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Bigr
01-11-2004, 3:56 PM
I have a 75g tank of African cichlids and there are dying 1 per week. The first one had white cotton like substance on his body. I treated the tank with Maracyn for 3 days I thought everything was good then another fish got sick. I removed him from the tank and setup a 10g hospital tank and treating both with Maracyn it’s been 6 days. The fish in the 10g still lives but not eating. After 3 days I stop treatment (75g ), this morning I found one dead and one sick with no cotton like substance but with a lost in color. I moved the sick one to the hospital tank. My question is what wrong with them and why are they getting sick? My water level are good and temp is 78-80 degrees.

Raf
01-11-2004, 4:03 PM
Which species do you keep? how many are males? how many are females?

What is your waterchange routine like? do you gravel vac?

Bigr
01-11-2004, 4:17 PM
I don't know what species they are or how many male or female. I do water changes every 4 weeks and yes I do have a graval vac.

Raf
01-11-2004, 6:17 PM
Well, with africans it helps if you know what species you have so you can pick ones that will get along together.

Any chance you can post pics?

jimbo
01-11-2004, 7:25 PM
If you have 'Africans' from lake malawi you want to perform a 35/50% waterchange every week.
High nitrate levels could be the culprit. Save levels are between 12 and 50 mg/Liter. A litle higher like 70 or 80 wont harm them instantly but on long terms and often it will.
Did you check those nitrate levels? (or any other levels like nitrite or ammonia)

Jimmy

Bigr
01-11-2004, 8:31 PM
Ph has been around 7.2, ammonia around 0 - 1ppm and nitrite at about .25. I'm gonig to do a water change tonight should I treat with the maracyn again?

~*LuvMyKribs*~
01-11-2004, 9:53 PM
Low ph maybe a problem? Africans like a high ph of around 8.2

I dont think that would directly cause the disease but the diseases could be brought on by stress form the low ph.

maybe?

jimbo
01-12-2004, 3:31 AM
Originally posted by Bigr
Ph has been around 7.2, ammonia around 0 - 1ppm and nitrite at about .25. I'm gonig to do a water change tonight should I treat with the maracyn again?

I'm not sure about the 'maracyn', I've never used any medicines in my tank (lucky me).
I guess someone else could give you some advise on that.

Kribs is right about the pH, perhaps you could try to raise it a little by using a mixture of epsom salt and baking soda in the future.

Jimmy