Thomas712 help please

[zibnata]

I set up 20 gallon QT about 10 days ago.Treated tank with maracyn-2 for 5 days for hippo with a cloudy eye.Hippo looks great now.Started hypo a few days ago for ich.I have been doing small water changes every couple of days.I noticed red streaks on yellow tang. I just checked ammonia and it is at 1.0. I just did a 5 gallon water change with saltwater I mixed up last week.I am trying to feed alot to keep them healthy but could that be cause of ammonia ? there is a hippo,yellow tang,blackcap basslet,blue devil damsil and royal gramma. What should I do about the yellow tang,maracyn-2 again ? Should I use diluted display tank water for water changes ? Thanks

 

[wablondie98664]

the only thing i can think of is you just might have too many fish in the qt. try frequent water changes to keep the tank from going in to a cycle.

 

[zibnata]

Thanks for reply.I did one last night and one tonight using main tank water . I am afraid the tang has ammonia poisoning.I saw this on a website..http://www.fish-disease.com/
Ammonia Poisoning
Symptoms:
The fish will hang just under the surface with labored breathing. Its gills will appear to be lilac in color. Red streaking may be seen throughout the body and fins. Fishes with ammonia poisoning will become lethargic and eventually die, maintaining their full coloring. The ammonia will damage their skin, gills, nerves and internal organs. The red streaking is due to hemorrhages (internal and external bleeding). Its mucous membranes of the skin and intestine are also destroyed. Damage also occurs to the brain and central nervous system.
Cause:
Abnormally high levels of ammonia.
Treatment:
Test the water to confirm the disease. If ammonia levels are high, perform an immediate water change. It’s also a good idea to use a chemical that will remove the ammonia. Activated carbon, Ammo-Lock, or Tetra Easy Balance.

 

[thomas712]

Not sure I'm understanding here, but 1.0 ammonia can be deadly.
You set up a 20 gal Q-tank and it is only 10 days old. This tank is now cycleing or what?
What tank did you treat with marycin 2 ?
If you have put fish in the new Q-tank and it is only 10 days old then this is a problem, and why you are seeing an ammonia spike, its cycling now. There is no bacterial base in the new QT.
The reddness that you are seeing on that tang I believe is a bacterial infection.
I would get some water from the main tank and put that in the q-tank. In fact I would change half of that water or more with water from the main tank. What filtration are you using on the q-tank? What filtration is on the main tank, you may need some of it for the q-tank, like even takin some bio balls, filter floss
Give me the rest of the tank paramiters, salinity, temp everything on the new Q-tank and if there is any fish in it.
I'll drop a line to Beth, Terry, and Trojan
Thomas

 

[zibnata]

I started the qt tank with water from the main tank. I treated qt with maracyn -2 for 5 days and then after 5 days I started dropping salinity down to 1.009 over a 3 day period by doing water changes with fresh water.
I put fish in qt because of ich.Hippo had cloudy eye and seems to be cured.there is a hippo,yellow tang,blackcap basslet,blue devil damsil and royal gramma.
Temp- 80
salinity - 1.009
nitrates- 40
amonnia- 1.0
nitrites- .50
ph- 8.4

 

[beth]

When you set up a QT on an emergency basis, then you are basically dealing with a cycleless tank. Your job is to keep it from cycling. This means water changes during the day, vaccuming up any debris on the floor of the QT, throwing on carbon filtration, seeding filters from your display to use in the QT.
You just need to keep the tank from cycling. A lot of work, but that's what needs to be done.

 

[zibnata]

I have been doing the water changes.Now at least I know I am on the right track.But what do you mean ( seeding filters from display ) thank-you

 

[beth]

What type of filter are using on your QT? Whatever it is, you need to place "new" filter media in your main tank so that the bacteria from your display will seed your QT. It is good to do this at least a wk before the QT goes up so the seeded filter is ready to go when the QT is setup, but in your case, I would go ahead and leave the filter you now have in your QT but get ready for a well seeded change out by placing fresh filter media or a sponge filter in your tank now so it can get seeded and you will be able to use it in a wk or so.
Also, if you haven't done so already, take about 5 cups of sand from your display and put it in your QT. Again more seeding. Get water really moving in your QT, particualarly at the surface of the water--but not to the point that your fish are uncomfortable. If you have a small piece of LR that you can spare, throw it in the QT [know that this rock will not be going back into your display].
You will just need to do water changes, even a few times a day, until things settle down.

 

[zibnata]

Thank-you so much.I will do what you suggested.

 

[lesleybird]

When you do a hospital tank without substrate and bacteria growing in it to proccess the amonia you need to do a 25% water change every other day. A lot of work, but there is no other way to keep the amonia within acceptable limits in an uncycled tank....even if the tank was a cycled one with substrate, most antibiotics kill off the benificial bacteria that keep the amonia proccessed in to nitrite and then into nitrate. Lesley

 

[zibnata]

The tang is very active and is eating alot of seaweed which it wasnt doing a few days ago.Since doing water changes all the fish are much more active and eating more.I did what you suggested by adding sand and a piece of LR and now will continue to do the water changes.This experience has given my son an idea for his 7th science project.He ( I should say WE ) are doing it on The nitrogen cycle of a saltwater aquarium . Thanks again for everyones help.

 

[beth]

Wow. Sounds like a great science project. Just don't use any live animals to demonstrate the high ammonia phase!

 

[zibnata]

It wouldnt do that , but unfortunatly I or should I say my fish have just been through it.

 

[zibnata]

The tangs look good and are active as well as blackcap basslet and damsel, but the royal gramma is now swimming upside down for the last 2 days and is lathargic and not eating. I am doing daily water changes.I would hate to do it but should I remove the royal gramma so it wont create ammonia if it dies ? It is now starting to be harrased as while. Thanks

 

[elfdoctors]

Your situation sounds nearly identical to mine (see thread "hyposalinity killed my fish??") except my fish had a mild case of ich. I had about the same number of fish including a yellow and blue tang. I had seeded my tank with gravel and it was up and running a week before I put the fish in. I never got ammonia but I did get nitrites in spite of doing 25% water changes twice daily. I would not remove the royal gramma (unless you had a place to put him) as he will not make an unusual amount of excessive ammonia until after he dies at which time you can take him out. I lost 4 out of my six fish including the yellow tang but the other ones are doing well now (in spite of going through that gasping phase). After a week of twice daily 25% water changes my nitrites are now only barely detectable and I have backed down to just one water change.
Bear with with. If you can get them through the next week I would hope they should do well.

 

[zibnata]

Yes I read your thread and it is similair. Quite fustrating,you think you are diong everything right and something goes wrong.The hippo that was the one with ich and cloudy eye is doing great.When I was changing out CC to LS after the hippo came up from behind the rocks he had ich and the next day cloudy eye. Must of stressed him out. The yellow tang is eating a lot but shows signs of internal bleeding. The fish that is doing the best is a blue damsel( it figures) that I had when I started the tank.I guess all we can do is water changes and wait. Thanks for the reply and encouragment.

 

[bterry29]

I have a question after reading all of these postings. If a person is setting up a qt because of ich problems, wouldn't you be spreading the ich to the qt tank by moving substrate and water from the main tank? I've read that the ich can stay dormant in the substrate and water so wouldn't the problem be compounded by putting substrate and water into a qt? Thanks.

 

[thomas712]

The QT is the hospital tank in which one would prefer to quarenteen the parisites that are ick. If necessary one can QT all the fish at one time. While you are controlling the ick you can leave your main tank empty during the Quarenteen process and leaving it fishless or if you prefer without hosts then the ick will not be able to live in the main tank if you follow the correct procedures and leave it fishless for 4 to 6 weeks.
Better still is QT'ing any new arrivals before addition to the main tank is by and far a great preventitive measure.
Thomas

 

[zibnata]

What should I do now? The blackcap basslet is swimming upside down at the top of the tank,the royal gramma is hanging at the bottom not moving. I have been doing daily water changes with fresh saltwater.Should I be using saltwater from the main tank ? PLEASE hurry with replies. Thanks

 

[thomas712]

Yes I would be doing water changes from the main tank.