I got new fish! Questions

[cowgirluntamed]

yeah big water changes to drop the ammonia and hope for the best

Um....did a 75% on both tanks. Harlequins and cories seem to be fine....but the glowlights are breathing hard. One was tail up drifting...and another is at the surface breathing hard. The rest seem to be to some extent but are more active....

 

[cowgirluntamed]

I'm really bummed out about these deaths....sucks...but...I did a bit of googling yesterday and found a pet store that looks like it has a really good aquarium section (from the pictures) that's only about 50 minutes from me. They also adopt dogs and cats out I think. But they have birds and reptiles and such too. So at least that's some good news hopefully.

 

[Colin_T]

if you have a broad spectrum medication or something with Methylene Blue in, you could treat the glolights. Methylene Blue will wipe out the filter bacteria but since they are all dying anyway you could try something.

A sulphur based medication like triple sulpha or tri sulpha might help too and won't wipe out the filter bacteria.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

if you have a broad spectrum medication or something with Methylene Blue in, you could treat the glolights. Methylene Blue will wipe out the filter bacteria but since they are all dying anyway you could try something.

A sulphur based medication like triple sulpha or tri sulpha might help too and won't wipe out the filter bacteria.

I have api general cure (metronidazole and praziquantal) and I also have api triple sulfa.

 

[Colin_T]

use the triple sulfa

 

[cowgirluntamed]

use the triple sulfa

Ok. I'll give it a try. Do I just follow the directions on the package then? It would mean not doing water changes daily. Also...can I get rid of it when the treatment is done by just doing large volume water changes? That tank is only running a sponge filter. No where to put carbon.

 

[Colin_T]

You will have to stop doing water changes while you treat but if you get ammonia or nitrite readings then do a big water change and retreat.

Just follow directions on pack, should be 1 tablet for 40 litres (10 gallons).

To work out the volume of water in the tank:
measure length x width x height in cm.
divide by 1000.
= volume in litres.

When you measure the height, measure form the top of the substrate to the top of the water.

Use the calculator / converter in the "How To Tips" at the top of the page to convert litres to gallons.

Triple sulfa is a pretty safe medication and can be used on all fish and inverts so is quite safe. Treat the tank for a week and see if it helps. If it does then stop treatment after 2 weeks and do big water changes to dilute it out.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

You will have to stop doing water changes while you treat but if you get ammonia or nitrite readings then do a big water change and retreat.

Just follow directions on pack, should be 1 tablet for 40 litres (10 gallons).

To work out the volume of water in the tank:
measure length x width x height in cm.
divide by 1000.
= volume in litres.

When you measure the height, measure form the top of the substrate to the top of the water.

Use the calculator / converter in the "How To Tips" at the top of the page to convert litres to gallons.

Triple sulfa is a pretty safe medication and can be used on all fish and inverts so is quite safe. Treat the tank for a week and see if it helps. If it does then stop treatment after 2 weeks and do big water changes to dilute it out.

Ok these are premeasured packets for 10 gallons so medicating will be easy. Thanks for all the help Colin. I'll keep you updated.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

@Colin_T

Well I do think I'm losing one glowlight at least. But the rest seems to have better colors. However I did notice actual tattered fins, not just nipped. Here is a video if you wanted to see. Hopefully the triple sulfa will help!

 

[cowgirluntamed]

2 more glowlights and 2 more harlequins..........gone...at this rate I'm only gonna have 10 cories left by the end.....it hasn't even been a week yet! That fish store opens today at 1.....maybe I will go down there if I'm not too tired after working on fencing.

 

[Colin_T]

... That fish store opens today at 1.....maybe I will go down there if I'm not too tired after working on fencing.

don't buy any fish...

 

[cowgirluntamed]

don't buy any fish...

No of course not! Just wanted to go check it out. Lol. See the quality of stock, ask questions, even take a water sample and see if they will test. Lol.


Though...this does leave me with a question....if I do lose the rest of these glowlights....(Hopefully not)....or even if some survive the 4 week quarantine....what do I do next other than a large water change before putting more in? Also, do I need to extend the quarantine period? Like...wait until they stop dying and go 4 weeks from there?

 

[Colin_T]

If the glolights stop dying then wait 4 weeks and if they are ok, move them into their new tank. Then flush the tank out and refill it before adding new fish to the tank.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

If the glolights stop dying then wait 4 weeks and if they are ok, move them into their new tank. Then flush the tank out and refill it before adding new fish to the tank.

By flushing out the tank...do you just mean lots of large water changes and maybe rinsing stuff off? Or would there be more to it?

 

[Colin_T]

drain and complete gravel clean, then refill.

If there are no live plants in the tank you can add a heap of salt and leave it salty for 24 hours then drain and refill 2 times to get rid of the salt.