HITH- can't figure out my cause....

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rlane

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jun 6, 2012
310
87
31
Morristown, NJ
Guys,

I am having a problem with my large cichla and HITH. I currently have around 17 cichla of all the assorted species you can have in captivity and my larger ones (20-32"), especially my temensis are continually showing signs of HITH. That said, it is strange cause the different species are showing different levels of it, for example the temensis have it bad and my Oriono's don't have it at all and the other species all vary in between. I also have a tapajos pike which is known for getting HITH easily and it has none.

I know there are many variables that can cause this so here are some of my variables. The tank is a 10'x4'30" deep and roughly 750 gallons. I have two separate 125 gallon sumps and two massive pool filters which are pumping over 15,000 gallons an hour. I also have a 120 watt UV hooked up to the system so I have way more filtration than needed (if there is ever such a thing as too much). I do weekly 50% water changes and my parameters are right where they should be. Further proving the water is where it should be, my rays are continually breeding in the tank as are some of the cichla.

As for what their diet, I feed them a staple of various pellets, from massiviore, cichlid gold and also a commercial high protein pellet I bought from a hatchery. I also give them frozen fish such as sardines, silver sides, tilapia, trout, bluefish, striped bass, or basically anything I can get my hands on. Every once and a while I will give them some live bluegills as a treat but this is a rarity.

I can not figure this out. I am feeding high quality foods but should I try to add vitamins to the food? I have read that some people who have had this problem with oscars and the like have had success when they have added some vegetables such as peas to their diet. I have tried this a few times but the bass won't eat it and just spit them out. I have also heard maybe it could be an intestinal bacterial parasite and I may have to treat them. That said, how do you treat them for that?

Any advice would be very highly appreciated.

image.jpg
 
PH, GH, kh, TDS and normal water tests could help. Adding tannins or treating with something like hexguard could potentially be helpful.
 
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Guys,

I am having a problem with my large cichla and HITH. I currently have around 17 cichla of all the assorted species you can have in captivity and my larger ones (20-32"), especially my temensis are continually showing signs of HITH. That said, it is strange cause the different species are showing different levels of it, for example the temensis have it bad and my Oriono's don't have it at all and the other species all vary in between. I also have a tapajos pike which is known for getting HITH easily and it has none.

I know there are many variables that can cause this so here are some of my variables. The tank is a 10'x4'30" deep and roughly 750 gallons. I have two separate 125 gallon sumps and two massive pool filters which are pumping over 15,000 gallons an hour. I also have a 120 watt UV hooked up to the system so I have way more filtration than needed (if there is ever such a thing as too much). I do weekly 50% water changes and my parameters are right where they should be. Further proving the water is where it should be, my rays are continually breeding in the tank as are some of the cichla.

As for what their diet, I feed them a staple of various pellets, from massiviore, cichlid gold and also a commercial high protein pellet I bought from a hatchery. I also give them frozen fish such as sardines, silver sides, tilapia, trout, bluefish, striped bass, or basically anything I can get my hands on. Every once and a while I will give them some live bluegills as a treat but this is a rarity.

I can not figure this out. I am feeding high quality foods but should I try to add vitamins to the food? I have read that some people who have had this problem with oscars and the like have had success when they have added some vegetables such as peas to their diet. I have tried this a few times but the bass won't eat it and just spit them out. I have also heard maybe it could be an intestinal bacterial parasite and I may have to treat them. That said, how do you treat them for that?

Any advice would be very highly appreciated.

View attachment 1178948

Different species of fish have different tolerances to water quality. While your water maybe perfect for your rays to breed in, the soft water species that you have in there may need something a little different. Wc tems usually come from soft water rivers making them susceptible to hith. Tems, Ocells, Xingu are the ones I've most commonly seen with hith I've seen only a few Azuls and kelberi with it and I don't think that I've ever seen an orino with it.

I went through the same thing with some atabapo pikes that I have, the tank was being over filtered, lightly fed high quality food, and on a rigorous water change schedule and they developed hith. With some good advice from another member I treated the tank with jungle parasite, and softened my water through a combination of discus buffer and peat. The hith has completely cleared up and my fish are more active then before.
 
Different species of fish have different tolerances to water quality. While your water maybe perfect for your rays to breed in, the soft water species that you have in there may need something a little different. Wc tems usually come from soft water rivers making them susceptible to hith. Tems, Ocells, Xingu are the ones I've most commonly seen with hith I've seen only a few Azuls and kelberi with it and I don't think that I've ever seen an orino with it.

I went through the same thing with some atabapo pikes that I have, the tank was being over filtered, lightly fed high quality food, and on a rigorous water change schedule and they developed hith. With some good advice from another member I treated the tank with jungle parasite, and softened my water through a combination of discus buffer and peat. The hith has completely cleared up and my fish are more active then before.

Spot on! It seems they need a black water type of enviorment. I too have noticed Orino's never have issues while Xingu's are really prone to the problem.
 
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