I just set up a 55 gallon tank after 15 years of being out of the hobby. I bought a 55 gallon tank on craigslist and about 20 1-2" fish from petsmart. I couldnt help it, during black friday as they had some great deals.
So I put all of the fish in the tank over a week as they werent all purchased at once. At some point my 4 silver dollars started looking like they had dots on them or pin pricks in their silver coat. Then all of the fish began rubbing themselves on the substrate and them my clown loach, Jewel Chichlid, and bala sharks started showing signs of ich (white salt like parasites on body). I went to a LFS and the owner suggested I use coppersafe. He said it was safe for the loach and all I needed to do was put half the bottle in the tank, remove the carbon, and bring up the temp to 82 degrees. I did that Saturday afternoon and my fish dont appear better, my pleco died this morning. The fish are all still eating well, but still have ich and some are still rubbing against the substrate.
My aquarium water stats are:
82 degrees
PH 8
GH 12
KH 8
Amonia 0
Nitrite .03 According to the tetra test so long as I am below .10 I am good.
Aquaclear 70 with amonia and bio beads. I removed the charcoal.
Fish in tank
3 Bala Sharks 1.5" Each (shows signs of Ich)
4 Silver dollars 1.5" (shows signs of Ich)
2 tinfoil barbs 2"
1 albino oscar 1.5"
3 african chiclids 1-2" (scratch agains substrate, Jewel chiclid shows Ich)
1 clown loach (need to get another) 1.5" (shows signs of Ich)
1 Plecco 2"
All the fish get along well, with the oscar being the dominant fish in the tank, second being one of the chiclids
I know the coppersafe is toxic, based on reading I have done since adding it, but its in the tank now. Do you guys think this will clear it up. I dont want to go to the salt regiment because I figure that will further stress the fish. Any comments and recommendations would be appreciated.
So I put all of the fish in the tank over a week as they werent all purchased at once. At some point my 4 silver dollars started looking like they had dots on them or pin pricks in their silver coat. Then all of the fish began rubbing themselves on the substrate and them my clown loach, Jewel Chichlid, and bala sharks started showing signs of ich (white salt like parasites on body). I went to a LFS and the owner suggested I use coppersafe. He said it was safe for the loach and all I needed to do was put half the bottle in the tank, remove the carbon, and bring up the temp to 82 degrees. I did that Saturday afternoon and my fish dont appear better, my pleco died this morning. The fish are all still eating well, but still have ich and some are still rubbing against the substrate.
My aquarium water stats are:
82 degrees
PH 8
GH 12
KH 8
Amonia 0
Nitrite .03 According to the tetra test so long as I am below .10 I am good.
Aquaclear 70 with amonia and bio beads. I removed the charcoal.
Fish in tank
3 Bala Sharks 1.5" Each (shows signs of Ich)
4 Silver dollars 1.5" (shows signs of Ich)
2 tinfoil barbs 2"
1 albino oscar 1.5"
3 african chiclids 1-2" (scratch agains substrate, Jewel chiclid shows Ich)
1 clown loach (need to get another) 1.5" (shows signs of Ich)
1 Plecco 2"
All the fish get along well, with the oscar being the dominant fish in the tank, second being one of the chiclids
I know the coppersafe is toxic, based on reading I have done since adding it, but its in the tank now. Do you guys think this will clear it up. I dont want to go to the salt regiment because I figure that will further stress the fish. Any comments and recommendations would be appreciated.
