white spot. Water is fine but will ensure changes are done once the medication is completed,internal filter with no carbon

Fingers crossed all.
Gavin
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- KenS (Ken Simpson)
-
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 940
- Thank you received: 10
There are some strains of white spot that seem to be resistant to most medications and it's possible that incomplete or below recommended dosages are the cuase.
I have heard of a couple of cases of resistant white spot that have been cleared with eSHa Exit. Just hearsay, haven't needed to use it myself.
Regards,
Ken.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
-
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 2030
- Thank you received: 102

Fingers crossed,would be a shame to lose one of the original crew.
Gavin
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Posts: 273
- Thank you received: 1
noticed it on my balla shark and i added some EXIT into the tank and it disappeared off of him its now on my emperor tetra but it seems to be clearing up!!

does temperature change be one of the main causes of white spot?
If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
-
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 2030
- Thank you received: 102
Turning the temp up however does speed up the recovery process as when the parasite is in it free swimming stage,higher temps will kill it.
Dont want to get too scientific but you get my drift Im sure.
Gavin
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- amdaley (Tony Daly)
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 78
- Thank you received: 0
How would you recognise white spot ? Are the spots very small ?
The reason I ask is because last wekend we introduced 2 female fighters to our tank & when I was looking at them a while ago I noticed that they have tiny little white flecks on them.
None of our other fish have anything like that.
We have 2 cat fish,2 female Swordtails, 3 Glowlights & 2 thick lipped Gorami.
Fifty gallow tank about 5 weeks old,no water problems.Tank temp 26'.
Regards.
Tony.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
-
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 2030
- Thank you received: 102
Gavin
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- amdaley (Tony Daly)
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 78
- Thank you received: 0
Here is the best photo I could take.
Tony.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- LimerickBandit (Donal Doran)
- Offline
- Premium Member
-
- Posts: 696
- Thank you received: 0
Turn your tank temp up to 28c today if possible.
Gavin
Dont turn up the temp of your tank untill you have a treatment that you can add to the tank.
LB
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- amdaley (Tony Daly)
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 78
- Thank you received: 0
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Posts: 273
- Thank you received: 1
try get treatment for it asap
then as LB said raise the temp up
hope you stop it before it spreads

If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- amdaley (Tony Daly)
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 78
- Thank you received: 0
Tony.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Posts: 273
- Thank you received: 1
you should look into gettin yourself a small quarantine tank for future use to keep sick fish out of your main tank or for when you get new fish so you can keep an eye to make sure they dont have any diseases before they head into your main tank

If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- derek (Derek Doyle)
-
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 1397
- Thank you received: 133
once treated the fish should recover.
30 tanks specialise in african cichlids, angelfish and various catfish
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- LimerickBandit (Donal Doran)
- Offline
- Premium Member
-
- Posts: 696
- Thank you received: 0
As Derek said that’s that is a heavy whitespot infestation
Get a whitespot ASAP and begin treatment once you have the treatment in the water then turn up the temperature of the water this will speed up the cycle of the whitespot, treatment should take about a week, do not stop medication early as even when you cant see the whitespot it may still be in the tank this is why you need to treat the whole tank also as Derek said make sure to remove any carbon in the filter as this would remove the medication if left in. you probably don’t have a UV sterilizer but if you do remove it.
Some whitespot medications will also discolor things like white suction cups etc so make sure not to spill this stuff.
LB
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- amdaley (Tony Daly)
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 78
- Thank you received: 0
Recommendations as to what to use for treatment? Remember we are new to this & know nothing.
Tony
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- LimerickBandit (Donal Doran)
- Offline
- Premium Member
-
- Posts: 696
- Thank you received: 0
http://sk1.yt-thm-a01.yimg.com/image/ddb91984f50b990e
Lb
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- sheag35 (Seamus Gillespie)
-
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- 086 8442267
- Posts: 2740
- Thank you received: 274
you probably don’t have a UV sterilizer but if you do remove it.
LB
I disagree if you have a uv leave it on while the juvenile form of ich (whitespot) stays buried in gravel and sand the free form stage swims through the water looking for a host, which infests the host, when the cysts burst more eggs drop through the water into the gravel to start the cycle again, having a uv steriliser on will kill any ich eggs or free form parasites that pass through it which can only help the medication work faster... if you have uv keep it on;)
Fishkeeping the Only way to get wet and wild
currently 25 tanks, and breeding is the aim of everything i keep
location:Limerick
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- LimerickBandit (Donal Doran)
- Offline
- Premium Member
-
- Posts: 696
- Thank you received: 0
which can only help the medication work faster
Hey Seamus
The reason I say to remove the UV is I believe there is a chance it could break down the medication, I would have a lot more fait in the medication than the UV, if all the free swimming ich don’t go through the UV then they still need medication.
I also see how medication like ws3 stains and I wouldn't like it to do any damage to the UV.
LB
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- sheag35 (Seamus Gillespie)
-
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- 086 8442267
- Posts: 2740
- Thank you received: 274
no probs its only my suggestion as Uv dosent affect medications as it only works on biological bodies ie parasites viruses algae etc, and as for the staining its only cosmetic it wont affect the uv rays doing their job.
Seamus
Fishkeeping the Only way to get wet and wild
currently 25 tanks, and breeding is the aim of everything i keep
location:Limerick
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- LimerickBandit (Donal Doran)
- Offline
- Premium Member
-
- Posts: 696
- Thank you received: 0
LB
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- sheag35 (Seamus Gillespie)
-
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- 086 8442267
- Posts: 2740
- Thank you received: 274
Fishkeeping the Only way to get wet and wild
currently 25 tanks, and breeding is the aim of everything i keep
location:Limerick
Please Log in to join the conversation.