i have used nitromax in these situations and it brings the ammonia level down pretty quickly. I usually do constant water changes and add additional aeration to keep the fish going while the bacteria in the nitromax go to work
My Pacus are in horrible health...I need help please!!
- Thread starter Poets_Love
- Start date
Poets_Love;4882977; said:
Okay, that's the problem. Ammonia should be at zero, even 1ppm is toxic to fish, your 4 ppm are what's causing the problem. You need to "cycle" pretty fast. Go buy two products, Seachem Prime and Seachem Stability.
Cycling means building up the bacteria that consume fish waste, ammonia, and turn it into nitrite. Other bacteria consume nitrite and make nitrate. You get rid of nitrate with water changes, they're the leas toxic though, and you can have up to 80ppm, sometimes even more, without ill effects, although I recommend keeping them below 40, below 20 being much more preferable.
"Cycling" usually takes 6 weeks, but with Seachem Stability, you could do it in a week. Seachem Prime, the other product, detoxifies ammonia and nitrite and nitrate in your water... use 4x the recommended dose, since it only does 1ppm of ammonia per dose). Using these two products together, you can quickly build your bacterial colony, while simultaneously making the ammonia and nitrite non-toxic to your fish.
If you're wondering what brand of salt to use, I've always used Morton with excellent results. Some studies have shown Pacus to be more sensitive than other fish to nitrite, so you need to get the problem under control right away.
I don't have any Prime, and ordinary table salt and sea salt is all I have other than the Instant Ocean. I've got a box of all kinds of stuff, but I'm not sure what much of it is, and I don't want to take the chance of killing them anymore than I already have. I feel like Kevorkian. Are the other levels just as dangerous right now? Should I move them to another 75 gallon tank or would that infect my oscars?
Should I take some of the water from one of the 75 gallons and pour in there with them?
Can I use just regular table salt even if its iodized?
I apologize for sounding so stupid, but this is the first time I've had something this bad happen.
Should I take some of the water from one of the 75 gallons and pour in there with them?
Can I use just regular table salt even if its iodized?
I apologize for sounding so stupid, but this is the first time I've had something this bad happen.
+1, although I've never heard of levels over 40ppm being considered safe...Juxtaroberto;4883002; said:
Personally, I would just move them into the other tank and treat that tank with some freshwater aquarium salt, and just do a fishless cycle on the 125. Your ammonia is the biggest problem right now, but as a tank cycles, the paramaters fluctuate pretty drastically, which presents a high risk of losing your fish. If you do a fishless cycle, then you can just put some filter media, food, mulm, etc. from the already cycled tank and put it into the new tank, and not even have to worry about keeping your parameters within a safe range (as long as ammonia is present, the tank will cycle).Poets_Love;4883018; said:
And you don't sound stupid at all, we all have to learn sometime.
Since the only option I have for tonight is Wal-Mart, I think I will leave them alone with just the water change and hope and pray for the best. Tomorrow I will go to TN to an actual fish store that deals only in fish and snakes and see what I can find there. I appreciate all the advice, it was ALOT better than what I got from PetSmart. I guess they were only interested in my cash, well plastic, other than helping me save my babies.
No. Get new dechlorinated tap water.Poets_Love;4883018; said:
Yes. Just be sure it doesn't have yellow prussiate of soda.
Poets_Love;4883018; said:
Ordinary table salt will work (instead of aquarium salt, which is basically the same thing at 5x the cost), but definitely not sea salt, and I've heard the iodized salt is fine. Just like Lupin said, make sure it doesn't have any Yellow Prussiate of Soda. Have your other tanks been up and running for more than two months? In that case, put the Pacus there, at least there won't be any ammonia and nitrites there. You should still add the salt, though. One tablespoon for every 5 gallons has worked like a charm for me (as long as you don't have any scaleless fish... if you do, use half dose).
Using "used" tank water is no good, the bacteria live on surfaces, such as the glass of your tank, but mostly in the filters bio-media. You know the canisters have the white fluff that looks like pillow stuffing? Well, that's the mechanical media, and that just traps particulates. The foam houses the bacteria (although some people use bioballs or scrubbies or ceramic rings, etc).
You have been using water conditioner, right? Because chlorine and chloramine will kill these bacteria.
Poets_Love;4883048; said:
Like I said, try moving them to established tanks... ammonia is deadly toxic and they may not survive if you wait that long. But if you can't... just dose the tank with anything that says it removes ammonia and nitrite. Use as many times the dose as it says on the bottle you can safely use.
My LFSs don't carry Prime and Stability.
I have to go to Petco/Petsmart for that, so be sure to call in advance and ask if they carry those products.Okay, I found some regular salt with iodine. The label reads salt and sodium silicoaluminate. How much do I need to use with the 125 gallon?
I'm not sure... the one I use uses calcium silicate as an anticaking agent... I don't have experience with sodium silicoaluminate... I don't think it'll be a problem though...
For the 125 gallon, a cup and a half.
For the 125 gallon, a cup and a half.
