Can't figure out what the problem is

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West1

West1

Peacock Bass
MFK Member
Sep 27, 2007
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I've had 4 cichla about a year, maybe a little longer. 13" Xingu, 2 12" Bahia and a 10" Kelzul (also a 10" Flagtail and all are eye ball, might be bigger). I feed the every other day, massivore, cichlid gold, shrimp or 10mm NLS. I do feed between but just not as consistent.

All but the Kelzul have HITH on the sides of their face, Xingu the worst. Started roughly 5 months ago.
300gl with a sump, kaldness, filter sock changed every 3-4 days, carbon drip system 60-70 gpd for chloramines and biweekly 40-50% water change.

I'm 99% positive my water chem is not the issue, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5ppm. Have had the same numbers for about 6 weeks straight, what else could it be? I'm about ready to throw the towel in on Cichla.

What are your thoughts on the issue...
 
dmopar74 said:
How long you been running the drip?
Click to expand...

early Jan 2013. purchased from Filterguys.biz
change all 3 cartridges every 4 months

Didn't know much about the drip and I also purchased a dual TDS meter. Tap reads 275ppm and out reads 240ppm and it goes as low as 220ppm.
 
I'll post pics later tonight.

Temp is a stable 80*
 
I ran a carbon drip and got hith bad after about 6 months. So bad I euthanized all the cichlids, only they were infected. Same water, no carbon, no problem. I'm a believer that carbon causes hith. Perhaps try a dosing pump with prime.
 
dmopar74 said:
I ran a carbon drip and got hith bad after about 6 months. So bad I euthanized all the cichlids, only they were infected. Same water, no carbon, no problem. I'm a believer that carbon causes hith. Perhaps try a dosing pump with prime.
Click to expand...

Awe man, not what I wanted to hear. You have a drip also right? What cartridges are you using?
 
I gave up the drip when the hith got beyond repair. I was just running regular carbon blocks you can buy at Home Depot or wherever. I had just chlorine. I'm on well now so might go back to a drip with a sediment filter only.

I could be wrong but I've never had luck with carbon.
 
I have a sediment in the first chamber. If im not mistaken (since I go through so many damn fish), I had other fish just after setting up the drip. I had no issues although they left a few months after the setup. I did just move some 12" Del out and they were here through the whole precess. I dunno, I'm ready to jump out of preds and try a million mini peaceful fishies for once. I just keep thinking if I have this issue with Cichla, I will have the issue with other fish.
 
You need to get the carbon out of the system.
I believe that is the issue.

And IMO....Driftwood in the tank helps as well as algae in their diet.
 
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