My Oscars Have HITH!!!!

[musichead707]

I have 2 Oscars in a 75 Gallon, And in the past 3 months or so they started to get these small holes, at first i thought it was old age and normal, but the holes kept getting bigger and deeper. I read that sometimes carbon is thought to be the culprut, so took that out of my magnum 350 and put in Filter floss, but they just kept getting worse, they have also always fought in the past, lip locking and beating each other up, you can see some of this on from the pics below signs of fighting. I also have been doing oce a week 35% water changes, which i have never done in the past . I also heard that melafix is a good medicine. Can someone please help me with this, what more should i do. I think they have just been fed up with the tight space lately, and in two months there going to go in to a huge 240 Gallon, and i really want them to make it. Here are the pics, just ask if you need more.

 

[xXMrBonesXx]

there's a pinned topic on HITH, try giving that a read im not sure if theres a treatment plan in it but i've never owned an oscar so i have no clue how to treat it, you could try googling too, hope they get better

 

[juliethegr8t]

Eek, that isn't looking good. You've got to get some HITH treatment immediately. The most effective stuff is medicated food, so if they are still eating, get some meds like Hex-A-Mit by Aquatronics and mix that with some frozen food. You'll also need to do some big water changes within a few days with this medicine, though it's good stuff and can work. I wish you the best.

 

[musichead707]

Im wondering i posted this same post at other sites and came up with some different medications, im just confused on which to get, Metronidazole, Hex-A-Mit, Melafix, Which one is best or a combination?

 

[Vip]

Ive had HITH 2 times before and the best way to get rid of it fast is by doing 20% water changes everyday for at least 2 weeks.
You are going to have to get a better filter as well because HITH come from very poor water.
I have a JEBO 835 Canister running my one and i had to go and buy a AC500 for it as well, now i have no problems with HITH.
If you dont want to spend cash on meds then start the water changes today and also buy a extra filter for your tank because it WILL stunt there growth.

 

[musichead707]

Actually, i dont think its the filters fault, its poor management due to my pets stores directions, petsmart dont know anything, I do water changes about once a month, and just now six years later the oscars start to devolope this, so i know its not from my 350 Magnum, i am thinking of getting the deluxe attachtment for it though, its a wet/dry filter that connects to the canister will that help better than medications, as long as i keep up water changes?

 

[Vip]

Ahh ok sorry about that you seem to have a good enough filter, i do 30% water changes everyweek just in case, if i was you i would just keep it up everyday untill its gone, then start a 35% water change every week.

 

[gaya]

Here is a link to someone who is supposed to know oscars very well
http/www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/...l/oscars_p2.htm
his email-trespass20@yahoo.com

 

[musichead707]

I got the test kit everything is ok except the nitrates, there bad, I did a 50% water change and then tested the water about 5 hours afterword, and the naitrates are still off the charts, I cleaned the filter also but to no avail. I have no idea what is feeding these nitrates i feed one stick of food at a time and wait till there done and then feed another stick. Then i syphon up any food that is on the bottom. If anybody has any tips on this please help, my only other thought is that its the undergravel filter thats holding all the decomposing waste. Im thinking of getting it out of there.