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Hard White Bumps on Rocks in My Aquarium

One of the many conditions that can harm your aquarium or pond fish is a bacterial infection called Ichthyophthirius multifili, or "ich." These white bumps start to develop on a fish's skin, causing them to scrape against other parts of your tank like the gravel and plants, spreading the white spots there as well. Fortunately, there's a range of easy options, all of which start with a cleaning and adding an adequate amount of salt, a natural enemy to all parasites.

Remove Fish
- You probably need a water change and the proper amount of aquarium salt. Pour some aquarium water into a bucket and use your net to put your fish in there. If any are exhibiting white bumps, separate them from the group in another bucket with one gallon of water and treat that bucket with an ich treatment from the aquarium supply store. Leave the fish in the buckets for at least an hour, while you discard all the water in the tank and throw away your rocks. You don't want any bacteria going back in the tank.
Cleaning
- After you've cleaned your tank, including the plants, glass and even filtration equipment, you can start recreating your tank environment. Wash your new gravel or rocks under running water then add it to the bottom of your tank, sloping it from the back to the front, from about one inches to two inches thick. Refill the water and treat it with a shock prevention liquid before reintroducing your fish, using the manufacturer's instructions. Then add aquarium salt, about six to eight teaspoons for every gallon, which will begin to create an unhealthy environment for the parasites but not your fish.
Treatment
- Despite the cleaning and maintenance, your fish and tank may still be contaminated with the parasites that continue to make white bumps develop. Before you net your fish back into your treated water, verify a safe pH that is around seven and maintain a slightly warmer temperature around 80 degrees Fahrenheit to quicken the life cycles of the remaining ich. Finish with an ich treatment available at most aquarium retailers and add it according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Reintroduction
- After cleaning and treatments, your fish should be ready to come back home. Though some ich may remain on your fish and in places around your tank, its numbers and environment will have dramatically changed in favor of your intended aquarium inhabitants. Net your fish back in and maintain the chemical treatments for as long as the manufacturer recommends. This can be as long as a few weeks time. If white bumps or spots continue to develop, especially on your fish, it could be another type of problem, like the development of tumors or another type of marine disease.

Animals & Science