Eight to ten hours of lighting is recommended per day. The important part is picking a schedule and sticking to it. You can buy a good automatic timer to turn the lights on/off for you for around $15.As far as the ich, you will need to medicate the fish to cure them. Do this in a quarantine tank, not in your display tank. Make sure it is ich before buying the meds.
Sometimes fungus infections will look similar to ich and do not necessarily need to be medicated.
Common Name:
Ich
Pathogen/Cause:
Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (FW)
Cryptocaryon irritans (Marine counterpart)
Physical Signs:
Distinct, sometimes slightly-raised white spots that look very similiar to grains of salt or white sand on the skin.
Behavioral Signs:
Scratching against objects (skin irritation), clamped fins, may "hang" and gasp near surface if infection reaches the gills.
Potential Treatment:
Numerous treatments: brand names include Mardel's Maracide or Coppersafe, Jungle's Ick Guard, Aquarium Pharmaceuticals' Super Ich Cure, treatments that contain formalin, etc. Take special note of warning labels; copper is not safe for invertebrate animals or plants, malachite green (ingredient in large majority) is dangerous for scaleless fish and many small tetras (halve dosage). Marine formulations slightly different. Most medications not tolerated well by corals and inverts. Best treatment for marine fish is QT, feeding garlic and use of cleaner fish/shrimp.
Other Notes:
Perhaps the most common disease of pet fish. Tends to attack stressed fish, especially with rapid temperature and pH fluctuations. Easily treatable with caution if caught in time, but may be recurrent if not treated for at least a week. Cysts live in gravel, has multiple life cycle stages, read my article for more treatment options. Water changes, raising temperature (to speed life cycle), darkening of tank, etc. all recommended. Guard for secondary infection of wounds by bacteria.Certain fish, such as gymnotoids (FW), hatchetfish (FW), batfish (SW) and tangs (SW) especially susceptible.
