Dying Fish

[allthatent]

I need hlep! I HAD 10 fish. One by one they are dying. I have been battling with high nitrates (not unlivable) but didn't didn't appear to affect my fish. NOW I have what they call Velvet or ick. I am currently going thru a 10 day water change process to rid my nitrates and treating the water for ick with Greenex. NOTHING is getting rid of the ick!:help: :help: :help: :help:

 

[tree]

Is this a FO tank? You might try posting in the Disease & Treatment forum. One of the best ways to get rid of ich is hyposalinity & it is described in that forum's FAQ. It worked on my clownfish. However you can't do that treatment or many others in atank that has inverts

 

[|2ain]

if you can get your fish out and put them in a qt tank, use copper and do a daily water change if your qt is unestablished.

 

[allthatent]

I do have a coral & sponge. thanks

 

[beaslbob]

what is you ph at?

 

[dburr]

10 fish sounds like alot for a 55 gallon. I guess it depends on how big they were. Either way, I think it was stress. Stress will cause ick.
Do you or can you get another tank? I recommend doing hypo. If you do a search you will find alot of info.

 

[oyam1]

yes stress
we love to get new fish, but 10 in a 55 could = stress.
as they are alredy stressed you need a QT
copper is good, but that just adds to the stress.
hypo is best, but inverts have to come out.
get ready for any weak fish to die.
stop adding poison to you tank.
and save the ones you can.
also dont over feed. and keep less fish in your new tank.

 

[allthatent]

I was told it the ick was probably caused by stress. I'm now down to 4 fish. My dogface puffer is the weak one today. I can't stand the thought of losing him. Thanks for all the info.

 

[beaslbob]

I would add all the plant life you can get your hands on. Especially if the fish are breathing heavy and daytime ph has dropped.

 

[allthatent]

All my tites, amonia, ph are fine. It's my trates that are high. What good would plant life do? Is that fresh water plant life your suggesting?:notsure:

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by allthatent
All my tites, amonia, ph are fine. It's my trates that are high. What good would plant life do? Is that fresh water plant life your suggesting?:notsure:
the fact you didn't realize what a slatwater plant is tells me all I need to know.
sure your are overstocked. And sure you fish are stressed.
Adding plant life will consume ammonia, nitrAtes, phosphated and carbon dioxide. therefore lowering the stress and providing the fish with live plant food which increases their immune system.
I did not mean FW plants. I meant any saltwater plant life from simple algaes to true marine plants.
The easiest is the macro algaes like caulpera profilera or brillo pad macros. A pound of cauplera profilera costa about $20 delivered. And would do wonders for your system. I recommend you protect it by a refugium or even culturing it in another container. But get it in there sooner than later
You can get some from local hobbiest who may be throwing away pounds each month. My LFS here sells a handfull for $5 when they have some. SWF has shaving brushes and blades which they ship as livestock and that is good. they did not do well in my system as the fish attacked them. If you need more comercial links email me at beaslbob@aol.com

 

[oyam1]

best plant to get at this point is some good weed.
light up a big fatty.
it will help the pain of death go away.

sorry about the joke but the loss of some fish you love is so sad you have to cry.

 

[beth]

allthatent, just continue in the other thread with the problem and post up as much info as you can as I have suggested there.
I'm closing here.