So.. found out my tap water PH is somewhere around 8.5

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About 2 weeks ago for all but the texas cichlids, who i got about 5 days ago. I rearranged the tank when the Texas cichlid's were added just to be safe, and I'm glad I did as the new layout looks much better, and the fish have taken to it much better IMO.

The sick Texas I've only seen eat bloodworms and sometimes pellets crumbs. The other one isn't eating much, but his poop is normal and I've noticed that he is slowly eating more as he acclimates to the tank.

The firemouth was the first to be sick, he wasn't eating either and began to look bloated. I had to quarantine him to a fishbowl (I'm working on getting a quarantine tank) after I saw him poop stringy white, but I treated him with Metro+ (3 days) and epsom salt (5 days) and the bloating is now completely gone. I moved him back to the main tank due to my decision to treat the entire tank with parasite guard, and he seems much better. I haven't fed the fish since the treatment of the tank began, so I'm not sure what the situation with the firemouths eating is at this point, but his colors have come back and he's acting healthy.

I noticed a random tear on the convict's fin around 4 days ago and thought nothing of it, as i thought that maybe he tore it on the driftwood or a plant or something. I have noticed more and more tear over the last couple of days, culminating in last night where I all of the sudden noticed that he might have fin rot. He actually seems a bit better today though, It looks to me like some of the tears are healing up a little bit. The fins haven't started shortening, only a few separations between the rays. HE always eats, and he acts healthy and poops normal so I don't think his issue is brought on by anything internal.

All other fish seem completely normal and healthy, and all eat fine.

I feed mainly NLS Thera sinking pellets .5mm (i think?.. whatever the small ones are). I also mix in Hikari cichlid gold floating pellets with them every couple of feedings. Treats are every 3 days normally. Rotating between frozen Krill, and bloodworms. Though I plan on decreasing the bloodworm frequency, i used them mainly to get the firemouth and texas to eat something. Would it maybe be better to crush the pellets, and saturate the crumbs, since that seems to be more palatable for the sick Texas?
 
Drstrangelove said:
Are these the same fish you just got 2 weeks ago (according to your other thread)?

By diatoms, do you mean algae?

Afaik, diatoms grow in a wide range of pH and as low as 5.5 or lower. And high pH doesn't cause plants to exist. They exist where ever conditions are ripe for growth such as nutrients, oxygen, light, darkness, etc. pH might well determine which particular algae grows or how well it grows but it doesn't create algae.
Click to expand...

It is brown algae, and it's slimy and easy to remove.
 
Feed only pellets with epsom salt for 5 days, nothing else.

I doubt its the brown algae causing issues, I get that every now and then due to my water supply and just wipe off during a water change with the vacuum hose above it.
 
I would continue since it helped a sick fish, and do more than a 25% change. Feed the pellets at the same time.
 
My take (as incorrect as it might be) is that you have 2 separate issues that are only related because you appear to have a new tank:

1) sounds like you have an algae bloom. Too much something in the water (silicates, phosphates, nitrates, light, etc.) is causing the bloom. I'm not versed enough to suggest what the cure is, but knowing that it's brown slimy algae is a good start.

What is your substrate (if it's sand, what type) and what rocks or decorations if any do you have in the tank (excluding the wood)?
What light is entering the tank (direct/indirect sunlight, tank lighting-type) and for how long?

2) you have new fish. New fish are stressed from being moved and by being in a new tank and by being around new fish. There are many territorial fish in this group and they may be stressed by each other (despite their size or age.) New fish will often not eat and some will be sick when they enter the tank.


If you post a pic of the convict's fins it might be helpful. Do any fish show red swollen gils? Are any breathing hard or making dashes to the surface? Are any other fish displaying any fin damage?
 
The notion that all waters in Central and South America are soft and low in pH is bogus.
The pH range of waters in much of Central America goes from @ 7 (neutral) to as high as 9.
These waters are usually considered alkaline.
The great lakes in Nicaragua (where Amatitlania (convict complex) and Amphilophus are found) have been tested to have conductivity as high as 5500 micro-Siemens.
And the waters where cichlids such as the Andinoacara ("green terror") complex are found west of the Andes, have also been tested in the upper 7 range.
 
I bred green terrors years ago using our tap water. The Ph usually hangs about 7.8 here, also bred angelfish in the same water, and German rams.

I wouldn't worry about the water PH and stuff so much, but I would look at the overall quality of the water. It sounds like your cycled since no ammonia or nitrite is showing.

What temp are you keeping them at? You may want to give them a bump up to 80 if they aren't feeling well right now. Keep the lights dim for a bit too so they can settle in, and maybe add some hiding spots for the texas.

The texas I had were pretty unsettled unless they could either hide or be in a larger group. They were fin nippers too, taking on any fish coming near their flowerpot and taking a chunk or splitting a fin in the process. My blood parrots did good with them and could hold their own, but they would have chewed up my green terrors if I had put them in there.

Any of these guys could become fin nippers fast, I'd bet someone in there is doing ti and it's not just an accident from the fish running into something.
 
Welp... I give up man, I just can't stop this tank from getting sick... this has been hell on earth. Looks like the fish are starting to get ich now. I think I'm just going to flush the whole tank, raise the temperature to 90 degrees, and wait for two weeks. If it's not one thing with these guys it's another... I feel like I've done everything I can at this point. I can't keep fighting this all the time, it's mentally and emotionally exhausting, and midterms are about to hit full swing.

Starts out with internal parasites on one fish, I tried everything, feeding peas, epsom salt in the water and soaked into the pellets, metro treatment. The crap still seems to be spreading, as slowly more fish seem to become disinterested in food. Now It looks like my biggest fish, 3" Gold Saum is infected with ich.. and had a prolapsed vent (that receded back inside) the other day. I literally don't think I could've been introduced to the hobby in a worse way than this.....

I guess on a positive note my Anubias are starting to sprout new leaves :)
 
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