Tank Issues with New World Cichlids!

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Empyreal

Empyreal

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Sep 2, 2013
1,278
60
66
Las Vegas, NV
Hey guys, having some minor issues with my cichlids. Specifications first:

110 gallon. Rena Filtar Xp4, Emperor 400, and Fluval 406.
Water change once per week @ 50%, Add Prime and Aq. Salt.
Params are usually fine when I test, except sometimes high Nitrates

Stock:
11in Tiger Oscar
8in Vieja Syn
5in Female Jack Dempsey
4in Red Hook Silver Dollar
12in Endli Bichir

Ok so heres my problem. My Oscar is always on the brink of hole in the head. It keeps popping up close to where the head meets the first dorsal ray. Its very small, almost like he lost a scale in that area, but it is indented and white so I know its hole in the head. It frequently will go away then come back.
The second thing (which may be unrelated, not sure) Is my V Syn, the second biggest fish in the tank and never bothered by my oscar, is always hiding recently and super skiddish. When I approach the tank or move too quickly he bolts and smashing into everything scaring the other fish.

Any ideas how to combat these two problems? Thanks guys!
 
If you are having issues with hith it is a sign of water issues such as high nitrates . Keeping your nitrates as below 20 ppm and better below 10 will increase your chances of getting the hith under control. I would advise you to thin out your stocking in your tank and do 2 to 3 50% water changes a week keeping nitrates low and removing charcoal from your filtration as that is commonly linked to hith. Good luck!
 
Thanks buddy! I'm surprised that the nitrates haved been so high with my water change schedule. Oscars are just very messy fish I guess.

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To verify water quality (good or bad)...how about testing the water (Nitrates, Nitrites, Ammonia). Then you will know if the 50% weekly water changes are enough.
 
With your overstock, a single 50% weekly w/c is very inadequate. The big Oscar alone is a strain on the bio load. Once an Oscar gets or even starts to develop hith, the chances of recurrence are greater. Best overall scenario is Oscar alone in that tank and minimum twice weekly 75% w/c. Hith takes a long time to even get in check and longer to make disappear. Clean water is the cure. Carbon can contribute to the problem, but so can stress from overcrowding. Thin your stock way down and get much more clean water in there.
 
I googled the Las Vegas water quality Report to check what the parameters are coming from your tap
although all are important, the ones I look for are most often are
alkalinity = 135ppm (this tells buffering capacity against how quickly fish urine and other metabolic processes will acidify the tank water)
hardness = 285 (the amount of mineral salts already in water)
pH= 7.9 (at times related to the above 2)
Nitrate = 0.5ppm (your starting point in determining water quality)
With the hardness, pH and alkalinity (and other trace minerals in the report)
If it were me, I would not add salt to my water change water, there are plenty of minerals in the tap water already.
Beyond nitrate buildup, oscars are sensitive to drastic fluctuations.
So if before a water change of 50% your tank water has become acidified
(ex pH 6.9) from metabolic processes like fish urine, food breakdown, uncleaned filter residue,
and then you add pH 7.9 and salted water , that is a drastic change, and stressful.
If nitrates are high before a water change (>20ppm), and low after (5ppm),
more water changes per week are needed.
Instead of a 50% change once per week, three 20% to 30% changes might be more beneficial, keeping your tank water more stable.
There may be a number of other stressors in play, such as fish aggression, stray voltage, etc,
because you did not give much info (test numbers, filter cleaning schedule, feeding etc
I just checked in coming water parameters and how I believe, they may effect your situation.
 
stray voltage?! what's that?
 
+1 to no salt. I don't think thats contributing to your problems (I think ists your nitrates) but it is wasting your money. The only time I ever use salt is if I recieve an order of fish with fin damage or injuries of some sort.
 
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