Need some advice!

[bccromer]

My tank has been up for about a month and is currently cycling. I just tested my water and it reads as follows.

PH - between 6.4 and 6.6
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 2
Nitrate - 30

I know it is in the cycle but is there anything I can do to help it along? Also my water has been cloudy for a few weeks. I thought it would go away further in the cycle but it hasn't. Any suggestions on what may be causing it? At the last but most important question. I think I may have ICH in my tank. I had a fish dead this morning and it had a white film over its eye. Just noticed that a few of my other fish have white spots all over them. What should I do? Thanks for the help.

Brad

 

[WILDER]

Your tank has nearly cycled, cloudy eye is due to poor water quality, if the fish look like they have been sprinkled in salt it is itch, first do a water change, then add whitespot treatment, turn temp up to 30 degrees then add salt as it helps with the whitespot and while the tank is still cycling.

 

[bccromer]

I just did a 10% water change before I tested the water. Do I need to do more? Yes the fish look like they have been sprinkled in salt. I will get some white spot treatment today and start it. Only problem is I have 9 corydoras in my tank and can't add salt. Won't it burn their skin? Also what is 30 degrees C equal to in F?

Brad

 

[WILDER]

Test your nitrite reading and nitrate, as high nitrates are meant to interfer with the treatment, I would go with another water change if the nitrates are high, turn temp up to 30c and 83f, don't add salt if you don't feel safe using it, but it does help with the treatment.Also don't forget to remove black carbon from the tank.

 

[bccromer]

One other question. I have been thinking about getting rid of my guppies and stocking with some other fish. My corydoras seem to be fine. Would it be best for me to go ahead and get rid of the guppies, treat the tank still, then get my new fish?

Brad

 

[WILDER]

You can't get rid of the guppys at the moment as they will have itch, and as for new fish you will have to wait at least 4 weeks before you can even think of getting more fish, as your tank hasn't cycled yet and their is the itch to get rid of and than a period to make sure it has gone completely, hope this helps, good luck.

 

[bccromer]

This has helped greatly. You said cloudy eye is a sign of poor water quality. What are some things I could do to change this? I do weekly water changes already. Any suggestions?

Brad

 

[WILDER]

Clody eye is due to poor water quality, stress, irration, and old age, probably with the tank cycling that has caused this, water changes are good if you do change some water make sure you add the right amount of medication back to the amount of water you have changed.

 

[Erised]

How much water do you change every week? Idealy you should do a 50% water change, or 2x 25% water changes. I think that during the cycling period it really cant hurt doing more than 1 water change a week.

You're right about not adding salt with corries, it will indeed burn their skin

You should start treating for ich the way it says on the box. You can not can rid of your guppies now because they will more than likely have ich as well. Once the ich has cleared up completely you're best of waiting another 3 weeks before adding any other fish seeing as adding fish earlier increases the risk of the ich returning again

 

[bccromer]

Not saying I am going to, but if I did get new fish, since I am treating for ICH shouldn't that make them ok? I know they get stressed when being moved and that can make them more prone to disease, but shouldn't the treatment prevent that? Also is ICH something that occurs a lot in tanks. Should I be prepared to see this every month? Also is there anything that would help prevent?

Brad

 

[Discomafia]

Why should the ich treatment "help" the new fish who has no ich? It's just stressed, and firstly you should get your water back to normal, and then when it's alright, then all you have to do to reduce stress is slowly acclimatise the water from your tank and the bag the fish in. Do it over a period of 1/2 hr, and then leave the lights off in your tank for a while, and you're set...

Ich is a sign of stress and poor water quality among other things. If noticed in early stages, can be easily cured by raising temp. to at least 86F and treating with medicine. Salt too but that's a no-no if you've got plecs or cories. Continue treatment for 5-7 days after last signs of the symptoms can be noticed, i.e white spots on fish or fish scratching the glass w/ their bodies. I'd recommend waiting a month at least to make sure that there's no reoccurence of the disease before introducing new fish.

How to prevent? Maintain good water quality, and check your tank for nitrite and ammonia frequently, as you are still cycling your tank. For help on the guppy go to the Emergencies forum they've got a pinned link on the A-Z of diseases that should help you some... Therefore, no, you shouldn't be preparing to see ich in your tanks every month.

Oh yea, and QT all new fish for 2 weeks if possible.

 

[bccromer]

What is the best brand of treatment for ICH? I went to Petsmart and they gave me Maracide by Mardel. It is blue. Says add 2 capfuls per 10 gallons. Treat on days 1, 3, and 5. The bottle I got isn't going to last but 2 of the days, so I will try something else after that if you guys recommend a different brand.

Brad

 

[Discomafia]

Jungle Ick Guard worked for me. Depends on where you're staying and what's available in your area. I bought that from my local Walmart.