5gal Planted / Betta Journal

[mlawson]

Don't worry, we all make mistakes in fishkeeping.

 

[holokai]

Well, good news - The spots are reduced in Number, and reduced in size. All three Kuhlis are eating like horses. I decided not to do a water change today(Day 3) because of this. The temp is about 85F, so I'm off by one degree. I've dosed 3 drops of the Medicine each day, despite the suggested dose of 5 drops for a tank my size. I Was worried that the loach family seems to be more susceptible to the meds than most fish.

Anyhow, I'm going to alter my plan a bit, by starting to slowly lower the temperature tomorrow. I really don't like keeping them at 85F. I will do the 50% water change, as well as dose two more times with the Meds. I think after that, the ich should be taken care of.

Stats:
PH - 8.0
Nitrate - 2.5ppm
Nitrite - 0.0ppm
Ammonia - .12ppm

Here's some long over due pics (taken today).

One of the kuhlis has taken to the Anacharis and likes to hunt through it, like a snake in the trees.

Full Tank shot. You can see the Vallisnaria and Anacharis that I have added in the back. They are over grown, but for now, while the tank appears to be cycling, I will leave them like that. You can see the Java Fern in the back has multiple new plants growing off of it. In fact, when I got it, only one leaf had a new plant, now almost all the leaves do.

It's still planted in in the substrate, as I've been soaking another piece of wood to attach them to. I would have added it Monday, but I came in to find my fish sick. No need to stress them out more.

 

[mlawson]

Tanks looking good

Yes, you were right to add a smaller dose of the medicastion with the loaches, most products say to add half a dose. I hope they recover from the ich

Mike

 

[holokai]

Well, the loaches are through the worst, I think. They have no white spots on them. I treated the tank with the ich meds for 5 days. YES!

I do seem to have a snail infestation now though. I'm not sure if they are good or bad, but there's a lot. In fact, several have crawled too close to the filter outflow and are now getting tossed about in the water column. I don't see them so much on plants, as much as I do on the glass and substrate. They seem to be eating the slight amount of algae I have growing, so this makes me think they might be beneficial.

My Java Fern looks like a pin cushion, from all the new roots growing out of the leaves. My understanding is that when these "baby" plants are ready, they will detach and float around until they attach to something. If this is the case, I'm about to have a java Fern tank. I'm not sure what to do at this point.

Anyhow, all in all I'm pleased with the current state of the tank. The mild algae growth has me concerned, but I think it's inevitable to have a TINY amount. I'll post tank stats when I get them this afternoon.

- Chris

 

[mlawson]

Well, the loaches are through the worst, I think. They have no white spots on them. I treated the tank with the ich meds for 5 days. YES!

Well done, I'm glad they're better, must be a big relief!

I do seem to have a snail infestation now though. I'm not sure if they are good or bad, but there's a lot. In fact, several have crawled too close to the filter outflow and are now getting tossed about in the water column. I don't see them so much on plants, as much as I do on the glass and substrate. They seem to be eating the slight amount of algae I have growing, so this makes me think they might be beneficial.

The snails should not eat the plants, only algae and detritus, they could be beneficial, you might also find that your loaches develop a taste for them which could be connvinient.

My Java Fern looks like a pin cushion, from all the new roots growing out of the leaves. My understanding is that when these "baby" plants are ready, they will detach and float around until they attach to something. If this is the case, I'm about to have a java Fern tank. I'm not sure what to do at this point.

Yes, Java fern propagates via new plantlets forming from the tips of the leaves. You will find once they've started they could produce loads. It is best to wait until the plantlets detatch on their own rather than detatching them yourself, this means the plantlests have had the best possible growth. If you don't want loads of Java fern then you could give to friends or your LFS.

Anyhow, all in all I'm pleased with the current state of the tank. The mild algae growth has me concerned, but I think it's inevitable to have a TINY amount. I'll post tank stats when I get them this afternoon.

Sounds good, yes it is almost inevitable to have some algae but I'm sure it wont be a big problem. It's good to hear your pleased with your tank.

Mike