Ick? It's like snow in my tank!

flameangel

flameangel

Member
Okay. I hope I give all the info needed to help. If not, fuss at me, and I'll add more! :D
38 Gallon tank with 2 firefish and a bar goby. 30 pounds of live rock. 4 mushrooms. Prizm skimmer. Penguin 330 Bio-wheel. One maxi-jet powerhead.
Ammonia is .25. All other parameters are normal. Tank has only been set up about 5 weeks.
PROBLEM: The firefish are doing absolutely wonderful and have been since they were purchased. They were bought at the same time with a lemonpeel angel. It died within 2 days, no symptoms except hiding in top corner toward the end. Added yellow tang week later which got snowy looking stuff on him, cloudy eyes and starting wobbling and breathing heavy. He lasted 2-3 days. Got bar goby Wednesday (today is Saturday) and he has been doing wonderful. All fish get along and eat healthy. This morning my bar goby won't come out and won't eat. I can see him peeking out from time to time. He appears to be breathing kind've hard and has "snow" on his head. But there appears to be this "snow" every where floating around. I can't see it on my firefish, but I see it on the rock, power head, etc. What's going on? I thought maybe it was the ammonia and that this "snow" was just coincidence, not ick, but I don't know. I am going to do a water change shortly. What do you guys think is going on? Help!
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
You are obviously new to this hobby as well as our BB. Welcome to both. However, I must say bluntly that you have a lot to learn. On the good side, you've come to the right place to learn.
You didn't say if your tank was resently setup but from what you did say, I believe I can surmise that it is. It sound too me like your tank is cycling and you did not allow it to cycle before you started adding fish, and adding more fish. Fish can not tolerate ammonia. Not any level of ammonia. It is lethel to fish.
When you have a new tank, it is best to cycle it with Live Rock or fresh shrimp that you can get at the seafood section of the grocery store, rather than using live sea creature to cycle. Before proceding in this hobby, please get yourself a book or 2 on marine fishkeeping and read it thoroghly. Also, stick with our BB. You will find a wealth of info here, and people who will help you with your tank and fish.
 
flameangel

flameangel

Member
I will check my alkalinity and calcium levels this p.m. when I get home and let you know. Thanks to you guys for your help!
 
flameangel

flameangel

Member
...and what's the deal with using a shrimp to help cycle the tank? How does that work, and how would I go about it? <img src="graemlins//confused.gif" border="0" alt="[confused]" />
 
fishymissy

fishymissy

Member
Do not place the raw piece of shrimp into the tank unless you are going to remove ALL the fish from the tank first! Adding it to what you already have in there will only make things worse! If you are going to take ALL the fish back to the store (which is the very best thing to do), then go ahead and add the shrimp. If you decide to keep the fish, then you will need to start doing water changes, and start them now! Mix up the water and salt in a clean bucket or plastic tub (never use these for anything else but your tank) before adding to the tank. Try and get all readings as close as you can.....ph, temperature, salinity, alkalinity. This is really important to do. You need to get the ammonia levels down, that is why your fish have been dying. You need to do water changes every couple of days to keep the fish you have now alive.
Cycling is a biological process involving bacteria that convert ammonia (which is deadly) to nitrite(just as deadly). Another set of bacteria convert the nitrite to nitrate (which is less harmful) Your tank will be cycled when your ammonia = 0, nitites = 0 and nitrates are < 40. It takes time to establish all the necessary bacteria.
The white "snow" in your tank sounds like undissolved salt, or a precipitation of some sort. This is not ich. You cannot see the free swimming form of the parasite without a microscope.
A good book is so helpful in this hobby, one of my favorites is "Natural Reef Aquariums" by John Tullock. Also up there are "The New Marine Aquarium" by Michael Paletta and "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by Robert Fenner.
Good luck to you!
 
flameangel

flameangel

Member
Thank you all for your suggestions. The bar goby has since passed... :( The two firefish are still doing great though. How is it that they are doing so well? I have done water change. Ammonia is still .25. Calcium 250. Other parameters are normal. (They are posted in earlier replies of this thread.) Without removing the fish, is there anything I can do to lower the ammonia levels, or is this just a 'sit and wait for the tank to cycle' deal? Just wondering....thanks again.
Shelley :p
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
Well, if you're not going to return your fish and you want to try and keep these fish alive, then you'll need to continually monitor your ammonia and nitrite levels and do water changes. Also, feed your fish sparingly.
Gobies are pretty sensitive and delicate.
 
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