The water from my tap is 7.2, I did not have a ammonia problem it was a bogwood problem. I had already 2 small pieces of it in the tank and held a steady 6.6 level. I purchased another in hopes to attach pheonix moss to it(which I have not found any yet). In any case I only soaked it in very hot water for a couple hours and eagerly put it in my tank without a second thought to the tannins(which I knew nothing about at the time, because I did not do any research,not thinking it would upset my ph so badly. So out came the wood! No rotting fish,except for the danio I found in my storage basket,poor thing. I have also considered the change of the level of my ph to have some effect on my gourami,it was extremely low 5.9-6.0. So far it has not effected my other 2 gouramis,but I am keeping a close eye on them. I use a penguin bio-filter 150 for my 29 gal. tank and have 2 filter mediums inside. I moved my female gourami into my hospital tank 4 days ago and have started treating her. The other female and male are not the same with her gone,but hopefully soon they will all be reunited.
gourami question
- Thread starter Carlene
- Start date
Yeah tannins can also upset PH, sometimes pretty badly. Well I'm sure everything will work out well as you are taking the proper actions. In treating the fish and stabilizing the PH. It doesn't sound as if your gourami is under much stress, shes eating you've raised the water temp to a level that is more uncomfortable to parasites. Your treatment of the gourami should run not less than 5 days, 7 max then a water change and then if a second treatment is needed then do anohter water change and retreat. Water changes should be not less than 60% to make sure that you have completely recycled the tanks total capacity before you start dosing again.
Maybe if you can get a picture of your gourami and put it up, I maybe able to get a better idea of her problem. But I believe that your handling as best as it could be handled.
Maybe if you can get a picture of your gourami and put it up, I maybe able to get a better idea of her problem. But I believe that your handling as best as it could be handled.
Unfortunately I am unable to post a pic. I have been doing water changes everyday since begining her treatment at 50% each just before adding the medication (she is in a 6 gal. hospital tank). I think I will take the advice of doing the treatment for 7 days instead of 5 just to be sure she is ready to go back home. Now about the ph, I just tested the level and now it is up to 7.2 so I went ahead and took out a tablespoon of crushed coral to see if it will make a change for the lower. If it continues to remain at 7.2 when the coral is gone do you think it would be safe to put in the 2 pieces of bogwood that I had in there since I started my tank? It kept the ph level at 6.6 for 5 months. It was when I put in the new piece that I started having major problems. What are your thoughts about that?
Carlene Hartshorn;1846887; said:
Oh well would you mind then if I posted a pic of one of my gourami?
Huh, does the directions that ccame with the medication say to do 50% water changes while treatment is on going? Do you have a filter on this tank? if so you removed the carbon right?
I didn't know that you took them out, I would have thought that you only took out the third piece that caused the PH mess, not the other two too. Ok so yes I think its ok to put the original pieces back in the tank, even before you start removing all the coral, this way you don't see-saw too much.
Next time you purchase or find a piece of wood make sure to soak it in hot water as much as you can before adding it to the tank. Small pieces like those that can fit in a 29 should be somewhat easy to place in a old pot and boil them for an hour or so. Don't worry if you can't get the piece totally submerged, you can turn it - 15 minutes each side - then let it sit over night in a bucket of hot water before trying it in the tank.
I don't mind to see a pic. No the directions did not say to do any water changes,but I felt that it would be healthier for her since the hospital tank is only 6 gal. and not cycled. I do this just before I add her meds. Yes I have 2 types of filters going on, one is the blue and white marineland pad you can cut to size and one is from the main tank with bacteria on it, which I did take out the carbon. I took out all of the bogwood to find the source of the ph drop,I did not want to take any chances of it getting worse,my peacock gudgeons were not very happy. I want to take out the coral slowly just incase my level is not steady,but I tested again this morning and it is at the same 7.2,so I will take out another tbls. and see how it goes. I just don't want to take any chances and end up with another catasrophe. I dishwashed my bogwood again last night and let it soak and will test the ph in the containers and see how it is doing. I agree I do not want to get back on the see saw again.
Carlene;1846887; said:
50% a day water change? what are you treating the tank with?, I've never heard of a med that requires changes out? until the treatment is complete? Remove the carbon yes, change the water
Wood will reduce ph and Tequila is right with the boiling thing. The best place I've found to do this is a bath or sink for larger pieces.
Why are you so concerned about the ph moving around so much, if the tank is at say 7 then you add some wood and it comes(slowly) down to 6.6 what's the problem as long as it remains stable and in range?
Adding wood and coral to move the ph is like having a vodka redbull separately, drink the vodka, you fell tired or drunk, drink the redbull you wake up a bit, feel less drunk due to the caffeine, all in all neither is the best thing, just go to bed. Which is the same thing with the tank, maybe remove everything and wait until it stabilizes and then add one piece of wood at the time.
Hope the fish gets better
I've been changing the water out because in my own mind I figured it would be benificial for my sick fish being that her gills were infected. I've completed the bogwood soaking and washing (I wish I knew about all of that before I put in my recent piece),then none of my ph problems would have happened as I have stated in my last threads. What a mess! Not so much concerned about the ph moving around,only when it dropped down to 5.9-6.0 and my peacock gudgeons were hiding out. All the water changes did not budge the level,that is why I added the coral so it would jump start the ph back to the normal range. This morning I took out another tblsp,which leaves one left filtering into the tank. My ph level is still at a 7.2. So now I either leave in the last tblsp. of coral and then add the bogwood I had in my tank before(not the new piece) or go ahead and take out the coral and see if the ph level stays the same in the morning,then add the bogwood?? I guess either way would be ok,you think? What is your opinion?
Carlene;1849690; said:
Ok for starters STOP the medication! And do a 60% water change tomorrow and a 50% water change the next day, remember to use water from your 29gal to reill the water you take out of the 6gal. Wait 2 days, and then restart the medication without doing any water changes for the next 5 days straight. At the end of 5 days do a 60% water change, again using the water from the 29 to refill the 6gal, do another water change the same way the following day but this time change only 25~30% of the water using tap water. wait a day or so checking for any changes and if all seems well I would say you could return the fish to the 29gal then.
Why I say this: you have been half dosing your fish by way of doing water changes, and changing out 50% of the water and medication prior to adding more medication. The whole idea is to build up on the amount of medication in the fishes system. Instead your just strangthening the parasites ability to with stand the medication. Understand, you wanna shock and awe the parasites, not pasify them like we Americans do the English and their Moon Monkeys.
Are those reallly your gouramis??OMG!! They are beautiful! How long have you had them for?Mine look like smerfs compared to those 2, WoW! Ok, I will stop the meds and do the water changes as prescribed and start the meds again. My gourami seems to be getting better at this point, the dark spot that was on her head is gone now and her gill is looking a little healthier. I still feel badly that she is alone, I hope everyone will remember her when she gets back home. I think that the other female is lonely too. I tested the hospital tank for ammonia and it was at 0.25,I am a little concerned about the level when I leave the water alone for 5 days,will it be ok? Oh,and do I start the meds 2 days after the 50% change? is that right?
