Vital Chems?

[RadleyMiller]

What are the Most vittal chems u guys use? I want 2 have perfect water, 2 all times. I have no idea of how 2 lower and rise my ph if needed. Amonia, dont get me started on amonia.

PLZ starting 2 put biggggg Bucks into my hobby and i need 2 know.

Your ammonia is high because you tank is way over stocked. New tank + cycled wet/dry and you will have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites in about 2 months (faster if you use old media) You want to keep pH slightly acidic for the RBP with a buffer and the buffer will keep the pH from fluctuating. Buy some purigen and use it to keep nitrates down, I love it!

 

[RadleyMiller]

You know i have great luck with stress coat. Although it's NOT A CHEMICAL i still supliment with it and the fish seem to love it. its a aloe based declor that helps with the slime coat of the fish. It helps maintain their slime-coat while keeping them destressed which is in my opinion a good thing!

So does Prime, and you can use Prime with purigen but not stress coat.

 

[plah831]

I used to use Stress Coat, too, as my everyday tap water conditioner. But I heard something about how the aloe gunks up fish's gills. Has anyone else heard of that? I still keep some Stress Coat around for emergencies, but don't use it with routine water changes.

I switched to Prime because you can use so much less of it to treat the same volume of water. Plus, gotta love that rotten egg funk! Actually, it's kinda grown on me...

 

[RBP7]

Your ammonia is high because you tank is way over stocked. New tank + cycled wet/dry and you will have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites in about 2 months (faster if you use old media) You want to keep pH slightly acidic for the RBP with a buffer and the buffer will keep the pH from fluctuating. Buy some purigen and use it to keep nitrates down, I love it!

i have removed 2 of the smaller p's now only 5. they seem 2 be doing alot better. Ialso use aqua plus, cycle, waste controle(for small particuls in the sand) and salt for meds. I was told this is a good combonation. I have not used the waste controle yet want more oppinions on it first.

 

[Pfisherman]

Okay, please do not tell anyone not to use ANY chemicals in their aquarium unless you know the condition of their tap water. Some places (such as my home town) add so mych ammonia to the tap that it kills fish almost immediatly, even after only a 10-20% water change, same goes for chlorine. so unless you are using 100% RO warter, I would add prime water conditioner (black bottle with red label), or a product called genisis (clear bottle with yellow chem). Also copper sulfate is very imporant in case your fish get ick. Dr wellfish stress coat is also good in case your fish get banged up, helps replace their slime coat, sea salt should be added to all aquriums, as it aid in the fishes respiration, and makes them more comfortable.

Never heard of it gunking up fishes gills, but if you use it "everyday" as you said, it probably is over kill.

Key to proper amonia, nitrite and nitrate lvels is not overfeeding, not overstocking, and vacuuming often, 10-20% every other week, or week depending on conditions, test often.

stay away from ph buffers, and chems that remove cloudiness, the "clouds" are the bbacteria that consume ammonia and nitrates, than produce nitrites. live plants will help reduce nitrites. messin with the ph is relativly un needed as P's are pretty adaptive to PH, and it is a pain in the ass.

Quinn

 

[RBP7]

i have started testing religusly, everything is good now. But a 1.5 months ago some of my fish started having cloudy eyes, small sores(not ick), but now their all Heald up. that was when i got very concerned about their health and made this thread. but if any one has any idea why this happened it would be greatly appreceated thnx.