So here is the basic story. I introduced some clown loaches recently to my 90 gallon African tank without QT. They were rescues and have since been sold however they gave my rope fish and African knife white-spot. I treated the whole tank with a half dose of Nox-Ich (because the African knife is intolerant of high levels of medications) and raised the temperature slowly to 88 degrees. The African knifefish has since recovered and the rope fish is definitely better than he was before. Now here comes the problem. A day after the temperature was raised all of the leopard ctenopomas were lying on their sides and breathing heavily. An aerator was placed in promptly and they appeared to be acting normal again (coming to greet me at the front glass). They were like this another day and then yesterday they began to breath heavily again. They were doing this but not lying on their sides. I decided to turn down the temperature to 84 degrees in case the heat was bothering them. I did a huge water change today (25% on an understocked 90 gal). They continued to get worse and today they have been off and on, sometimes out, sometimes lying around and panting. There is not a water quality issue. Could anyone please shed some light on this as I fear at least some of them will die.
1. What is the size of your tank?
90 gallons.
2. What are your water parameters? State the brand of test kit used.
API Master Test Kit
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10
pH: 7.6
I am unsure about hardness but I would assume it would be up there as I am in a hard area. I do not think this is a hardness issue however.
4. How long the aquarium has been set up?
It has been set up for 6 months with mature filtration that was running for 6 years.
5. What fish do you have? How many are in your tank? How big are they? How long have you had them?
I have had the rope fish (10 inch) for two months. Siamese algae eater (5 inch) for 1 month. Leopard ctenopoma x 5 (2 inches) for 4 weeks with no aggression issues. African knife (6 inches) fish for 4 weeks. He came in with the ctenopoma. He is a little boisterous but by no means aggressive.
6. Were the fish placed under quarantine period (minus the first batch from the point wherein the tank is ready to accommodate the inhabitants)?
None were quarantined but it is past the period for diseases to come up from the original fish. Original white spot was caused by two clown loaches which weren't quarintined.
7. What temperature is the tank water currently?
The tank is currently resting at 28C (84F). It was originally 25C but i brought it up because of white spot.
8. Are there live plants in the aquarium?
I have one anubias nana, purchased one month ago along with the SAE.
9. What filter are you using? State brand, maintenance routine and power capacity.
Eheim filter meant for a 180 gallon tank. I am unsure of exact model because it came with the tank. It is a massive filter with a capacity of 25 gallons. It was maintained approximitely 4 months ago.
12. When did you perform your last water change and how much water was changed? How often do you change your water? Do you vacuum the substrate?
There is no substrate currently. I vacuum weekly usually chaging about 5 gallons. My most recent water change was a 20 gallon change which was done today.
13. What foods do you provide your fish? What is the feeding schedule?
I feed three times daily. The first two feedings are one cube of bloodworms each. The third is one cube of bloodworms, on cube of plankton, and one cube of mysis.
14. What unusual signs have you observed in your fish?
Fish are gasping for air, and some are lying around. I have vigorous aeration in the tank and it helps a little but still not enough. They tend to do this after doing even the slightest bit of excersize.
15. Have you treated your fish ahead of diagnosis? If so, what treatments did you use? State your reasons for planning ahead of proper diagnosis.
The original treatment was for white spot. I treated a half dose of NoxIch a day as directed, with a large water change at the end.
1. What is the size of your tank?
90 gallons.
2. What are your water parameters? State the brand of test kit used.
API Master Test Kit
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10
pH: 7.6
I am unsure about hardness but I would assume it would be up there as I am in a hard area. I do not think this is a hardness issue however.
4. How long the aquarium has been set up?
It has been set up for 6 months with mature filtration that was running for 6 years.
5. What fish do you have? How many are in your tank? How big are they? How long have you had them?
I have had the rope fish (10 inch) for two months. Siamese algae eater (5 inch) for 1 month. Leopard ctenopoma x 5 (2 inches) for 4 weeks with no aggression issues. African knife (6 inches) fish for 4 weeks. He came in with the ctenopoma. He is a little boisterous but by no means aggressive.
6. Were the fish placed under quarantine period (minus the first batch from the point wherein the tank is ready to accommodate the inhabitants)?
None were quarantined but it is past the period for diseases to come up from the original fish. Original white spot was caused by two clown loaches which weren't quarintined.
7. What temperature is the tank water currently?
The tank is currently resting at 28C (84F). It was originally 25C but i brought it up because of white spot.
8. Are there live plants in the aquarium?
I have one anubias nana, purchased one month ago along with the SAE.
9. What filter are you using? State brand, maintenance routine and power capacity.
Eheim filter meant for a 180 gallon tank. I am unsure of exact model because it came with the tank. It is a massive filter with a capacity of 25 gallons. It was maintained approximitely 4 months ago.
12. When did you perform your last water change and how much water was changed? How often do you change your water? Do you vacuum the substrate?
There is no substrate currently. I vacuum weekly usually chaging about 5 gallons. My most recent water change was a 20 gallon change which was done today.
13. What foods do you provide your fish? What is the feeding schedule?
I feed three times daily. The first two feedings are one cube of bloodworms each. The third is one cube of bloodworms, on cube of plankton, and one cube of mysis.
14. What unusual signs have you observed in your fish?
Fish are gasping for air, and some are lying around. I have vigorous aeration in the tank and it helps a little but still not enough. They tend to do this after doing even the slightest bit of excersize.
15. Have you treated your fish ahead of diagnosis? If so, what treatments did you use? State your reasons for planning ahead of proper diagnosis.
The original treatment was for white spot. I treated a half dose of NoxIch a day as directed, with a large water change at the end.
