Big beginners problems

[yellie]

You are all very kind
I went and got myself the test kit for ammonia, nitrate and nitrite and the results are as follows:
Nitrite 0.1
Nitrate 0.0
Ammonia (between) 0.0 (and) 0.6
So I think this means my water is ok for now? I still have one surviving Platy and the fish shop told me to wait 8 days and if he has not died by then, the medicine that I have had him on, has worked and the aquaria should be ready for new fish. I was also informed to change the water max twice a week and only to change a third of the water each time. What do you think?

 

[clutterydrawer]

IF you can keep t hat platy alive, he will keep the tank cycled for you.

My advice would be to test the water every day, and do a water change if necessary to keep ammonia and nitrite under 1ppm.

once they stay consistently at 0ppm, you can add more fish.

when the tank is cycled, you only need to change 20% (1/5) of the water once a week.

 

[Angry_Platy]

Perhaps someone has mentioned this....I am not sure....

Your tank isn't cycled....in a cycled tank the ammonia will be 0, nitrite 0 and you will have low levels of nitrates (in my tank they never exceed 15ppm)....

I would monitor the levels of these everyday and do water changes everyday....this will reduce the stress of cycling on your platy.....platies are hardy fish and if it has made it this far then he should be OK. Is he still showing signs of white spot?

Another question.....what kind of filter do you have? Do youi have carbon in the filter? If you are treating the platy, you need to take the carbon out of the filter or it will remove the medication from the water.

And PLEASE PLEASE hang in there...it will be well worth it in the end....

And ask any questions you feel you need to....even if you feel dumb asking them!!

Good luck!!

 

[my_fallen_angel]

one more thing


did you raise the temperature???

when treating 'white spot' you should always raise the temp up a couple of degrees.

'white spot' cannot live in the warmer water.

 

[Angry_Platy]

one more thing


did you raise the temperature???

when treating 'white spot' you should always raise the temp up a couple of degrees.

'white spot' cannot live in the warmer water.

Ummm..ich does live in higher temps...all the higher temps do is speed up the life cycle to aid in treating and killing the parasite

 

[luxum]

Ummm..ich does live in higher temps...all the higher temps do is speed up the life cycle to aid in treating and killing the parasite

Up to a point. At temps that are very high (i beleive over 85ºF), the parasite can no longer reproduce although the temperature doesn't directly kill it. Hence, keepers of sensitive fish usually raise the temperature significantly and do small water changes every day, vacuuming the gravel to pick up the encycsted ich as it drops off the fish hosts, rather than using meds their fish don't tolerate well. With the temp so high, the ich can't reproduce and reach the free swimming stage. If you do this faithfully for 21 days you can clear the infection without using meds. Then the temp must be slowly lowered to normal.

 

[yellie]

Hi guys, I have great news, the only surviving Platy has had a baby! Just one as fare as I can tell, I was very surpriced! So my question is this, what do I need to do to keep this little one alive and make him grow strong? Also I am leaving for about a week, what can I do to keep the water condition alright while I am gone, and how do I feed them? I would ask the fish shop but by now I figure that it is more safe to ask here first.

 

[yellie]

By the way the medicine that I gave the fish seems to have worked for the surviving platy, she does not have any white spots and seem at good health.

 

[clutterydrawer]

Adult fish can live for quite a while without food, but as far as I know, fry need very regular feeding to survive. Will there be anyone at home to feed him while you are gone?

 

[yellie]

I can arrange for someone to do that if nessesary, but a friend of mine just told me that the mother fish will most likely eat its ofspring and actually now I am not sure where it has gone. It may be hiding or perhaps she already eat it. I can not believe how much there is to learn!

 

[clutterydrawer]

it's possible, a lot of fish do eat their offspring. If you're desperate to keep it alive there might be some way you could separate them...I dunno. ask in the "breeding" forum if he is still alive, you'll need some special food for him.

 

[yellie]

ok. Thanks for all your help.

 

[bigbopperuk]

Like so many others have said once you get pass the first stages,fish keeping is relaxing,fun,interesting,.i have an 85 gallon tank of tropical fish,i clean my external filter once every 2 to 3 months,and only do a nitrate test every 3 months sometimes longer.and that all i do i try not to use anything in mine,and so far no problems at all.iv had this setup for 3 years and only lost 1 fish.as for feeding i only feed mine once every 3 days,the main reason for that is feed them and then let them clean the bottom looking for more food,by the time they are done its time to feed them again.goodluck.