FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Hi there.

Sorry for the long post but I thought i'd come for some advice.

Im new to this hobby and recently purchased a 30L Bio-orb tank. I know not great but i'm starting.

I did all the water cycling etc before adding 3 x Neon Tetras and 1 clown pleco a month ago.

I waited a month and then purchased 2 more Neon Tetras, 2 red robin gurami's and 1 siamese fighter (male) two days ago.

I noticed after 24 hours that the Fighter has developed what appears to be white spot.

He's lethargic, scratching on rocks and looks loke he's covered in white spots. I have treated the tank with a dose of white-spot control to the correct dosage (4ml).

Whilst at the store i bought a general test kit. results as follows:

PH test = 7.6 (and more?)
Nitrate = 10 PPM
Amonia = 0.025 PPM
Nitrite = 0.25 PPM
High Range PH = 8.0.

Are these figures (taking into consideration tank, age etc) ok or do I need to alter habits/feeds/water additives etc or do I just have a issue with a newly added fish.

I would appreciate any help, general tips whatever. I just want to keep them right.

Thanks in advance (and sorry to jump into your forum without posting hi before - im new but will return to help other newbies).

Chris aka Colt45

Without a picture I would have to guess it to be ICH. a very common problem and easy to treat. It's brought on by stress on the fish or poor water quality. That stress could be anything, moving to a new tank, get harassed by other fish, Water Changes, you get the point. Anyway you should treat ASAP. I posting a link to the tank hospital here with the posting of ich. read trough it and you find all you need to know about ich treatment.http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/threads/33304.1.htm?15#

I also see the water readings: they seem to be out of whack a little there. The nitrate might be caused because of the addition on the new fish. The pH you need to check what the pH level is from the tap. You have the tank listed as 7.6 and up, that's not good neon tetras are sensitive to pH. How long did you wait before put the fish in because cycling can take up to 8 weeks. I know it hard to have an empty tank setting there. It called "new tank syndrome". The nitrate at 10ppm is not bad but you should check it daily if it gets to high do a PWC. You could add some some of product Cycle or Bio-sphere. Now that the tank is housing fish.

If the pH from the tap is high you can treat it with buffers or use CO2 the drive it down, but that's is costly.

Here are the buffers I use in my smaller tanks. Here in Miami were the water come in at 8.9.
http://www.petsolutions.com/Neutral+Regulator-I-10103060-I-C-10394-C-.aspx

http://www.kentmarine.com/freshwater/buffers-and-ph/neutral-controller.htm

Your going to need to fix you water problem and the ICH problem. It is my guess that you were not completely cycled and the fish you put in a very sensitive to it causing stress and a ICH out break.

Welcome to the World of Fish Keeping. I'm not recommending any stores to purchase the links are only for the info.


Djrichie
"Don't Panic"

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams

Thanks for the quick reply.

Yer, new tank syndrome it may be but now I have one sick fish.

The fighter is supporting his weight on the heater as if he is lazy etc.

I have increased the temp a little = now at 25.5c.

Ill check the link. The tank has been treated, but should i add more doses. Im using King British White Spot Control.

A little more info on the numbers would be appreciated.

Follow the bottle instructions, it is medication and you can KILL your fish. Always do a PWC before treating again. Do you remove the carbon from filter, if not it will absorb the meds. You only have on sick fish now but untreated you will have more. Here a link on ich: Cation turn down your speaker unless you like Madonna

Djrichie
"Don't Panic"

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams

Hi,
Welcome to Fish Profiles!

In looking at your posted water chemistries, it would
appear that the tank has not yet fully cycled. We consider
a tank fully cycled when there is no detectable Ammonia or
Nitrite. The fact that you have some of each, and a
nitrate of only ten, suggests that the bacteria colonies
are still growing to meet the waste products of the current
fish.
If you doubt the readings that you are getting at home,
I'd suggest that you take a clean water sample to your LFS
and ask them to test it. If you both get the same results
then you can assume things are on track and alright.

You might want to review information on acclimating fish
to their new homes. For the Betta to have Ich suggests
one of two things. Either it had it and you just did not
notice it when you bought it, or you rushed things and
stressed the fish. Now that it is active in your tank,
you need to increase the temperature (read the medication)
increase the air stone air output, and dose the tank for
the full period of time that they recommend. The only
time Ich can be killed is the brief time it is swimming
around looking for a host (a fish) to attach itself to.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

May I add that you said that you waited it to cycle for a month? Did you use ammonia/fish/cycling product to cycle it? If not, you wasted all that time for nothing. The ammonia and nitrIte converting bacteria(aerobic and anerobic) need ammonia and nitrite to start the famous cycle. Also, the ich might be caused by stress, flucuations(spelling?), or even it may be picked on. For the whitespot control, what is the main/active ingredient in there? Dont use methylene blue, as it may harm the bacterial colonies, and you need them dearly at the stage you are at!

The pH is as stated earlier, the neons need a lower pH. If you dont want to buy the chemicals(you should, as they are buffers) you could just add peat moss.

If you added the 2 neons, gouramis, and the betta all at once, that will cause it to cycle again, and some fish will die. It also seems a little crowded, assuming you dont have any live plants to help it. But its a good thing you reported this earlier, so you will now have to keep track of the ammonia, etc. levels.

PS: WELCOME TO FISH PROFILES

><> ~=!Vote Today!=~ <><
-----> View My Dragons <-----

Hi there.

Thanks for your responses.

Unfortunately the betta did not make it.

I also lost one of the gurramis whicjh leaves me with 5 neon tetras, 1 pleco clown and 1 red gurrami.

I have three live plants in the tank and the water is now showing no traces of the above. The water is crystal clear, and beleive it or not, none of the others are showing any "ich".

Ill keep to these numbers for now and keep monitoring the water quality etc.

Once again, many thanks for all your help.

"Cant wait for the next BIGGER tank"

Sorry for your loss. I would wait little longer and keep checking those numbers neon's are sensitive to pH and because of farm breeding and inbreeding of the fish. (something I learned from Longhairgit) they are weak and parish easley. However, when you numbers are right get yourself some cycle or biosphere and add you fish slowly a couple at a time (a week or so in between) and add the cycle. This will help with the Mini-cycle that occurs when you add new fish. the bio-system has to catch up with the waste, they are naturally balanced that way. Isn't mother nature a wonderful thing. Will this a good place to find answers to your problems.

Djrichie
"Don't Panic"

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams