ich and other changes to the tank

[laboul]

Folks, I'm depressed. I had a molly die yesterday, a platy die today and two more fish that look like they're on their way out. I've corrected the ammonia problem (see previous threads) by adding ammo lock and a doing a 20% water change with good water from the lfs. But I've still got 2 fish with ich and a third that looks like it's getting popeye... aargh. I'm not even sure the two fish that died died of ich. I think one had internal parasites - it barely had a white spot on it, and the other fish had very few spots.

My water parameters are

nitrate and nitrite - both 0
ammonia - 0 (down from 0.25)
pH - 7.6 (down from 8.0)
temp - 80

Anyone have any more advice? Two remaining fish definitely have ich, there's no question about it. Should I continue with ich treatment and forget about the popeye? I have Maracyn that could treat that and it's worked great in the past but I've already been told not to mix meds. I'm afraid I'm going to lose that fish if I don't.

Would a salt bath for the three fish be out of the question? This is so frustrating. I want to do something but I've made so many changes to the tank in the past 24 hours (gravel vac to rid of cysts, new water, ammo lock) that I'm afraid that even more changes will stress them out.

Fish are the hardest pets I've ever dealt with. Whoever says they are easy is kidding themselves!

 

[WILDER]

If the really affected fish aren't scaless fish I would go with the salt bath on them,treat the popeye after the whitespot has cleared if if it's still there, it could be stress and might clear on it's own, good luck.

 

[laboul]

OK, should I do a super concentrated salt bath outside the tank or add salt slowly to the tank? I currently have 1 T per 5 gallons. How much more should be added if I add to the tank?

 

[WILDER]

Not to much as tetra's don't like to much salt I think i would stick with one tablespoon to 5gal in the tank or even less, and do a salt bath to start of with half a teaspoon to the gallon.

 

[laboul]

OK I'll try the salt bath. But I don't have tetras.

 

[laboul]

Well, I lost another fish this morning. I found her motionless and up against the filter intake! I quickly removed her and did another salt bath for the sick fish this morning but it was too much for my silver mollie, poor dear. Anyway, I still have four left: the two black mollie fry that will make it through anything, the dalmation mollie which has vastly improved from last night, and the coral platy that's doing about the same. They are the only 4 fish left I hope the coral platy will make it, it has fungus on its eyes and I still have to keep treating for ich.

 

[Jen21]

Good luck! I hope the remaining fish make it.

 

[The Mohave Kid]

I'm more or less new to this fish keeping stuff ... but not to biology.

keep up the faith .... it can be indeed frustrating to loose so many fish ... but it seems to me there is more to this story then you are able to communicate in your post ...

Why so many problems ?? .... I doubt the pH change is the cause of all your problems ... and a ammonia of .25 while not good but how long did you have this condition in your water ??

Something is off here ... my guess ... perhaps your not applying the fundementals or maybe your fish supplier is a dud ???

Good Day .... B)