What Is Wrong With My Fish

[impact1122]

I have a new 50Gal tank with Cichlids. My tank was fully cycled with 3 fish so I added fish this past Sunday. Since adding fish my Ammonia and nitrites have been high and I have been doing 20-30% water changes until they drop. I noticed today that one of my fish looked like it had white dust on her. I went to my LFS and they said it was Ich. I medicated my tank as per the directions and am now hoping for the best. Shortly after I medicated the tank I noticed one of my other fish now has red gills. Since he was hiding I didn't notice him until after I put the medication in the tank. Does anyone know what could be wrong with him? Also can it be treated while I am medicating my tank for Ich?

I do not have my Ammonia, Nitrite or Nitrate levels since I didn't think to do them before I medicated my tank. Will the medication affect my tests?

 

[Chuka1212]

How many fish did you put in after the cycle? I do not think that the presence of meds would affect the water quality, I would check the stats anyways, and if you get something crazy then maybe the meds are affecting your tests. About the red gills I have no idea what that could be. Usually Africans do quite well to medicinal treatments, unlike some types of catfish and inverts, so I would doubt that the treatment did that to your fish unless there was a mis-dose. Did you get your fish from a reliable shop?

 

[Bastables]

Red gills and the ammonia readings showing means that your little chap has got burns from the presence of ammonia. Drop the PH to below 7 so it is no longer toxic, do a 50% change of water. Keep your eye on the water readings.

Also make sure the water you use to change has a PH less than 7. NH3 or ammonia will burn the fish and eventully cause them to hemmorage blood internally, this is seen first at the gills and as it develops further you will see read streaking over the body and fins. below a ph of 7 the NH3 converts to NH4 which is not a mortal killer/poison.

Nitrates will starve your fish of oxygen as it impeds the bloods ability to carry oxygen.

Fixes are waterchanges and if you can afford it a filter media that will remove nitrates and ammonia fast until your biological filtration catches up. (bacteria need time to multiply to handle processing the poisons) ie Carbon, sechem's purigen ect.

 

[impact1122]

Red gills and the ammonia readings showing means that your little chap has got burns from the presence of ammonia. Drop the PH to below 7 so it is no longer toxic, do a 50% change of water. Keep your eye on the water readings.

Also make sure the water you use to change has a PH less than 7. NH3 or ammonia will burn the fish and eventully cause them to hemmorage blood internally, this is seen first at the gills and as it develops further you will see read streaking over the body and fins. below a ph of 7 the NH3 converts to NH4 which is not a mortal killer/poison.

Nitrates will starve your fish of oxygen as it impeds the bloods ability to carry oxygen.

Fixes are waterchanges and if you can afford it a filter media that will remove nitrates and ammonia fast until your biological filtration catches up. (bacteria need time to multiply to handle processing the poisons) ie Carbon, sechem's purigen ect.

I wasn't sure how the the blue water would affect the ammonia test since. I tested the water today once the water cleared and the ammonia is between 0.25 and 0.50ppm. My Nitrites look like they are just below 0.25ppm and my Nitrates are between 5 and 10ppm

I will drop my PH and keep my eye on the ammonia. Once the ammonia is at 0 can I bring the Ph back to normal?

If my fish survives will the redness go away?

 

[jourdy288]

I will drop my PH and keep my eye on the ammonia. Once the ammonia is at 0 can I bring the Ph back to normal?

If my fish survives will the redness go away?

The redness, I am not sure, however, remember to slowly raise the pH.