Rays on a budget- My (somewhat long) story w/pics

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Got it! I'm on my way. I'll let you know if they find anything, I know right where to go!

Edit...good thing I called before driving 25 miles. gotta call before 3 to get the guy I need. I'll refridgerate the sample. The first one went down the drain this morning, but another similar one was in there.

She should hang on another day. I hope.

I keep her tank covered with a balck trash bag. just enough light comes through to see her in there. The lights are on down there about 16hrs for the Tilapia to breed. so she is staying shaded during that time and I'm changing 2 pitchers of filtered water per day with the in tank filter and still using properly measured BB additive, salt, and Epsom salts with each pitcherfull of water. PH is constant.

I'll take samples of water with me tomorrow. I'll get a better test kit soon, but so far, I've been monitoring ph with a properly calibrated digital ph probe. I have a test kit, but it is old and I don't trust the results. It's like 8 yrs old...that old.

Mike

Mike
 
haha wow that was fast, god luck man, hope everything comes back ok, and if shes by herself and her fecal does comeback with a parasite or something you may want to consider quarintineing not only her but her mother as she may have got the parasite from her. It may not be a bad idea just top get a universal sample from your rays, if possible, just grab one from the tank, because chances are if one has a parasite they all will, since theyre living in such close quarter, kinda like cats. if they share a litter box, they all probabbly have the parasite.
 
We'll see....I can't say it isn't that...but atthe same time, I think it's more likely to be something else...

Mike
 
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I've been following your thread from the start and I just wanted to say you're doing a great job and to keep going. I once hear something along the lines of "You're never closer to success than just when your ready to quit". Not that I think your ready to give up, but I just wanted to let you know I'm rooting for you.
 
Thaks for all the support everyone.

This morning, she's acting fine. I'll check on her again in a bit.

If she starts doing it again, I'll call the pet store about the sample. I could probably take it to my vet...but the pet store might check it for free. I hate calling this a pet store...pet store's are generally worthless...but this one has a marine biologist on staff, and a vet that comes in regularly...and that vet keeps a pair of Leo's.

I'm trying some Shark/Ray gel from Mazuri (for the adults). I was lookiong at some vitamins and such to suplement some...but the Gel has it in there already, so I'm trying it. I figured I'd use it for every 3rd meal or something like that. I don't care how complete they say it is...I still like a varied diet.

They won't eat it so far...they decided to skip breakfast and dinner yesterday...we'll see if they're a little more hungry now...here goes.

Mike
 
glad to hear shes better, sounds like an amazing pet store
 
Ok, I'm back. There's no parasites or protazoa in the poop...My water sucks.

Best I can figure, the lava rock got overloaded over this period of time. Last sample I took in about a month ago was fine, and now the whole nitrogen cycle is elevated. I got a bottle of Stability, upgraded my sourcewater filters, and started a flush...

I'll order a test kit soon, I just spent too much already and I can take it back any time. They test water for free....it's just that it's 25 miles away...

Mike
 
The Tilapia only stayed with the rays for 1 day before I took them out. I started seeing that they poop too much, and now I'm glad I took them out.

I'd be set with double the system capacity and 4 times the biomedia after I combine the second pool and upgrade the sump...but I keep having to put it off...now my kid's graduation open-house is saturday...Next week for sure..(yeah I know...)

Mike
 
haha nice how olds your kid? glad you figured out what was goin on with your water.... Everyone could have there dreams come true if money doesnt exsist ya know what i mean? you could combine the pools, get the test kit, upgrade everything, sometimes it seems like money is more of a hassle than a blessing
 
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