High Nitrites

[eskieluvr]

I'm the person with the fish with HITH. The nitrites in the tank continue to sky rocket, even with water changes. He's in a 50 gallon aquarium, with a penguin biowheel filter. I have been adding "melafix" to his tank, would this product cause high readings? I'm going to do another water change right now.

Amanda

 

[wetwetwet]

High Amanda,

Do you have any other readings (eg ammonia?)

Do you know why you have high nitrites? - are you still cycling?

Sorry I dont remember another post - what fish is affected?

To the best of my knowledge Melafix is completly natural and shouldn't have any affect on your nitrite - in fact I have had great success with this product for conditions like fin rot - but would maybe think something a bit stronger for a disease like HITH.....

 

[eskieluvr]

The ammonia reading was normal. The fish is an oscar. The tank has been set up for over a year. I had to go to work right when I did the nitrite test, so I asked my boyfriend to do a big water change for me. I'll test again when I get home. What does one do when nitirite levels are so high? The test tube was so purple, it didn't match any of the colors on the card. This will be the 2nd water change this week. 2 last week, and at least once a week for the last 6 weeks.

amanda

 

[eskieluvr]

Per the HITH, I added aquarium salt to his tank, have been doing water changes. I've been adding more variety to his food. I have metranidozle to treat him with, but have been successful with the melafix so far. It was suggested to me on another board. As soon as his treatment of melafix is up, I plan to treat with metranidozole if I can't find the medicated food talked of in this forum.

amanda

 

[impur]

Oscars are very prone to HITH. I hope he comes out ok, they are great fish. Keep us posted. Some info on HITH just in case you need it:

The external form of Hexamita is referred to as: Hole in the head disease. This disease affects susceptible fish such as discus, angelfish and oscars, which seem to be the most popular carriers of this problem (note that this disease may affect all fish). This disease usually starts out as a small "pimple" on the head, and as the condition proceeds in severity, ends up to be a very large sore causing lesions in the epithelium and... eventually ending up in death of the fish. Sometimes you are able to see small white nodules, sticking up out of the sore. The lateral line is also another area where this parasitic protozoan can be seen.
This disease is best treated early on with Metronidazole. If the sore(s) are extremely severe, you may also want to use an anti-fungal treatment like Forma-Green in the water to prevent a secondary infection from occuring ( In this case you would mix the Metronidazole in the food at 1 teaspoon per pound of feed, and use the Forma-Green in the water at 1 drop per gallon). Treat the fish for a minimum of 10 days with the Metronidazole.

The internal form of Hexamita are flagellated protozoans found in the gastrointestinal tract of a wide variety of fishes. They frequently infect discus. Spironucleus may be a distinct organism from Hexamita, as it is longer and possibly more sinuous, but for practical purposes, both organisms appear to cause similar clinical responses. These parasites are very motile. The flagella are usually not easily seen. Many times infections are not apparent. In angelfish, discus and gouramis, the disease is characterized by poor condition, weight loss and death. The fish may also show excessive nervousness, turn dark in color, and hide in the aquarium.

Again, Metronidazole is the drug of choice for this disease. Use 1 teaspoon per pound of food (frozen food is preferred). Thaw the food and mix the Metronidazole into it. Return the food to the freezer, and once frozen you are ready to start the treatment. Feed it to the fish once a day for a minimum of ten days. Do not feed the fish any other foods during this treatment. The treatment may take longer according to the condition of the fish, and the severity of the disease.

 

[wetwetwet]

I have no exprience with this disease but it sounds like the metranidozole is to medicate the food and if this is the case then I don't see why it couldn't be used in conjunction witth melafix - can you e-mail melafix and ask the question?

-impur the info sounds good - was it from a reliable source?

From what I've heard it is a very difficult disease to cure though I'm sure someone here must have some experience with treating HITH

 

[wetwetwet]

O - one other thing there must be a reason for your elevated nitrIte readings - have you any idea what might be causing them?

 

[eskieluvr]

Perhaps the new filter? I also vaccum the gravel each time I do a water change because More is a VERY VERY dirty fish. Perhaps too much gravel washing, and the new filter? Any ideas on how to does metranidozole in small doses? Every thing I have seen was like in pond size doses.

amanda

 

[impur]

Most definately the new filter. By replacing the filter you got rid of the majority of your beneficial bacteria. If you change the filter, always use the filter media in the new filter. Or if you are referring to the replacable cartridge, you should only clean it off in a bucket of tank water and reuse it. The bacteria grow in the filter the most, as that is where the most oxygen is.

wetwetwet: that is taken from a page and described by a doctor. I am looking the the link for you. I have been reading more on this disease, and it seems that there are A LOT of varying opinions on its cause and also curing it. I'll let ya know what i find.

Here ya go: http/www.fishyfarmacy.com/

 

[eskieluvr]

I still have the old catridges. Could I put them inplace of the new filter, or have they been sitting out too long?

amanda

 

[impur]

If they have been sitting out and dried out, they won't help. Remove the carbon in the new one though, make sure there is no carbon.

 

[eskieluvr]

No carbon ever, or just while he is healing? I read one link that said carbon could be linked to HITH. I have diamond blend that I use in my 100 gallon. The filter has an extra place to put extra media. Should I use that instead?

 

[wetwetwet]

No carbon while using medications - it will remove them from the water....

 

[wetwetwet]

I'm not familiar with the biowheels (seen them though) as they're not big this side of the pond

If you replaced your old filter with this and just removed the old filter ie swapped them - then you may well have started another cycle by removing the majority of the benificial bacteria. It would have been better to run the two in conjunction for a while...

Did the problems start when you changed filters?

 

[eskieluvr]

No actually, I got the new filter after the problem had started. Stupid I see now, but I wanted to add a biowheel filtration, and thought I was doing a good thing. I have other established tanks, should I take gravel from their tanks and move them to the other tank?