Hi Everyone! I've been putting different threads for different fishes, but I'm getting sick of doing that 
so I've decided to just start one thread...this one.
Tank Size - 8x2x2 ft
Types of Fishes - Cyclids
5 x Peacock Bass
2 each of the following x Synspillums, Jaguars, Texas, Red Base Snook & Salvinis
3 x Plecos
1 each of Oscar, Black Shark and King Kong Parrot
No of fishes - Total 21 ranging in size from approx 10cm - 25cm
Current Decorations - Large Ship wreck and plastic log tube-looking thing
Filter - Fluval FX5
Media - Fluval default sponge around the edge + Matrix + what we've guessed to be filter clay media
Chemicals Used in Tank - Pond Prime + Seachem AM Guard about to add Seachem Stability into the mix
Medicine Currently in use - Paracid parasite control
Testing Reading
pH = darker than 7.6, should I retest using the "wide range" pH tester?
Ammonia = 0.25
Nitrite = 1.0
Previous reading
pH = 6.8-7.0
Nitrite = 0
Ammonia = 1.0Problems
1. Our ammonia levels was really high at 8.0 and only after a week or so of daily 50% water changes have we gotten it down to 1.0 so a massive improvement. We have added Prime + AMGuard + Matrix media to lower the ammonia spike.
We think that the ammonia spike may have been caused by the following:-
- 3 months ago our main Eheim filter stopped working so we put a temporary and much smaller Orca filter to use, we then purchased the Fluval FX5, this was purchased 2nd hand but it had been turned off for 2 wks therefore, no beneficial bacteria, we did keep the Orca running alongside our new Fluval till last week.
- Overstocking unquarantined fish in our tank. Hubby added approximately 6 fishes in the last month without quarantining the fishes first.
2. Diseases, diseases and more diseases! Now different fishes are showing different signs of some type of diseases, we have gone to fish stores and have asked them for their advise but we get a different reply each time, first it's a bacteria, then it's a parasite and we don't know what to believe and I read on the Diagnosis thread that I shouldn't mix medications when I don't know if the diagnosis is correct. Here's what's wrong with them, can you pls help in diagnosing my fish problems and what to medicate them with?
1 x Texas
- Red growth which looks like a small cluster of small pimples near the opening of its gills
- Swollen around the mouth
- Circumference line around its mouth, between that and the mouth is the same red pimple-looking thing
2 x Peacock Bass
- Cloudy Eyes
- Going black, very black!
1 x Synspillum
- Pimples on their fins, looks like white heads
Jaguar + Oscar
- Fins are torn/rotting away but it looks like there are white spots on it
I'm hoping that I can be given a correct diagnosis of my fish problems so I can medicate them correctly rather than just guessing what they have and putting ANY medication in it. We've spent so much in meds the last few weeks! The fishes, apart from the symptoms I've written above does not seem to be significantly affected e.g. none are showing signs of illness, lack of appetite etc, apart from the physical symptoms, none seem to be visibly ill.
I understand, from my research through the internet that many of these diseases have only manifested themselves because of the poor water quality and many of these bacteria or parasites are located in the tank normally, but when the water quality is poor, the fishes are more susceptible in getting bacteria/parasites...therefore, does it mean that when we get the water quality back to normal, will all these go away or must I still need to treat it?
Thank you in advance and looking forward to hearing all your advice.
so I've decided to just start one thread...this one. Tank Size - 8x2x2 ft
Types of Fishes - Cyclids
5 x Peacock Bass
2 each of the following x Synspillums, Jaguars, Texas, Red Base Snook & Salvinis
3 x Plecos
1 each of Oscar, Black Shark and King Kong Parrot
No of fishes - Total 21 ranging in size from approx 10cm - 25cm
Current Decorations - Large Ship wreck and plastic log tube-looking thing
Filter - Fluval FX5
Media - Fluval default sponge around the edge + Matrix + what we've guessed to be filter clay media
Chemicals Used in Tank - Pond Prime + Seachem AM Guard about to add Seachem Stability into the mix
Medicine Currently in use - Paracid parasite control
Testing Reading
pH = darker than 7.6, should I retest using the "wide range" pH tester?
Ammonia = 0.25
Nitrite = 1.0
Previous reading
pH = 6.8-7.0
Nitrite = 0
Ammonia = 1.0Problems
1. Our ammonia levels was really high at 8.0 and only after a week or so of daily 50% water changes have we gotten it down to 1.0 so a massive improvement. We have added Prime + AMGuard + Matrix media to lower the ammonia spike.
We think that the ammonia spike may have been caused by the following:-
- 3 months ago our main Eheim filter stopped working so we put a temporary and much smaller Orca filter to use, we then purchased the Fluval FX5, this was purchased 2nd hand but it had been turned off for 2 wks therefore, no beneficial bacteria, we did keep the Orca running alongside our new Fluval till last week.
- Overstocking unquarantined fish in our tank. Hubby added approximately 6 fishes in the last month without quarantining the fishes first.
2. Diseases, diseases and more diseases! Now different fishes are showing different signs of some type of diseases, we have gone to fish stores and have asked them for their advise but we get a different reply each time, first it's a bacteria, then it's a parasite and we don't know what to believe and I read on the Diagnosis thread that I shouldn't mix medications when I don't know if the diagnosis is correct. Here's what's wrong with them, can you pls help in diagnosing my fish problems and what to medicate them with?
1 x Texas
- Red growth which looks like a small cluster of small pimples near the opening of its gills
- Swollen around the mouth
- Circumference line around its mouth, between that and the mouth is the same red pimple-looking thing
2 x Peacock Bass
- Cloudy Eyes
- Going black, very black!
1 x Synspillum
- Pimples on their fins, looks like white heads
Jaguar + Oscar
- Fins are torn/rotting away but it looks like there are white spots on it
I'm hoping that I can be given a correct diagnosis of my fish problems so I can medicate them correctly rather than just guessing what they have and putting ANY medication in it. We've spent so much in meds the last few weeks! The fishes, apart from the symptoms I've written above does not seem to be significantly affected e.g. none are showing signs of illness, lack of appetite etc, apart from the physical symptoms, none seem to be visibly ill.
I understand, from my research through the internet that many of these diseases have only manifested themselves because of the poor water quality and many of these bacteria or parasites are located in the tank normally, but when the water quality is poor, the fishes are more susceptible in getting bacteria/parasites...therefore, does it mean that when we get the water quality back to normal, will all these go away or must I still need to treat it?
Thank you in advance and looking forward to hearing all your advice.
