help...urgent.

[mos90]

i setup my new 300g 2 weeks ago. added mulm and filter media to my tank anf filters. i had a very small ammonia spike .25ppm i added some prime and did a 50% water change to lower levels. here are water parameters.

ammo-.25
nitrite-0
nitrate -5
ph 7.1
temp 80

the problem is i ordered 2 reticulatus from tangled on cichlids today. i talked to jeff and explained the situation with my tank and he said there should be no problem just add more filter media, which i did and stay on top of water changes when i receive them wednsday.

here is the kicker that i just noticed 10 minutes ago. in the tank i have 10 feeder goldfish and 10 feeded fathead minnows i was using to help finish cycling. i noticed a pretty good outbreak of ICH on the minnows. i treaded the water with some ich medicine. i dont know if that was a good idea or not. i doubt the ich will be cleared up by wedesday and i worried that even with a water change some of the meds will be in the tank and harm the rays.

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

even if i get rid of the fish in the tank the ich can still be in the water right? i planned on adding a uv next week but can get it done in time.

i could stall jeff maybe until thurday to ship the rays.

 

[aquaculture]

Raise the temp up to about 86f-88f should quicken the lifespan of the ich and end it , and the meds will kill the eggs and stagglers.

also make sure yah got an air pump running to ensur oxygenated water.

 

[justin guest]

The UV will work but it has to be powerful enough... say minimum 55 watts with flow through of about max. 500 gal per hour. And get rid of the minnows. You can still feed the goldfish to keep the cycling going. Don´t feed the rays for the first couple of days as they will be releasing ammonium into the water due to the transport stress. good luck

j<><

 

[mos90]

the goldfish had signs of ich also. had to get rid of all. i changed all the water and temp to 85.

the big question is. what is the purpose of a "2 minute cycle" if your still going to have ammo spikes? this is the first and last time i try that. im going to stick with the proven fishless cycle. all i do is add ammo to 4ppm and add filter media, then 2 weeks done. ive never had ammo spike after a fishless cycle or had to do a water change until it fully cycled.

i hope my rays will be ok.