Sick Molly
- Thread starter AilyNC
- Start date
Sorry another question. My filter has a cartridge in it and the aquarium came with another little box with a cartridge in it. I'm wondering if there's too much additives in the water following from previous posts.
So the filter cartridge is Ciano Water clear and protection. Is this ok to keep using?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01F7GZ1XM/?tag=
And the little black box contains Ciano Fish protection Dosator. Is this ok?
www.pond-planet.co.uk
So the filter cartridge is Ciano Water clear and protection. Is this ok to keep using?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01F7GZ1XM/?tag=
And the little black box contains Ciano Fish protection Dosator. Is this ok?
Fish Protection Dosator
The Ciano Fish Protection Dosator is an automatic aquarium dosing system for the controlled, continuous and worry free addition of Ciano’s Fish Protection additive, over a 60 day period without any intervention. Ciano's Fish Protection solution protects the gills, skin and fins of fish via plant...
www.pond-planet.co.uk
I have looked at those 2.
The fish protection dosator
The Water Clear and Protection cartridge - they don't say what's in it, only that it is chemical filtration. The fact that they say to remove it when adding medication to the tank means that it contains carbon or zeolite or a mixture of them. Zeolite has no place in a tank, in my opinion, as it removes ammonia and starves the filter bacteria. Carbon is not needed full time. it's main use is to remove medication after treatment has finished. (If you ever break open one of these, if it contains black bits, that's carbon; if it contains white bits, that's zeolite)
You can continue using this if you want, but don't bother replacing it. Both carbon and zeolite get full and stop working but are home to the bacteria.
If this was my tank, I would replace both catridges. I would get some sponge, any make, and cut it to the size and shape as the cartridges and use that instead. But only one at a time, with a month between. Replacing the cartridges means throwing away some bacteria as well, so changing one at a time means only a few bacteria are lost each time. Sponges just need to be washed in old water taken out at a water change, they last for years.
The fish protection dosator
This sounds suspiciously like aloe vera. Even if it isn't I wouldn't use it. Fish don't need help to have a slime coat, they do it by themselves. A lot of these 'natural' things that are claimed to stimulate the slime coat also coat the gills. I wouldn't use it.
The Water Clear and Protection cartridge - they don't say what's in it, only that it is chemical filtration. The fact that they say to remove it when adding medication to the tank means that it contains carbon or zeolite or a mixture of them. Zeolite has no place in a tank, in my opinion, as it removes ammonia and starves the filter bacteria. Carbon is not needed full time. it's main use is to remove medication after treatment has finished. (If you ever break open one of these, if it contains black bits, that's carbon; if it contains white bits, that's zeolite)
You can continue using this if you want, but don't bother replacing it. Both carbon and zeolite get full and stop working but are home to the bacteria.
If this was my tank, I would replace both catridges. I would get some sponge, any make, and cut it to the size and shape as the cartridges and use that instead. But only one at a time, with a month between. Replacing the cartridges means throwing away some bacteria as well, so changing one at a time means only a few bacteria are lost each time. Sponges just need to be washed in old water taken out at a water change, they last for years.
Forgot to ask - the filter manual says there's supposed to be some foam in there as well, right at the bottom. Have you got this foam?
The manual shows - foam at the bottom, a biobact cartridge next, and a water clear cartridge on top of that.
The manual shows - foam at the bottom, a biobact cartridge next, and a water clear cartridge on top of that.
Yes there's foam
That's fine. If you do decide to change the cartridges for more sponge/foam (one at a time) you have more media to hold bacteria.
Cool.
Just back from LFS. He said I'll do more damage than good by the 74% water change. Insists the fish just die and as I followed his directions setting up and stocking tank it's nothing to do with that. Maybe I overfed them.
Also that my two Brittle nose Plecos won't outgrow the tank. They rarely grow to 5 inches and at 3 inches both will be fine in tank.
Anyway... I've decided not to take his advice. Once water issue is fixed I will return the Plecos to the shop. It's not nice if they won't have enough room.
On the plants he said don't get floating plants they'll overfill tank and be nightmare and block light for other plants.
I managed to get an Anubis plant. He was reluctant as he reckons if I change too much in the tank I'll lose more fish.
His advise is only do 20% weekly water changes.
I think I'll look online for sponge & plants because it's not worth debating with him.
Just back from LFS. He said I'll do more damage than good by the 74% water change. Insists the fish just die and as I followed his directions setting up and stocking tank it's nothing to do with that. Maybe I overfed them.
Also that my two Brittle nose Plecos won't outgrow the tank. They rarely grow to 5 inches and at 3 inches both will be fine in tank.
Anyway... I've decided not to take his advice. Once water issue is fixed I will return the Plecos to the shop. It's not nice if they won't have enough room.
On the plants he said don't get floating plants they'll overfill tank and be nightmare and block light for other plants.
I managed to get an Anubis plant. He was reluctant as he reckons if I change too much in the tank I'll lose more fish.
His advise is only do 20% weekly water changes.
I think I'll look online for sponge & plants because it's not worth debating with him.
That 75% water change likely stopped your fish from dying. And there's an easy solution when water plants propagate too much... you just pick a few away from the surface of the water. I throw away handfuls every month. But they're also great nitrate absorbers, and plants like the anubius you picked out don't need high light levels anyway. And he thinks adding an anubius plant to a tank is a big change that will kill fish?? That dude is a nutter, he's tapped in the head and giving you terrible advice. I'd find a new fish shop I think or shop online.
You will be able to do smaller weekly water changes in time, once the tank is fully cycled and it's not overstocked. Most of us do around 50% weekly, depending on stock and personal preference. 75% was a bigger change I suggested because it sounds like your molly died from ammonia poisoning. It burns their gills and makes it hard for them to breathe, and changing that much water would reduce the ammonia and nitrate levels a good amount for the remaining fish. It's even possible to do 100% water changes, if your source water is the same as your tank water source, and it's temperature matched and conditioned.
I'm sorry, I forget, do you have a water testing kit? That reads ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?
Oh yeah defo not going back there again. Will get what I can online and if we get other fish we'll try go to the other LFS.
My husband was just saying we could get a bigger tank in a few months and maybe use this tank for a Betta. He doesn't wanna give up the Plecos and also sees how obsessed I am haha
I'm just waiting for the NH3/NH4+ test
My husband was just saying we could get a bigger tank in a few months and maybe use this tank for a Betta. He doesn't wanna give up the Plecos and also sees how obsessed I am haha
I'm just waiting for the NH3/NH4+ test
Ammonia is fine but a water change is needed for that nitrite level.
The anubias - don't plant it in the substrate. It is one of the plants which has a rhizome - the thick thing that the leaves grow out of. If that is under the substrate it will rot. It is usually grown attached to decor - and decor where it will fit. Tie it on with sewing thread till it clings by itself. Floating plants are needed with anubias or the leaves will get covered in algae. Take it from someone who knows. Since I got water sprite, mine haven't had nearly so much algae.
The anubias - don't plant it in the substrate. It is one of the plants which has a rhizome - the thick thing that the leaves grow out of. If that is under the substrate it will rot. It is usually grown attached to decor - and decor where it will fit. Tie it on with sewing thread till it clings by itself. Floating plants are needed with anubias or the leaves will get covered in algae. Take it from someone who knows. Since I got water sprite, mine haven't had nearly so much algae.
Omg this LFS! He said bury the bottom in the substrate or tie it to a piece of wood and throw that in. But getting a random bit of wood didn't sound right to me.
I'll move it when I do water change. Sorry for all my questions... Will I do 75% change again?
This is my tank below... Will I tie it though the fake log?
I'll move it when I do water change. Sorry for all my questions... Will I do 75% change again?
This is my tank below... Will I tie it though the fake log?
The fake log is fine. Maybe wedge it in the hole?
Change as much as you can, the lower you can the nitrite level, the better. (Nitrite binds to the red blood cells and blocks the uptake of oxygen. In rough terms, it does to fish what carbon monoxide does to us)
Change as much as you can, the lower you can the nitrite level, the better. (Nitrite binds to the red blood cells and blocks the uptake of oxygen. In rough terms, it does to fish what carbon monoxide does to us)
I have 2 types of plant in my main tank. Water sprite floating on the surface and lower down plants all attached to random bits of wood 
Anubias, java fern, bolbitis, bucephalandra all growing on wood.
Anubias, java fern, bolbitis, bucephalandra all growing on wood.
Similar threads
Most reactions
-
348 -
228 -
225 -
192 -
189 -
179
-
162 -
152 -
142 -
141 -
137 -
134 -
110 -
93 -
91