API Aquarium Salt is a pure salt product commonly used as a supportive, non-chemical therapy for ich and general parasite stress. It earns a best-in-class spot for salt-based treatment because it is inexpensive, widely available, and gentle on fish when used correctly, making it a cost-effective first-line or adjunct option compared with pricier medicated remedies like ParaGuard or Ich-Attack. While not a silver-bullet in severe infections, its technical advantage is simplicity and safety in fish-only tanks where copper or stronger chemicals would be inappropriate.
Salt-based remedy
Wallet-friendly
Salt-based remedy
Wallet-friendly
Review Summary
"Reliable, inexpensive aquarium salt commonly used as a supportive freshwater ich treatment; users praise its ease of use and value for minor cases but note it is not a standalone cure for severe infestations."
Brings beach vibes
Pure aquarium-grade sodium chloride to support osmotic balance during ich outbreaks
Brings beach vibes
Pure aquarium-grade sodium chloride to support osmotic balance during ich outbreaks
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
API Aquarium Salt is a pure salt product commonly used as a supportive, non-chemical therapy for ich and general parasite stress. It earns a best-in-class spot for salt-based treatment because it is inexpensive, widely available, and gentle on fish when used correctly, making it a cost-effective first-line or adjunct option compared with pricier medicated remedies like ParaGuard or Ich-Attack. While not a silver-bullet in severe infections, its technical advantage is simplicity and safety in fish-only tanks where copper or stronger chemicals would be inappropriate.
Salt-based remedy
Wallet-friendly
Brings beach vibes
Pure aquarium-grade sodium chloride to support osmotic balance during ich outbreaks
Inexpensive additive used alongside medications to help stressed fish recover
Salt-based remedy
Wallet-friendly
Brings beach vibes
Pure aquarium-grade sodium chloride to support osmotic balance during ich outbreaks
Inexpensive additive used alongside medications to help stressed fish recover
$6-20 CAD
The Fluval M Series is positioned as the premium, digitally controlled heater in this group — it offers precise temperature control, a slim profile, and rapid recovery that make it well suited to sustained elevated-temperature Ich treatment protocols where tight setpoint stability matters. Compared with the more mechanical Eheim or budget Aqueon, the M Series trades a higher purchase price for a clearer display, programmable features and faster response; when paired with an external controller like the Inkbird it delivers industry-leading accuracy and safety for critical heat cycles.
Quick warm-up
Slim LED flair
Quick warm-up
Slim LED flair
Review Summary
"Users praise the Fluval M Series for its sleek metal housing, low profile, and generally reliable temperature hold; a minority report occasional calibration drift over very long-term use."
Micro-precise control
Slim submersible design fits behind decor for quarantine tanks and raises temperature steadily for short-term Ich treatments.
Micro-precise control
Slim submersible design fits behind decor for quarantine tanks and raises temperature steadily for short-term Ich treatments.
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
The Fluval M Series is positioned as the premium, digitally controlled heater in this group — it offers precise temperature control, a slim profile, and rapid recovery that make it well suited to sustained elevated-temperature Ich treatment protocols where tight setpoint stability matters. Compared with the more mechanical Eheim or budget Aqueon, the M Series trades a higher purchase price for a clearer display, programmable features and faster response; when paired with an external controller like the Inkbird it delivers industry-leading accuracy and safety for critical heat cycles.
Quick warm-up
Slim LED flair
Micro-precise control
Slim submersible design fits behind decor for quarantine tanks and raises temperature steadily for short-term Ich treatments.
Integrated adjustable thermostat with clear markings gives repeatable setpoints useful when holding higher treatment temps.
Quick warm-up
Slim LED flair
Micro-precise control
Slim submersible design fits behind decor for quarantine tanks and raises temperature steadily for short-term Ich treatments.
Integrated adjustable thermostat with clear markings gives repeatable setpoints useful when holding higher treatment temps.
$40-80 CAD
Seachem Cupramine is positioned as a premium chelated copper therapy designed for targeted ich treatment, prized for its predictable copper ion availability and precise dosing that experienced aquarists rely on. Compared with the more economy-focused copper products on this list, Cupramine's proprietary chelation and concentration make it technically superior for controlled hospital-tank treatments and often more cost-effective per treatment despite a higher upfront price. For users who need tight monitoring and repeatable results, Cupramine is the market leader in technical reliability for copper-based ich protocols.
Chelated copper
Clear dosing
Chelated copper
Clear dosing
Review Summary
"Users generally praise Cupramine for its stable, chelated copper formulation and predictable, long‑lasting effectiveness against ich, though many note it is pricier than alternatives. It's widely seen as reliable and easy to dose for experienced hobbyists."
Aquarist fave
Stabilized/chelated copper formulation designed to maintain consistent therapeutic levels for Ich treatment.
Aquarist fave
Stabilized/chelated copper formulation designed to maintain consistent therapeutic levels for Ich treatment.
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Skill Development & Mastery
Seachem Cupramine is positioned as a premium chelated copper therapy designed for targeted ich treatment, prized for its predictable copper ion availability and precise dosing that experienced aquarists rely on. Compared with the more economy-focused copper products on this list, Cupramine's proprietary chelation and concentration make it technically superior for controlled hospital-tank treatments and often more cost-effective per treatment despite a higher upfront price. For users who need tight monitoring and repeatable results, Cupramine is the market leader in technical reliability for copper-based ich protocols.
Chelated copper
Clear dosing
Aquarist fave
Stabilized/chelated copper formulation designed to maintain consistent therapeutic levels for Ich treatment.
Concentrated bottle with clear dosing instructions suitable for hospital or quarantine tanks.
Chelated copper
Clear dosing
Aquarist fave
Stabilized/chelated copper formulation designed to maintain consistent therapeutic levels for Ich treatment.
Concentrated bottle with clear dosing instructions suitable for hospital or quarantine tanks.
$25-45 CAD
Fritz Mardel Coppersafe is the specialist entry for aquarists who favor copper-based, formalin-free parasite management; it is prized for its targeted efficacy against protozoan parasites in systems without invertebrates. The technical benefit of Coppersafe is controlled copper therapy that many professionals trust for steady parasite suppression, though it requires testing and tank management so its total cost and effort can be higher than simple over-the-counter options. Against the other products, Fritz is the go-to when copper therapy is preferred over broad-spectrum or malachite-based alternatives and when invertebrate safety is not required.
Chelated copper action
Stable, long-lasting dose
Chelated copper action
Stable, long-lasting dose
Review Summary
"Users consistently report Fritz Mardel Coppersafe is highly effective and convenient for copper-based ich treatment, but it’s toxic to invertebrates and requires monitoring copper levels and careful maintenance."
Tiny copper cavalry
Copper-based medication targeted at protozoan parasites such as Ichthyophthirius (ich).
Tiny copper cavalry
Copper-based medication targeted at protozoan parasites such as Ichthyophthirius (ich).
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Fritz Mardel Coppersafe is the specialist entry for aquarists who favor copper-based, formalin-free parasite management; it is prized for its targeted efficacy against protozoan parasites in systems without invertebrates. The technical benefit of Coppersafe is controlled copper therapy that many professionals trust for steady parasite suppression, though it requires testing and tank management so its total cost and effort can be higher than simple over-the-counter options. Against the other products, Fritz is the go-to when copper therapy is preferred over broad-spectrum or malachite-based alternatives and when invertebrate safety is not required.
Chelated copper action
Stable, long-lasting dose
Tiny copper cavalry
Copper-based medication targeted at protozoan parasites such as Ichthyophthirius (ich).
Designed to maintain stable dissolved copper levels with measurable dosing steps.
Chelated copper action
Stable, long-lasting dose
Tiny copper cavalry
Copper-based medication targeted at protozoan parasites such as Ichthyophthirius (ich).
Designed to maintain stable dissolved copper levels with measurable dosing steps.
$15-30 CAD
Seachem ParaGuard is a premium, broad-spectrum parasiticide and antifungal often used as both a dip and a bath; its technical advantage is versatility, so it can address multiple opportunistic pathogens in a single product rather than requiring sequential treatments. Although ParaGuard tends to be pricier than single-purpose dips, its wide coverage and multipurpose use can make it the most cost-effective single-product solution for complex or mixed infections compared with the more narrowly targeted competitors listed here.
Broad-spectrum action
Safe for many species
Broad-spectrum action
Safe for many species
Review Summary
"Seachem ParaGuard receives strong praise for broad-spectrum parasite and fungus control with relatively gentle action on fish and compatibility with plants; buyers like Seachem's clear instructions and consistent results, but it still harms invertebrates. It’s commonly chosen as a go-to multi-purpose treatment."
Quarantine room hero
Broad-spectrum formula active against many external parasites, fungi, and some bacteria.
Quarantine room hero
Broad-spectrum formula active against many external parasites, fungi, and some bacteria.
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Skill Development & Mastery
Seachem ParaGuard is a premium, broad-spectrum parasiticide and antifungal often used as both a dip and a bath; its technical advantage is versatility, so it can address multiple opportunistic pathogens in a single product rather than requiring sequential treatments. Although ParaGuard tends to be pricier than single-purpose dips, its wide coverage and multipurpose use can make it the most cost-effective single-product solution for complex or mixed infections compared with the more narrowly targeted competitors listed here.
Broad-spectrum action
Safe for many species
Quarantine room hero
Broad-spectrum formula active against many external parasites, fungi, and some bacteria.
Works as both a short-term dip and an aquarium treatment depending on dosing.
Broad-spectrum action
Safe for many species
Quarantine room hero
Broad-spectrum formula active against many external parasites, fungi, and some bacteria.
Works as both a short-term dip and an aquarium treatment depending on dosing.
$15-25 CAD
The Fluval Sea Hydrometer is a popular, inexpensive tool for quick salinity estimates in marine tanks, making it a common first-line choice when assessing conditions that influence copper dosing for Ich treatments. It delivers fast, no-frills readings at a much lower price than digital refractometers, though it is less precise and more temperature-sensitive than the Hanna HI96801 and should be used as a complementary check rather than a laboratory-grade measurement.
Simple salinity gauge
No batteries needed
Simple salinity gauge
No batteries needed
Review Summary
"The Fluval Sea Hydrometer is easy to use and gives reasonably quick specific gravity readings for marine tanks, with most users satisfied for basic monitoring. Critics point out fragility and moderate accuracy compared with digital instruments, but buyers say it’s a useful, affordable tool."
Old-school sea charm
Floating hydrometer offers a fast, no-tech salinity check to confirm correct specific gravity during marine ich treatments.
Old-school sea charm
Floating hydrometer offers a fast, no-tech salinity check to confirm correct specific gravity during marine ich treatments.
Increased Safety & Security
Skill Development & Mastery
The Fluval Sea Hydrometer is a popular, inexpensive tool for quick salinity estimates in marine tanks, making it a common first-line choice when assessing conditions that influence copper dosing for Ich treatments. It delivers fast, no-frills readings at a much lower price than digital refractometers, though it is less precise and more temperature-sensitive than the Hanna HI96801 and should be used as a complementary check rather than a laboratory-grade measurement.
Simple salinity gauge
No batteries needed
Old-school sea charm
Floating hydrometer offers a fast, no-tech salinity check to confirm correct specific gravity during marine ich treatments.
Large, easy-to-read scale calibrated for marine aquariums simplifies routine monitoring.
Simple salinity gauge
No batteries needed
Old-school sea charm
Floating hydrometer offers a fast, no-tech salinity check to confirm correct specific gravity during marine ich treatments.
Large, easy-to-read scale calibrated for marine aquariums simplifies routine monitoring.
$10-25 CAD