starting to stress

[ogre]

The other day I posted about copepods but maybe I miss diagnosed the issue. My LFS said I have salt water fleas, my reading of other post decided that they were copepods... what ever they are is this something I need to get use to or what? Also I have been having ammonia issues that were talorable with the fact that I was treating it and testing every other day. I added charcoal since nothing else seamed to make a differance. after 2&1/2 days of salt water charcoal in the sump my ammonia is even higher and now I'm starting to get worried about my fish. Not to mention that my Nitrite was perfect now it's up also. HELP! The tank cycled fully, all readings were perfect. I added 2 fish,Lion and Y Tang then everythig goes south.

 

[granny]

If your 'saltwaterfleas" are not on your fish, I wouldnt worry about them at the moment. You have more serious problems.
YOur tank may have cycled, but it was only for a very small load. Lions are hugely messy fish and usually you feed them large chunks of messy food.
One fish should have been all you added at a time. Now, get some amquel for saltwater FAST. It is very expensive, very smelly, but very effective in neurtralizing ammo, trites and trates. You are going to need to do fairly large water changes adding amquel each time till this problem subsides. Your tang may not make it through this. They are very sensitive to the water parameters and get stressed easily.
Good luck to you and your fish. Dont suppose you have a friend who could house your fish for a week or two do you?

 

[ogre]

No frieds crazy enough to get into the hobby. I was using Amquel which did lower the ammonia originally but never got it down to zero. I have been treating for over 2 weeks and finnally stopped in favor of the charcoal

 

[granny]

The amquel neutralizes the effects of the ammo etc on the fish so as long as you are showing any ammonia, youi need to keep using it.
I dont want to tell you anything you already know, but ammonia is the first toxin to be produced by your fish, which is broken down into nitrites then nitrates. If you are having ammonia, you are going to see your TRITES spike as well, which is even more harmful to the fish. Charcoal is a water purifier, but it wont do much to hasten the cycling or get ride of nitrites. Water changes and amquel are the only solution that I know of.
Would your LFS where you purchased your tang house it for a while for you? Its going to take a good two weeks or so for you to cyle again. And remember to only add ONE fish at a time, weeks apart in the future when your tank is new, which I am guessing yours is.

 

[flricordia]

By charcol you mean a high grade of reef carbon I hope. Cheap charcoal mediums can cause more problems than they help solve. You probably need to do some 5-10% water changes and cut way back on feeding your fish till you get a handle on the ammonia issue. Get some more medium to hold benificial bacteria such as LR or if a FOWLER tank only maybe bio-balls. Also increase surface agitation and flow without direct against the fish such as deflected ph.

 

[ogre]

I'll chech with the LFS about the Tang. Thanks for the help. Amquel is now back on the menu.

 

[ogre]

I wonder if the fact that I added another powerhead ( angled at the lower half of the tank) could be causing some of these problems. Anyway I will adjust the angle. I have water ready for a water change just need more hours in the day. No LR but the filter is full of bioballs. Also I let my Lion know that he has to go on a diet.

 

[michaeltx]

saltwater fleas? they are copepods nothing to worry about they are in all tanks and are benificial.
as far as the ammonia does your LFS do water testing? if they do take a water sample and have them test it.
what test kits are you useing?
and is amaquel the only additive you are adding?
something is going on adding the amaquel is just covering it up. since there are fish in the system you have a challenge to keep it as low as possible for them.
how much are you and what are you feeding the tank?
Mike

 

[ogre]

my guy at the LFS has been working hard on this with me. i use the Tetra test kit, same as the LFS. my guy thinks it might be Ammonium as apposed to Ammonia that is showing up. my tank is completely covered to cut down on evaporation, there are a couple vent areas. i feed every other day. a couple silverback for the lion, 1/2 a cube of algae for the tang and 1/2 a cube of mysis for the jawfish. this ammonia has been going on for 3 weeks at least and all fish are looking and doing great. the last reading was 2.0 and that was on Monday