help with water quality

[NilePufferFanatic]

Assuming that 30 rectangle tank you mentioned is empty, I would put the Discus in there and do anywhere from 40-90% water changes daily to keep my parameters down. Meanwhile, I would let the other fish cycle the hex tank and hope that most of them live. I only recomend this to try and save your more expensive and delicate discus fishes. There may be a larger issue with your tank and filtration system.

Good luck.

 

[hillbilly]

how do i fix this?

You need more bio filtration. You are going to need to add it somehow. What kind of filter are you running? If you have one of those filters that use cartridges, then that may be the problem. These type of filters are garbage, designed for the sole purpose of selling replacement cartridges, not you fishes health. When you change the cartridge, you throw away the "good" bacteria that covert ammonia and nitrite to nitrate. That would be the reason you are getting ammonia. You would never get a complete "cycle" this way.

 

[marinebiologist]

thats the kind that i have. what do i do. i cant afford the canister filters

 

[hillbilly]

You could try to stuff some aquarium safe sponge or something down in there with the cartridge, anything that will grow bacteria. Maybe open up the cartridge and dump the carbon, and rubber band some sheets of foam to it. Carbon should never be used with discus anyway. Be creative. You have got to find a way to grow more bacteria. Whatever you do, don't change the cartridge. Just wash it with tank water only.

 

[Mumtron]

keep the discus by themselves in the thirty w/ the loach maybe. and make sure your tank is cycled first since its not. once that is accomplished your fish should act normal. im surprised your fish didn't catch ich yet. discus and clown loaches are very sensitive to water conditions.

 

[hillbilly]

You could also just add a sponge filter. Very cheap. Just get a small air pump and a sponge filter and you're set. Might be easier. Just rinse it out with tank water to clean it to preserve the bacteria.

 

[marinebiologist]

a month ago one caught ich but i raised the temp and it went away in a week. the clown loach has never caught ich before

 

[marinebiologist]

thanks for all of the fast replies

 

[hillbilly]

I would suggest that you get some SeaChem Prime water conditioner to use until you get that tank straightened out. It will make ammonia less harmful to fish. Also, when you add the extra biofilteration, don't expect change to happen overnight. It may take 2 or more weeks for a normal cycle to run the course. Remember, you have to grow the bacteria. Good luck!

 

[Mumtron]

yeahh. make sure your filter cartridges start growing brown stuff(live bacteria) on them. also, when you do your normal water changes rinse the cartridges in a bucket of tank water. don't be too rough and rinse all the bacteria off. also, rinsing them in tap water will kill off all the bacteria right away and you'll have to cycle the tank all over again to grow the bacteria off again. hang on back's are not the best and easiest to use but if you do it right you will not have problems. i only have hang on back filters so i know what youre going through. if you have any questions feel free to PM me.