I got no salt or buffer. Personally, it is too much of a headache to keep the correct ratios and I saw no benefit in using it. Actually, I saw more stress in the fish as they tried to adjust to the additives.
what salt and cichlid buffer do you use if any?
- Thread starter bOOsteN aUdI
- Start date
I really DOUBT you oversalted your tank... For these fish, a salinity level of about 8-10 would probably kill these fish; close to salt water...
You would have to put in about 40-80 cups of salt in the 180 gallon tank for it to be a problem...
As long as your KH is 8-15 you should be fine.
You would have to put in about 40-80 cups of salt in the 180 gallon tank for it to be a problem...
As long as your KH is 8-15 you should be fine.
If the salinity of the water isn't consistant - it tends to irritate the cichlids skin. As long as the water properties keep changing the fish will keep scratching.
Gill/Body flukes (microscopic); these cause the fish to scratch...
My recommendation, if it doesn't get better in the next couple of days is to use a treatment of Aquarisol, or Praziquantril, or Formalin, or Copper... The Praziquantril is probably the safest (prazi-pro) as it will not harm the biological filtration if used in the correct dosage. Hope this helps.
My recommendation, if it doesn't get better in the next couple of days is to use a treatment of Aquarisol, or Praziquantril, or Formalin, or Copper... The Praziquantril is probably the safest (prazi-pro) as it will not harm the biological filtration if used in the correct dosage. Hope this helps.
Also, the flukes will procreate at a rapid pace, so make sure you keep an eye on it. If they procreate too quickly, to where the fishes immune system cannot keep up, you will get into MAJOR trouble; systemic infections, septicemia, bacterimia, etc... and this will usually lead to secondary bacterial or fungal infections...
I always keep formalin, prazi-pro, aquari-sol, salt, and quick-cure on hand for these types of problems.
I always keep formalin, prazi-pro, aquari-sol, salt, and quick-cure on hand for these types of problems.
All of my recommendation is from my past experiences... Each case can differ, but, will give you another route to think about... 
If it is flukes, they will scratch, start breathing a little heavier, and probably will spit food out.. They might have clamped fins, and the overall appearence of the fish will look like it is sick
