Question
Hello,

I have a small goldfish pond.  It is approximately 200 gallons.  I added some fish after I quarantined them.  I quarantined them for a week (which I have since learned is not long enough).  About a week after releasing them two of the new fish died and I noticed that ich had spread to a few fish.  I could not catch the fish to separate them.  Therefore, I treated the entire pond with a pond product called Clout made by aq-products.  The product said it is a treatment for ich.  The directions said to add one tablet per 100 gallons to the pond for two days.  It warned not to treat the water for more than two days.  It also did not say to stop the filter or any carbon.  I have a large filter that does have some carbon in it.
That being said.  After I treated the water, I learned online that ich has a life cycle and while the parasite is still attached to the fish the medication will have no  affect.  The fish still had the ich attached to them when I treated it.  It has been about three days since them treatment and it looks like the ich did fall off.  However, I am not sure that the clout in the water will still kill the the free swimming ich that later looks for a host.  Should I be adding more clout?  Or should I wait and see if it spreads to other fish?  I am new at this and I really don't know what to do.  All that I have read online suggests that treatments that say ich can be treated in two days are bogus.  Is clout different than other treatments? For example, Does the medicine stay active in the water for a week?  The bottle does not specify how it works and I have been unable to find anything online that would tell me. I have found some information about others experiences with Clout in aquariums (The clout for aquariums suggest treatment for six day.) but have found no information about others experiences with Clout in Ponds. Is two days enough with clout made especially for ponds? I really don't want to over treat my fish and cause them any extra stress than they have already had.  I feel horrible for what I have put them through just because I didn't quarantine properly.  I haven't owned this pond long and I am still learning. What do you suggest?

Thank You for your time!

Answer
Hi Sarah,
Love your name.  Thanx for your inquiry.  You have legitimate concerns but I think, based upon what you have indicated, your fish are probably going to be okay.  You made the treatment.  The treatment will only stay active for a short while however, it will have wiped out the protozoans that cause Ich.  I personally think your fish will be fine now that  you have identified the disease and treated it.  Good luck!
T