Scratching and flicking is often caused by water quality issues and can be seen in a newly established tank. If that's all you see, I'd hold off and not treat with anything. Up the water changes and make sure the filtration is sufficient long term. The flicking and scratching will stop once the water quality is up to scratch.
Treating inch before it happens.
- Thread starter Fishguy679
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I read about that but all My prams are pretty good (check the main post for them). I'm just Gona keep an eye on it and if I see any white spots I'm gona put the temp up and add salt.
People seem to get very touchy on the topic of sub optimal water quality....Sometimes we can do so much. Flicking and scratching in a new tank is often caused by an unestablished biological system and although your tests come up pretty clear, I can guarantee you that at any given time in any tank there's ammonia in the water, in most cases not enough to harm the fish or cause any external signs but in a new tank the process is not as efficient despite the colour of your test tube...Unless you see signs of parasites...which is your second option...I'd do nothing but large water changes...All it takes is time after that.
Ok that makes perfect sense, I feel a bit better now. But if my fish did have parasites what should I look for besides what I already saw?
Give the tank a few more weeks to establish, keep up with the water changes. If there is persistent or increased flicking after that, it could be parasites/worms, providing by then you have not seen any other external signs to give a more accurate idea. If you're seeing just occasional flicking, and normal behaviour otherwise...its most likely the water.
I would invest in an API water test kit. The dip strips are horribly inaccurate. I am also fond of UV sterilizers for controlling parasites and pathogens. Be sure not to heavily stock your tank until it is fully cycled. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, nitrates below 40 ppm. Live plants are helpful if they can endure the attentions of your cichlids. Java ferns and anubias work about the best and are relatively carefree once established. My tank is heavily planted and my nitrates are typically below 5 ppm.
I have built in UV sterilizera on my 2 sun sun 304 b's but I'm not sure if there really effective. I don't think live plants are an option for Me, my tank is an SA and CA cichlid community and I'm not sure if live plants would fare well with my Cichlids.
You're probably right about the plants. When it comes to UV sterilization, I set mine to where the water flows through them slowly enough that the UV has enough exposure time to kill pathogens.
Update- everyone is doing well fish are active and all Eat, but I noticed this weird black spot under my jack Dempseys chin, maybe it's genetic and just a "birthmark" here's a picture I'm not sure if its bad or not so if anybody thinks they know what it is please chime in. Also I noticed my green terrors poop was whiteish brown and but not stringy, not sure if its fine or that's a sign of a parisite or something. Besides that everyone is doing great and the tank is very clean and there are no problems.
I also turned the uv sterilizers on on my 2 sun sun 304 B's not sure if that's any help beacause there only 9 watts and the flow rate is pretty high in the filters but it's better than nothing I guess.
