Prevent Ich

Natural Disease Preventative to Prevent the Occurrence of Ich

Contains natural herbals based on Naphthoquinones
Helps prevent and treat Ich
Effective against other single-celled external fish diseases
Equally effective in fresh and salt water
Safe for use with aquatic invertebrates
Made in U.S.A.

The name “Prevent-Ich,” which really means “prevent single-celled diseases,” is meant to emphasize that it is important that preventative treatments should be used at every step of keeping aquarium and pond fishes. It is a lot easier and safer to prevent infections from occurring, than in having to cope with them after they have become life threatening to the fishes. This includes using the treatment while the fishes are being quarantined.

Item No. 39544 PREVENT ICH – 4 fl.oz. (118mL) – treats up to 240 gallons

Item No. 39546 PREVENT ICH – 16 fl.oz. (473mL) – treats up to 9600 gallons

Item No. 39561 PREVENT ICH – 1 gallon (3.78 L) – treats up to 7,693 gallons

Directions

Directions for Use

For Use as a Disease Preventative when no infections are observed: Treat daily for one week, and continue for a longer period as needed for stressed fishes. Be aware that it is easy to miss seeing infections, particularly when they are out of sight, such as in the mouth, gills, and nostrils of the fish. Close observation is needed, including of the fish’s behavior to observe abnormal movements.

Use In Fresh, Brackish or Salt Water: Shake bottle well before each use. It is recommended to remove any activated carbon from filters so that the carbon does not reduce effectiveness of the treatment. Prevent-Ich does not interfere with the use of protein skimmers or UV ultraviolet sterilizers. However, protein skimmers remove herbal organics from the water. It is best to discontinue the use of protein skimmers during treatments with Prevent-Ich.

The Standard Dose of Prevent-Ich is 10 drops (from a medicinal eye dropper) per gallon or 1 teaspoon (approx. 5mL) of Prevent-Ich for every 10 gallons (approx. 45.5 liters) of water. In regular treatment repeat dose daily until 3-4 days after the last infection is observed, including in the mouth, gills, and nostrils. Cold water conditions may require a longer treatment time.

Water changes between treatments are not required for this treatment to be effective, and are not recommended to be done. After all of the treatments are completed, make a 20% or more water change. If tap water is used, it is recommended to use Kordon NovAqua Plus together with AmQuel Plus to detoxify the water being added.

The protozoan infections that are eliminated by Prevent-Ich include “white spot disease” (Ich) which is recognized by the very tiny white spots that are on the body and fins of the fish, and in the nostrils, gills, and mouth of the fish. Other protozoan and dinoflagellate infections are detected by their epidermal tissue destruction, including desquamation (loss of scales, shredding of skin), hemorrhaging, and respiratory difficulties.

Fungus is recognized as slimy to cottony growths on the surfaces of the fish, that usually are variously whitish, to yellowish, to brownish in color. In extreme infections the fungus kills the fishes. It is normally a secondary infection, so it is important to determine what the primary infection is.

If the fish have white spot disease, also called Ich (Ichthiophthirius), the treatment will need to be made daily every day without omission until all of the “white spots” have hatched out and their young have been killed by the treatments. This may take weeks for all of the “white spots” to hatch out. While they are in the “white spot” stage on the fish, there is no known effective treatment. Only when the “white spots” hatch out and are in a brief free-swimming stage are they susceptible to treatment.

For well established or severe infections: double the dose. Continue treatments until a cure is effected. It is recommended that for double doses per day, one should be in the morning, the other later in the day. Note that some species of white spot disease (Ich) have only a few hours in the free-swimming stage at which time a treatment is effective in exterminating them. For these species of Ich treatments twice a day are essential for eliminating them to be sure none of the Ich escapes treatment. Do not skip any treatment. For Ich each white spot will produce up to 250 young (in marine species) or up to 1000 young (in freshwater species). If the Ich or other infection returns when Prevent Ich is used twice a day, it is safe to use a triple dose spaced throughout the day.

For Interconnected Multiple Aquarium Systems: Prevent-Ich can be used in aquariums that are interconnected with a central filtering system and where one or more aquariums are infected while others are not. Prevent-Ich will not harm the fishes, invertebrates, or plants of either the infected or non-infected aquariums. It will provide a means of stopping the spread of single-celled infections between the connected aquariums.

NUMBER OF TIMES PER DAY THAT TREATMENT IS NEEDED

It is described above, but considering the questions received on the subject it is stated again with additional information. The standard dose for Prevent-Ich is once per day for a single treatment, preferably to be made at about the same time each day. If the treatment is needed for a species of white spot disease (Ich) that has a free swimming and reproductive stage that is less than a day in length, such as 18 hours, then two standard-dose treatments are needed per day, such as once in the morning, and another later in the day such as in the evening. If the species of white spot disease (Ich) has a free swimming and reproductive stage that is less than 12 hours in duration, then three standard-dose treatments are needed per day, such as once in the morning, once at midday, and the third in the evening.

The different species of white spot disease (Ich) cannot be discerned without microscopic examination and the ability to identify the different species. The simple way to determine how frequently the treatments are needed without identifying the species is —

if there are reinfections (such as new white spots are seen on the fish while the once-a-day treatments are being made) two treatments per day should be used.

If there are reinfections while the twice-a-day treatments are being made, three treatments per day should be used.

Treatments should be continued until absolutely every white spot is gone and the disease is not recurring. Since the white spots can be out of sight and easily overlooked, it is best to go three days or more in treatments after the last white spot is observed, including in the mouth, gills, and nostrils of the fish.

NUMBER OF DAYS NEEDED FOR DAILY TREATMENT

This depends upon the kind of infection, its strength, whether multiple infections are involved, etc. If Prevent-Ich is being used as a preventative and against mild infection, it can be that single daily treatments are needed for a week. If the infection is more serious, and multiple, daily treatments as described above are needed for several weeks — daily treatments as described above may be needed for a month or more.

Without water changes, over days the brownish color of the successive Prevent-Ich herbal treatments will increase in discoloration of the water. This is of no harm to the fishes and invertebrates. However, If this is unacceptable, partial water changes before a treatment can be made in order to keep the coloration from intensifying in the water. Otherwise, the water will clear over days after the end of treatments, particularly if a partial water change is made at the end of the treatments. If tap water is used for the water changes, it is recommended to use Kordon’s NovAqua+ and Amquel+ each time in order to detoxify the water.

Specifications

Specifications & Stability

SPECIFICATIONS

Kordon Prevent-Ich contains 5% active ingredients consisting of five natural organic herbals, based on their containing patented naphthoquinones. Totally free of chemicals (such as formalin and malachite) and all heavy metals, including zinc and copper. Does not affect pH of the water, or its oxygen content. Compatible with all Kordon water conditioners (NovAquas, Amquels, Fish Protector, PolyAqua, EZ4U tablets, Betta Tabs, Goldfish Tabs, VitaTrace, PhosRid).

The therapeutic action of Prevent-Ich on protozoan and other infections is due to its binding with cytoplasmic structures within the cell of the infecting organisms.

STABILITY

Kordon Prevent-Ich is stable indefinitely in the 5.0% aqueous solution, providing it is kept in a cool dark place to avoid decomposition. Refrigeration is a useful way to preserve the activity of the treatment.

Compatibility

Compatabilities and Toxicity

Kordon Prevent-Ich as an organic herbal treatment is focused in its effectiveness in treating protozoan, fungal, and dinoflagellate infections. It may be an inhibitor, but is not an eliminator of infectious viruses, bacteria and multi-celled organisms. Prevent-Ich is compatible with the other Kordon organic herbal products, namely Rid-Fungus® and Ich-Attack®. Prevent-Ich can be used with all Kordon Water Conditioners such as the NovAquas, the AmQuels and Fish Protector.

Regarding the toxicity of Kordon Prevent-Ich to fishes and aquatic invertebrates — it is not toxic to them. It may be that fishes and aquatic invertebrates die during treatment but numerous repeated experiments at more than ten times dosages of Prevent-Ich have shown that the causes of their deaths are not the Prevent-Ich treatment, nor does it contribute to the causes of deaths. What has caused the deaths besides the infecting diseases, that are too far advanced to be cured by treatment, needs to be determined by the keeper.

Prevent-Ich is safe for use in all kinds of aquariums and ornamental ponds, as well as on scaleless fishes (such as loaches, elephant noses, electric eels, knife fishes and catfishes), coral reef fishes, young fish and fry, reef aquariums, aquatic plants, aquatic invertebrates (such as snails, crustaceans, corals and sea anemones), amphibians and aquatic reptiles.

However, the success of this treatment (as with all effective treatments) is dependent upon starting treatment as soon as infections are anticipated or noted. It often can be late in the extent of infection when it is noted in fishes, which may be too late to save them. As an example, for some species of white spot disease (Ich), the infection usually starts unnoticed in the mouth, gills, and nostrils of the fish, only later appearing on the outside surface of the fish when it may be too late to save their lives by treatment.

Prevent-Ich will not stain sealants, ornaments, plastic or living plants, and will not unduly affect the pH or permanently discolor the water. Prevent-Ich does not affect beneficial nitrifying bacteria.

Regarding Marine Tangs (surgeon fishes, acanthurids): They are prone to have extensive infections that they bring in from the wild, and for which there is no known successful treatment when the infections are too far advanced. Always quarantine tangs before putting them with other fishes.

Regarding Freshwater Sting Rays: Freshwater stingrays (dasyatids) have acclimated to fresh water from marine ancestors. They are fragile in aquarium keeping and prone to infection. They need to be handled carefully. Often their survival time is short in aquarium keeping, regardless of their care, and they are prone to succumb unexpectedly. If this is during treatments for an infection, it can appear that the cause of their demise is the treatment, when in fact it is not.

Regarding Coral Reef Animals: Freshwater snails and shrimp, and the coral reef animals (shrimp, crabs, coral, anemones, etc.) are compatible with Kordon Prevent-Ich. It can be that in setting up a new aquarium with fishes and coral and/or anemones, that with the fishes being infected and being treated, the coral and anemones will shrivel up, sometimes dying. The organic herbal treatment may cause an initial retraction of the coral and/or anemones, but will not be the cause of their dying. Deaths are going to be due to adverse aquarium conditions, and not due to the organic herbal treatment being used for the fishes.

For example, corals and anemones may be adversely affected by the intensity of the aquarium lighting, including in new aquariums. One of the key factors in coral bleaching on natural coral reefs is in excessive light, as well as in excessive water temperature, and other natural factors. If excessive lighting is used in marine aquariums, this can adversely affect corals. This may be immediately, or it may be over time.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Kordon Prevent-Ich is not indicated for the treatment of viral or bacterial infections, nor multicellular infections such as flukes (monogenetic trematodes), worms, and lice.

For a strong chemical treatment of white spot disease (Ich) fresh water or marine when no aquatic invertebrates are present – Kordon’s Rid-Ich+ is recommended.

BENEFITS

Kordon Prevent-Ich is one of three Kordon organic herbal treatments with multiple ingredients for elimination of external single-celled infections of fishes — whether protozoan parasites (amebae, ciliates or dinoflagellates), or fungal. All three treatments are based on the unique use of patented naphthoquinones exclusively used by Kordon as the basic ingredients. The three organic treatments can be used interchangeably, with Kordon Prevent-Ich particularly as a strong preventative that also serves as an effective external treatment of protozoans, dinoflagellates, and fungi; Kordon Ich-Attack particularly directed against all external protozoan infections; and Kordon Rid-Fungus particularly directed against all types of external fungal infections.

All three Kordon organic herbal treatments have two important uses — elimination of single-celled infections, and prevention of single-celled infections from developing. Since a sizable number of fish infections are single celled, any one of these three treatments can be used when the disease is not identified and a treatment is needed in the hope that it will be effective. Also, any one these treatments can be used as a preventative, suppressing single-celled infections and allowing the immune system of the fishes to be effective in preventing the infections from developing.

A helpful advantage of these three organic herbals is that water changes are not necessary between daily treatments, saving on having to use tap water and their conditioners each day, or for marine aquariums in having to replace saltwater each day. The naphthoquinone ingredients of these organic herbals are as effective in salt water as in fresh water, providing an entirely new and effective way to handle coral reef aquariums without having to remove the marine invertebrates during treatments.

Kordon Prevent-Ich is an easy to use treatment composed of 100% multiple organic ingredients for all types of external and epidermal single-celled infections. It’s broad spectrum of activity and lack of toxicity makes Prevent-Ich effective without requiring a specific diagnosis. It stops infectious and external parasitic invasions from getting started and in turn prevents many secondary infections. In short, Prevent-Ich suppresses and eliminates a wide spectrum of infections.

Prevent-Ich is effective against protozoan parasites on fishes and aquatic invertebrates, whether fresh or brackish water, or marine. These comprise dozens of genera and species of fish-infecting species in fresh and salt water, each kind with distinctive

characteristics in their infections. The groups include “white spot disease” and other ciliates (Ichthyophthirius in fresh water, and Cryptocaryon, Brooklynella, Trichodina in marine), and “sporozoan parasites” (for which many infectors of aquarium fish are marine).

Dinoflagellate infections treated by Prevent-Ich are photosynthetic single-celled organisms which include Oodinium (velvet disease), Amyloodinium (coral fish disease), Tetrahymena, as well as other infectious dinoflagellates.

Prevent-Ich works well against fungi which are very important pathogens of fishes and their eggs. These fungi include for fresh water the species of Saprolegnia, Achlya, Leptomitus, Pythium, and for marine Exophiala, Ichthyophonus, Prevent-Ich is especially suitable for tropical marine aquariums containing aquatic invertebrates, because it also treats their fungal infections, while not adversely affecting coral reef animals, including corals, anemones, starfish, snails, crabs, and shrimp.

The herbals used in Prevent-Ich have been selected because they have been shown to have a powerful effect against aquatic diseases, yet are far more forgiving on the animals than harsh chemicals. What Kordon has created , led by Dr. Michael Tierra – a well known herbalist whose books on natural botanical treatments are widely read – is to determine carefully which herbals can be used together to cover a wide spectrum of external fungal and other aquatic diseases. The result is completely unique, very effective, and truly easy to use.

Fungus is one of the most common infections in aquarium fishes. Fungus is recognized externally mainly as a growth on the head, body, or fins that looks like cotton or tufts, often being whitish, but also may be yellowish, gray, brown, or another color. These growths are technically called hyphae. Fungus also can be slimy on surfaces, called water molds. All of these fungal infections are technically called Oomycete infections. Fungus can also be internal lesions or granulomas appearing in fishes, including in marine tropical fishes on infected organs as raised, white to yellow nodules or patches.