High Nitrate And Gold Spots

[mata]

Only recently put fish in my tank (saturday) 1 Male Betta and 2 Dalmation Mollies, did a water test the other day and had 20-40ppm Nitrate so did a 50% water change but tested next day and no change will I have to do a few 50%s to get it down?

Also my Mollies seem to have quite a few very small gold/yellow spots on them, is this just a pigment or some kind of disese? I hope not! the betta seems to be fine.

Thanks

 

[mattlee]

nitrates at your level are perfectly fine dont worry

the yellow/gold spots if not colouration on he fish could be velvet.... are the fish flicking on the decor or substrate?

what are the results for ammonia and nitrite?

 

[mata]

Cool thats good to know, will do another water change again in the next day or two to maybe lower them a bit again.

No they seem to be swimming around fine, sometimes just sucking up at the surface and chasing each other, not hitting off the decor or substrate at all.

Ammonia is 0 and Nitrite are 0.

Thanks

 

[mattlee]

test your tap water for nitrates. mine comes out with 10ppm so without chemicals or live plantsit will never get below 10ppm, it is known to have nitrates up to 40ppm in tap water and maybe more....

 

[mata]

Il test the tap water again but when I started my Cycle it was 0.

I have ordered a pile of live plants to add to the tank at the moment its only two slate structures in it, so that should help out then.

 

[mattlee]

you will need quite a few plants to see a noticable difference. plants use up the nitrates in the water this is how it reduces the levels.

 

[mata]

Well today both of the mollies died I started treatment for Velvet on Thrusday (probably tolate) after one of the fish was looking pretty weak. They both went down hill fast tho, I used the interpret med for Slime and Velvet.

My Betta is looking fine no spots at all, and seems very at home, especially with the new plants that have gone in. Now whats my next step? I want to get more fish obviusly since I now only have teh betta in my tank. Do I put carbon in the filter? Water changes and how much? And should I wait a period of time before I add fish?

I liked the mollies I had for the 6 days I had them... but would guppies go ok with my betta? Or should I stick with Mollies? I will be getting 4 Corrys aswell.

 

[the_lock_man]

Well today both of the mollies died I started treatment for Velvet on Thrusday (probably tolate) after one of the fish was looking pretty weak. They both went down hill fast tho, I used the interpret med for Slime and Velvet.

My Betta is looking fine no spots at all, and seems very at home, especially with the new plants that have gone in. Now whats my next step? I want to get more fish obviusly since I now only have teh betta in my tank. Do I put carbon in the filter? Water changes and how much? And should I wait a period of time before I add fish?

I liked the mollies I had for the 6 days I had them... but would guppies go ok with my betta? Or should I stick with Mollies? I will be getting 4 Corrys aswell.

I believe I'm right in saying that a male Betta is likely to attack guppies, as he will mistake their tail for another male Betta.

 

[mattlee]

Well today both of the mollies died I started treatment for Velvet on Thrusday (probably tolate) after one of the fish was looking pretty weak. They both went down hill fast tho, I used the interpret med for Slime and Velvet.

My Betta is looking fine no spots at all, and seems very at home, especially with the new plants that have gone in. Now whats my next step? I want to get more fish obviusly since I now only have teh betta in my tank. Do I put carbon in the filter? Water changes and how much? And should I wait a period of time before I add fish?

I liked the mollies I had for the 6 days I had them... but would guppies go ok with my betta? Or should I stick with Mollies? I will be getting 4 Corrys aswell.

i would do plenty of water changes and substrate cleans, also add the carbon to the filter to remove any left over meds.
bettas like to hide so it will love the plants for cover keep an eye on the betta and if hes ok in a week or 2 then add the corys.
i dont think guppies are a good fish to mix with bettas. if the tank is big enough then maybe go for a few small tetras but bettas really do enjoy a solitary life....

 

[OldMan47]

I keep my betta with my endlers because he likes the company and the endlers need some fry control. He does not bother the endlers at all. I have kept bettas in community tanks since I first got some, over 50 years ago, obviously not the same ones all that time. They have always been nice peaceful members of community tanks, but I have seen a great deal of advice about keeping them away from guppies in several forums. I don't know for certain that there is not the occasional betta that is aggressive with guppies but I have just never run into it.

 

[mata]

Well having problems with my betta now Listed in the Emergency Forum here if anyone can help (has pics) Emergency Post

 

[OldMan47]

I just looked at your other thread Mata. All I saw was a snail on the sand in your tank and a betta that is swimming for all he is worth to keep up with the strong currents in your tank. He is a nice looking juvenile veil tail male.

 

[mata]

Cool maybe il try moving the direction of the pump exuast. It wasn't a snail I fished it out and it was a big poo, it just fell apart.

Thanks for that, maybe I'm just abit wary after the other two dieing so quick

Will be putting carbon in tonight to get rid of the Meds and maybe another 50% water change on Wednesday.

 

[OldMan47]

Water changes are almost always your friend so I will go along with that Mata. I never use carbon in my filters so I will cede to you on its usefulness. Please avoid any and all chemicals in your tank except dechlorinator during a water change. If you go that way and always start a treatment of any disease with a huge water change, you may be surprised at how few problems you actually have. It took me lots of years to figure out that a water change was always, yes always, a friend in treating any illness at all. I seldom ever see any disease in any of my 25 tanks but my first response to any health problems is to assume that water changes have been too small or have not been done often enough. When I make appropriate adjustments based on my assumptions, things always seem to get better fast.
Where does that leave you? If you think your fish have any problem at all, try a 50% or larger water change right away. It will be a rare case indeed where your fish don't seem to look better right away. If you have done the large water change and the fish are not noticeably improved it is soon enough to seek help with specific information in the emergencies section of the forum.

 

[mata]

Thanks for that, now I'm at the point of carbon been in since yesterday afternoon so will leave in till the weekend and see how its going then.

I have also removed all my plants, they didnt seem to be doing to good so thought I would take them out now, better to be safe than sorry... incase it was the plants that may be affecting anything. I will change to good quality fake plants and get some java moss and fern for the 'live' veriaty.

So thats a 40-50% water change done tonight but with the removing of plants my water is a bit misty, should hopefully clear soon. Will also be buying some bloodworm for the betta tomorrow, is there anything else that could be good for him?