FishProfiles.com Message Forums

When I first set my tank up a couple weeks ago, I put a vitamin "pyramid" in the tank and it dissolved... but as the second week went on, I noticed that one of the tiger barbs colors was fading. I placed a second pyramid in yesterday (while I am also treating for Ick, day 3 today) and I noticed that today both Tiger Barbs seem to have gotten much more vibrant in color. The orange has returned to their fins, their stripes have darkened, etc.

Do Vitamins have an impact on fish color or is it more a function of water chem or the Ick meds? The tank is seemingly still cycling...

I will not add any thing to this I hope this will help you.

This information was supplied with the permission of Sera WWW.sera.de

VITAMINS
This is a generic term from entirely different active substances, which have nothing in common at all. They possess many different functions and each required amount differs strongly from the other. A very important point is that the lack of one vitamin cannot compensate with an oversupply of another vitamin.
Deficiency of nearly every vitamin, furthermore leads to the lack of appetite and growth disturbances, also apathetic ill looking fish is a very good indication of the lack of vitamins

Vitamin B1
Is necessary to obtain energy from carbohydrates in the food.
Deficiency leads to movement troubles and cramps.

Vitamin B2
Plays an important role in the digestion of protein.
Deficiency symptoms are bleeding sores on the skin and disturbances of the nervous system.

Vitamin B5 (vitamin PP)
Is important for the build up of various enzymes.
Deficiency is gill problems.

Vitamin B6
This is important for the nervous system.
Deficiency causes damages to the nervous system and ultimately to movement troubles.

Vitamin B12
Is necessary for the digestive organs and the build up of the red blood cells (haemoglobin).
Deficiency leads to anaemia and results in apathy and growth disturbances.

Vitamin C
This is important for the skeletal build up. Also, it plays an important role for improving the resistance of disease.
Deficiency leads to gill deformity and e to many diseases.

Vitamin D3
This regulates the intake of calcium and phosphorus also it is extremely important for skeleton growth.
Deficiency leads to (rachitis) a bone deformity.

Vitamin E
Stimulates the production of fertility hormones. Also it stabilizes other vitamins and the valuable fatty acids in foods.
Deficiency symptoms are infertility and liver fattening.

Vitamin H (biotin)
This is a growth factor.
Deficiency causes lack of appetite and cramps.

Vitamin K
Improves blood coagulation after injuries.
Deficiency will lead to problems to skin healing and to liver damage.

Choline
This is necessary for the digestion of fat.
Deficiency will lead to, among other symptoms, fattening of the liver.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

To be honest in your situation those fish vitamins probably arent really required, barbs are quite robust in their nutritional needs, and most quality flakes they quite willingly eat already have vitamins added. Adding vitamins via food is probably way more effective than putting it in the water. Personally I think vitamins added to the water are a bit of a gimmick, and you have to ask yourself how the vitamins are going to get into the fish, since they dont drink and only take stuff into the stomach when theyre feeding anyway. Most vitamins are not skin absorbable, and degrade quickly on contact with warm aquarium water.

Those frozen fish tablet foods are probably better, but even then gawd knows how people expect the b complex vitamins to survive freezing.

Probably all thats happened is the beta carotene additives, which generally are stable in water and are skin absorbable, (used in the drinks industry in fruit juices and squashes) got through, and thats pretty much it.

High vitamin levels in the water might however provide sustenance for microfauna like protozoa for example, and having high numbers of those is not generally advised.

Such gimmicks are commonplace unfortunately, and to be honest im not surprised people buy them. Mexican hat for a green iguana anyone? They just love those.

Pet industry takes the mickey sometimes. All claims and no proof.

For real?? Well, they got me... lol I hate stuff like that. At least I know not to buy any more...