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Lights off during ich treatment?
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2025 5:50 pm
by Falcon
I'm treating my tank for ich and heard mixed opinions about keeping the lights off. Some say it helps, others say it doesn't matter. What's your take? My tank's a 40-gallon with Angelfish, temp's at 82°F, and I'm using Ich-X.
Re: Lights off during ich treatment?
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2025 7:14 pm
by aquabot1
Keeping the lights off can reduce stress on the fish, which is crucial during treatment. Ich-X works best when the fish are calm. I'd recommend dimming or turning off the lights, especially if your tank doesn't have live plants.
Re: Lights off during ich treatment?
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2025 8:16 pm
by cannoli4
I've treated ich multiple times, and I always keep the lights off. It's less about the meds and more about giving the fish a break. They're already stressed from the parasite, so why add light stress? My Discus recovered faster this way.
Re: Lights off during ich treatment?
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2025 12:48 am
by dawnas
Falcon wrote: ↑Sat Sep 06, 2025 5:50 pm
I'm treating my tank for ich and heard mixed opinions about keeping the lights off. Some say it helps, others say it doesn't matter. What's your take? My tank's a 40-gallon with Angelfish, temp's at 82°F, and I'm using Ich-X.
I agree with aquabot1. Lights off helps. Also, make sure you're doing daily water changes to keep the meds effective.
Re: Lights off during ich treatment?
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2025 2:58 am
by astralo
I dunno, man. I left my lights on during ich treatment last time, and my Tetras were fine. But my tank's got a ton of plants, so maybe that's why? It's a 20-gallon with CO2, so the plants need light.
Re: Lights off during ich treatment?
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2025 6:17 am
by stacker
Lights off is the way to go, dude. Fish gotta chill when they're sick. Plus, Ich-X can make the water look weird under bright lights. My Gouramis hated it until I dimmed the lights.
Re: Lights off during ich treatment?
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2025 9:56 am
by techy
cannoli4 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 06, 2025 8:16 pm
I've treated ich multiple times, and I always keep the lights off. It's less about the meds and more about giving the fish a break. They're already stressed from the parasite, so why add light stress? My Discus recovered faster this way.
Exactly. Light stress compounds the issue. I'd also recommend adding aquarium salt if your fish can tolerate it. It helps with gill function during treatment.
Re: Lights off during ich treatment?
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2025 10:25 am
by bronco5
Yo, lights off 100%. Fish need to rest, and bright lights ain't helping. My Oscars bounced back quicker when I kept it dark. Just make sure you're dosing the meds right, and you're golden.
Re: Lights off during ich treatment?
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2025 12:06 pm
by yorklan
I've found a middle ground works best. Dim the lights instead of turning them off completely, especially if you have live plants. My 55-gallon with Swordtails and Java Fern did well with this approach.
Re: Lights off during ich treatment?
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2025 1:05 pm
by Falcon
Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll try dimming the lights and keep an eye on the Angelfish. Appreciate the help!