2 Week Tank - Is It Ich?

[Hikergrl]

Hello,
Im new here, I have a 29g that I've added 2 dwarf red gouramis, 3 tiger barbs, 3 green tiger barbs.
In the last week Ive had 2 tigers die (replaced 1) 1 green tiger die.    Testing daily and the only thing high is the hardness.   I noticed yesterday one of the tigers is 'twitching', not eating, hiding, and mostly vertical.
I began LIFEGUARD treatment yesterday and removed the carbon filter.   All the other fish seem OK  (OH the sickly tiger does have 1 white spot on his face...no other spots, nor do any of the other fish have spots)
 
I also did a PWC yesterday of about 15%.
 
Am I doing the right things?  should I do a PWC daily?   
Thank you all for sharing your knowledge!!!

 

[snork6]

Has the tank been cycled?

 

[Hikergrl]

I was told to add the fish to start the cycle, so no it has not cycled.  Wouldnt I see a spike in ammonia?
TIA

 

[snork6]

who ever told you that was wrong! try reading this http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/421488-cycling-your-new-fresh-water-tank-read-this-first
 
and find homes for your fish or they will die or you could try to cycle with them but that is hard.

 

[Hikergrl]

I'll try that.    Thank you for your advice

 

[AshleyNZ]

From the description it may not be ich ( I'm not 100% sure - personally I would stop the treatment, or just QT the fish showing the symptoms) 
Yes, you can use fish to cycle an aquarium - usually not recommended as it can cause harm to the fish
What are you using to test the water? Strips? Liquid? Just wondering - as strips are most often inaccurate ! 
An uncycled tank definitely would cause fish to die and become weak and prone to illness. Hopefuly after reading the link above you will understand how the cycle works. Also - don't buy products to speed it up. The most important part of the cycle is time. You'll get there eventually - and your fish will thank you!
Good luck!

 

[Hikergrl]

Thanks Fish Crazy, I use the drops to test exactly as you stated, they are more accurate.  I do understand you can cycle a tank fishless, and beside some folks opinion that is not the ONLY way to do so!  
Actually coming home this evening the one fish I was concerned about is out of hiding and appears to be better, maybe he knew I wrote you guys
 
thank you!

 

[Ch4rlie]

I do understand you can cycle a tank fishless, and beside some folks opinion that is not the ONLY way to do so! 

 
Whilst this may be true, it is not recommended to do a fish in cycle if it can be easily avoided.
 
Nobody has said fishless is the only way to cycle. It IS the most popular method, since any mistakes made, then there will be no fish to suffer from your mistakes.
 
Remember, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are all toxic to fish in varying degrees, whilst small amounts short term may not impact a lot on them, but repeated exposure to any of these will have a negative effect. High amounts of any of these will certainly do so, usually fatal

 
If you do HAVE to do a fish in cycle if you cannot or are not willing to rehome your stocking, I recommend reading these articles, they will help to minimise any impact on your stocking.
 
Fish in Cycle Part I
 
Fish in Cycle Part II
 
And one last thing, I will go slightly against AshleyNZ's advice about not adding anything to speed up the cycle process.
 
I can safely recommend adding Dr Tim's One and Only Nitrfying Bacteria, as long as instructions on the bottle is followed to the letter, this will jump start you cycle. Second choice would be Tetra Safe Start, this has also proven to work also in jump starting a cyce but its not 100%. And lastly, if you can add any mature media from a friend or family member's tank this would be of great benefit as these will likely contain the main bacterias you need, if you do have access to mature media, do bear in mind not to take more than a third of their media from their filter and replace what you have taken with new media.
 
 
Good luck in whichever method you choose to cycle your tank.
 
By the way, I concur with what has been said about not adding any more treatments for diseases/illnesses, this can have a detrimental effect especially if its the wrong treatment / diagnosis.
 
If you can provide a pic of your ailing fish, and exact water parameters to date, then we may be able to help a little more.

 

[snork6]

 

I do understand you can cycle a tank fishless, and beside some folks opinion that is not the ONLY way to do so! 

 
Whilst this may be true, it is not recommended to do a fish in cycle if it can be easily avoided.
 
Nobody has said fishless is the only way to cycle. It IS the most popular method, since any mistakes made, then there will be no fish to suffer from your mistakes.
 
 
 

Thank you Charlie! I felt like I was being attacked for saying that a fish cycle was bad. It can hurt the fish but I never said it was the only way.
 
 

 you could try to cycle with the fish but that is hard.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

The reason most fish keepers should never opt to do a fish in cycle is they almost always harm or kill fish. The reason is they have not been in the hobby long enough to understand all that is involved with pulling off a successful fish in cycle.
 
You do not have ich. What your problem is lines up perfectly with it being ammonia related. That is normally what kills/harms fish during most fish in cycles.
 
Finally, I am not trying to insult, belittle you or in any way make any judgements about you as a person, but I must tell you that I believe you are likely not one of the people with the sufficient experience and knowledge to pull off a fish in cycle safely. Please try to rehome your fish temporarily and do a fishless cycle. I am happy to give you any help you need with the fishless cycling part.

 

[snork6]

 Finally, I am not trying to insult, belittle you or in any way make any judgements about you as a person, but I must tell you that I believe you are likely not one of the people with the sufficient experience and knowledge to pull off a fish in cycle safely. Please try to rehome your fish temporarily and do a fishless cycle. I am happy to give you any help you need with the fishless cycling part.

I agre with that statement if you need any thing fell free to ask me or TwoTankAmin