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Please help!! I'm new to fish keeping and I have platies which are scratching/flicking but have no signs of any parasite or other symptoms. Water tests are coming up fine and water temp is 25c.
The only thing I can see is fine dust-like particles floating in the water. I've read that things like this can cause irritation but how do I remove them? There is a filter in the tank working at all times and I have tried using Nutrafin Clear which is supposed to help clump together particles...but they are still there!! Any advice would be gratefully recieved. Thank you.

Hey Dancing-shrimp,
Welcome to the site.
It worries me that they are showing signs of flicking, but if you're not seeing any signs of cycts theres little reason to treat with meds. I once had a case of ich where I didnt notice it at first glance because I was looking at the tank by roomlight, and on golden colored fish incandescent light makes the ich wash out to the point where you cant even see it...it wasnt till I turned the tank lights on that I could see the ich. Just double check closely that there arent even just one or two salt like grains.

As for clearing the water...did you give your substrate a good rinse before placing it in the tank? Sometimes you can have some particles get in and it'll take a while for it to settle. Also, are you running carbon in the filter? That will help capture some of the smaller particles. Diatom filters, while more expensive, may also be useful.

^_^[hr width='40%']"Won't you die tonight for love
Baby join me in death"~[/font]

You said "Water tests are coming up fine "
This is kind of an inconclusive thing,
as it gives us absolutely no evidence to go by.
It would be much better to post the numbers you
get off the tests.
Is your tank recently set up?
Do you know about the Nitrogen Cycle?
The fish could be flicking because of ammonia
and/or nitrItes in the water.
The dust like particles may in fact be a bacterial
bloom, which the clear water stuff wont clear at all.
Only time will clear it.
I also would refrain from using such products, as they
often do more harm than good.


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Thanks for the replies The tank has been set up since July. I washed the gravel before adding it to the tank when it was set up. Test results are: Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 25-50
I do weekly 25% water changes and I do have carbon in the filter.
I've checked and double checked for signs of anything on the fish and still can't see anything! I hate to think of them being uncomfortable because I'm doing something wrong

Hmm strange.
Well I would suggest to just be diligent
on the water changes and continue to watch
for signs of infection, illness, or parasites.
The water will probably clear on its own
after some time.


Come Play Yahtzee With Me!
http://games.atari.com
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Agreed, sure makes it frustrating though :%).

May seem like a random question, but is the tank fully covered, and are there any houseplants in the area near the tank?

We used to keep peace lillies on either side of one of the tanks in my office, when the flowers bloomed we always ended up with pollen in the water :%)!!!.

^_^[hr width='40%']"Won't you die tonight for love
Baby join me in death"~[/font]

Yeah the tank has a full hood and there are no plants around the tank area at all. It is very frustrating!! I have some baby fish in there ready to be sold on but obviously can't do that while there is a problem. I've totally run out of ideas of how to help them. The lfs are finding it puzzling too, as is a fish keeping friend...the mystery continues...

What filter are you using and have you cleaned it recently? Did you add any media to that filter that should been rinsed off thoroughly lately?

It's a Juwel tank so it's the filter that comes as part of the set up, a series of sponges...white pre-filter, carbon, nitrate removal, biological. Only the pre-filter is changed regularly and the carbon. The Nitrate sponge was recently swilled out in old tank water and put back in place.