I can only possibly do a water change every other day with my schedule...and then isn't it pointless to dose with Melafix ? and not give the medicine time to work? Pardon all the questions, I'm just uhhhh overwhelmed. And then what about feeding, when I took out all the carbon, won't that make the parameters go crazy?
Piranha has white bubble over eye!
- Thread starter mhansen76
- Start date
Stop feeding him for awhile. Doing water changes every other day with the correct temperature from the new water would not stress him if the lights are off and will not hurt your water parameters. This will lower the Nitrates as you change your water. Who knows maybe fresh clean water will solve your problem without meds. I would get your water pristine before you dose your meds. That could get really expensive(adding more meds each time you do a water change).
This is how I would approach this situation. I am sure there are other ways to solve this.
This is how I would approach this situation. I am sure there are other ways to solve this.
try to keep it at 20ppm or below. www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com has the 64oz melafix I was talking about. check it out.
Hey Jp and Bomber: I am now on the third day dosing with melafix. I did a 50% wc on Sunday. I came home to one semi floating on top! (I nudged him and he started swimming? now he is at least active. I am freakin' out....should I stop with the Melafix, they just seem to be getting worse. I have been keeping the light off. The temp is 80. All of them now have some kind of white brushed on substance all over them! Yesterday's parameters:jp80911;4500466;4500466 said:
Nitrates: 40ppm
Nitrite:0
Ammonia:0
ph: 6.8
Today:
Nitrate: 5ppm
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: 1.5
ph: 6.2
So....I put in some rinsed substrate in pantyhose into the filter, also a panty hose filled with activated charcoal. Should I up the temp? and keep dosing with Melafix?
HELP!
Missy
i think you should remove the charcol, I think its similar as carbon which removes the med so all the melafix was probably wasted.
the nitrate is still high, have you stopped with feeding? the UGF is probably clogged with crap and waste. get them out of the tank and do a good gravel vac with water change to get the nitrate down.
the nitrate is still high, have you stopped with feeding? the UGF is probably clogged with crap and waste. get them out of the tank and do a good gravel vac with water change to get the nitrate down.
^ keep this in mind or add the dosage you took out with each water change so the med will still be effective when you add new water.bomber;4499938; said:
Water out/meds out
New water in/Add what you took out
^I have done this before so I know first hand it can be done
mhansen76;4499824; said:
I have to ask.mhansen76;4505083; said:
How long has this tank been set up?
How long has your shoal been together?
Your water parameters for Today with some ammonia says that your tank has not fully cycled or is going through a mini cycle.
Fortunately at the time your one fish has that one eye bubble it indicated that something was wrong to have you address the issue but unfortunately I am afraid all your other fish are suffering just without any signs yet.
I would do as JP suggested and remove that charcoal.
U can add x5 the amount of prime to help with ammonia spikes.
I learned that ammonia is toxic but not deadly as "NITRITES".
Many ways to address the issue and I myself would do ^ what i suggested up top.
Sorry to hear that one of your fish is still kicking but "floating". This is not a good sign. Not saying that your fish will die but mine usually die after they float.
Fingers crossed. GL.
I have had it set up since March. The shoal has been together since mid July. Started with Harry in March, added 3 6'' in April, 5 4'' in June, and 2 6'' in July. I removed the charcoal...Just checked on em' .
Last night was freakin out....went to lfs and he recommend I stop the Melafix and start dosing with Seachem Kanaplex every other day along with the wc's every other day. On the off days he gave me Maroxy to dose. The ammonia level is back to 0 this morning. No floaters
I am crossing my fingers too! I have stopped feedings.
Last night was freakin out....went to lfs and he recommend I stop the Melafix and start dosing with Seachem Kanaplex every other day along with the wc's every other day. On the off days he gave me Maroxy to dose. The ammonia level is back to 0 this morning. No floaters
I am crossing my fingers too! I have stopped feedings.KanaPlex™ treats several fungal, and bacterial fish diseases (dropsy, popeye, fin/tail rot, septicemica).
MarOxy treats fungal, as well as bacterial diseases such as clamped fins, swollen eyes, and patchy coloration.
something I looked up online, do your fish suffer from those?
I never used those meds so I have no experience with them, as long as you are sure that you are treating the right stuff then I guess its good.
but should really get the nitrate down to 20ppm or lower if you can, at 40ppm you loose certain amount of safty margine, imo.
i would get those UGF out if I were you.
MarOxy treats fungal, as well as bacterial diseases such as clamped fins, swollen eyes, and patchy coloration.
something I looked up online, do your fish suffer from those?
I never used those meds so I have no experience with them, as long as you are sure that you are treating the right stuff then I guess its good.
but should really get the nitrate down to 20ppm or lower if you can, at 40ppm you loose certain amount of safty margine, imo.
i would get those UGF out if I were you.
Yikes! - Sounds like a real nasty last few days. You mentioned "All of them now have some kind of white brushed on substance all over them!" - Does this substance look like Spider Webs , Sugar, Califlower, White Hairy Patches, or White blotches? The substance can be a few different things as well as the causes. If it were me I'd continue with 20-50% water changes daily dechlorinating everytime til' the water parameters level off to 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 20ppm nitrate at the highest. I'd add oxygen immediately in the form of a powerhead with the exit nossle facing the surface. I'd discard all fabric media and replace, as well as replace the carbon and leave it in for 2-3 weeks. This should get rid of all the junk from meds in the water. I'm not sold on Tea Tree oil(Mela/Pimafix) as a cure for anything. I would add salt not as a cure and I'd keep in mind Piranha are Tetras, half the recommended dosage, this will help "balance" the fish (Homiostasis). And last but not least if this white substance was spreading rapidly in the tank, I'd Full dose it with Mardel Cletted Copper. Perhaps it's not what others would do however it has worked for me with fish alot more sensitive then adult Piranha. I don't know if your using feeder fish, however if you are, this may be where the white substance came from. If not then it's more than likely a water parameter issue and your tank might be a breeding ground for all kinda nasties.
