Peacock Bass - Rash - Pitting - HITH - External Parasite

[dr exum]

Have you tested your water?

Yes

If yes, what is your ammonia?

0

If yes, what is your nitrite?

0

If yes, what is your nitrate?

10ppm

If I did not test my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.

Do you do water changes?

Yes

What percentage of water do you change?

91-100%

How frequently do you change your water?

Every week

If I do not change my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.

Any thoughts on this -

most bass have some of this pitting / rash / hith?

other than some flashing , seem healthy and eating normally -

i drip in 120 filtered gallons or so per day - something in tap water ??‍

ty ??

 

[Rocksor]

Is the water hard?

 

[dr exum]

Is the water hard?

genious

yes could be -

i’ll test / try to figure out

water softener pellets is remedy?

what’s the ideal reading

 

[Rocksor]

genious

yes could be -

i’ll test / try to figure out

water softener pellets is remedy?

what’s the ideal reading

Water softener pellets would not be the remedy since it will not lower the total dissolved solid levels. Mixing reverse osmosis water with tap water would be one part of the remedy plus making sure nitrate levels are as close to 5ppm as possible. duanes has observed peacock bass in the wilds of Central America (hard water areas) and nearly undetectable nitrate levels, but hard water conditions meant that the size of the bass were 1/3 the size of the South American cousins

 

[duanes]

P bass here in Panama in the hard waters of Lake Gatun were 1st released in the 1960s, so they have had 60 years and many generations to adapt to its hard water.
My guess is that millions died before allowing the current population to adapt.

 

[dr exum]

thanks guys -

will start researching solutions

 

[duanes]

Water softener pellets would not be the remedy since it will not lower the total dissolved solid levels. Mixing reverse osmosis water with tap water would be one part of the remedy plus making sure nitrate levels are as close to 5ppm as possible. duanes has observed peacock bass in the wilds of Central America (hard water areas) and nearly undetectable nitrate levels, but hard water conditions meant that the size of the bass were 1/3 the size of the South American cousins

I agree with these options.
Water softener pellets are really not a solution because they just exchange the calcium ion with a sodium ion, not lowering TDS.
The Amazonian rivers are soft because the tropical forest flora is constantly removing minerals at a tremendous rate.
The mixing RO with tap (dilution) is a great way, or....
if you get a lot of rain, mixing rain water with your tap water could hep lower TDS, and it may be of a lower pH.
I did this in the U.S. when breeding certain soft water killifish, that worked because of the small volumes of water to make effective water changes.
With fish as large as Cichla, getting enough rain water could be problematic.
used the catchment system below, was fine just for the Killifish.

And here in Panama even with the seasonal daily deluges, using rain might not be enough for soft water species, when I tested rain here, pH was 8.2.
For Cichla a pH below 7, and low TDS seems needed, to hinder HITH.
The additions of tannins may be of benefit especially for those Cichla species that inhabit black water areas year round, or even seasonally
Tannins are antibacterial in nature, and may inhibit HITH causing bacterial species.
These "may" have been the saving grace for the invasive Cichla back in the 60s here in Panama, near the end of the dry season, at the onset of the rainy season, tannins inundate the most rivers.
Even in something as artificial as my closed system, tannins are washed in from my surrounding vegetation during heavy rains.
They don't alter my pH even a 10th, but the presence of tanninsis obvious, at this time of year.

 

[dr exum]

seems it’s soft

 

[duanes]

I agree
That's soft water., perfect for Cichla
Guess you need to look elsewhere for the culprit.
Mine in Milwaukee was considered medium hard, at 250ppm and 7 grains per gal

 

[duanes]

Drinking Water Quality - Seattle.govhttps://www.seattle.gov › WQBriefingMarch92016
I hit the Seattle drinking (tap) water quality report and clicking on the water hardness question link, I came up with the info that Seattle water can be as high as 285 ppm.
This is quite different than your post above, and if true, could be the source of your problem.