Hi Everyone,
I have a very big problem with my newly established 40 gal. tank.
I used biospira to cycle it, and added a full load of fish. I believe that my first problem was with the batch of biospira I bought. It must have been ineffective or expired, because my nitrites were pretty high for the first four days or so. However, the fish I had at the time (6 platys, 6 lemon tetras, 6 white skirt tetras, 2 rams, and 2 plecos) were doing just fine, showing no signs of stress. The nitrites didn't decrease, so I added a bit of Prime (following the directions) to the water in an attempt to help. Still no change in levels (nitrates rose as expected, though, making me believe some bacteria - action was at work). The fish were still doing fine about 7 days in.
The problem came when I noticed ich on my white skirts on day 8 -- the other fish weren't affected. I stupidly let the problem wait two more days -- day 10 of the "running" aquarium, at which point the white skirts were heavily infected, and the others were just starting to show some signs. I began treating with Kordon's Rid Ich, and that's when things went downhill.
FYI -- Before treatment, I noticed my nitrites had dropped to nearly 0 again, with "safe" nitrate levels, so that was good. Ph has always been steady at about 7.2. Moderate water hardness levels (not too hard, not too soft).
Two days into treatment (the recommended dosage of 1 tsp per 10 gallons, for a total of 4 per 40 gallons), I had lost about 1/4 of the fish, including the Rams, one pleco, several white skirts and several platys. The lemon tetras remained unaffected by either ich or any signs of stress. Today is day 5 of the treatment (day 15 total of a running aquarium), and I've lost the majority of my fish -- one pleco, two platys, 3 white skirts, and the lemon tetras are all that remain. The lemon tetras are now showing signs of ich. It's as if the treatment didn't help at all. Further, the dead fish seemed to have "disintegrated" at the time of their death -- their fins were frayed, their scales flaking, etc.
My question is, could the stress of poorly functioning biospira, along with apparently bad Rid-Ich, have caused this massive die off? The aquarium is also host to a fully complement of live plants, all of which are doing just fine, growing well, etc. The temp. is a steadly 78 degrees, the lighting is provided by a compact florescent light which is kept on for about 12 hours a day. I'm using an Enheim 2233 canister filter, rated for up to 60 gallons. The only problem I've noticed with it is that the flow seems awful strong, creating a strong current. Could this have contributed as well?
Any help with this situation would be greatly appreciated. I think, at this point, the remaining fish will be dead within a few days. Is there any way to save the plants in the tank, while "disinfecting it" for reuse and restocking? I will purchase my biospira from another source this time, to ensure that I get a "good" batch and would like to try again. If I raise the temperature to 83 degrees and leave it that way for a few days (a week?) would that be sufficient to kill whatever's in there (including ich) while not damaging the plants and giving me an opportunity to do a complete water change and try again in a few weeks? Thanks again, in advance, for any suggestions!!
A very, very desperate hobbyist who believed she was doing everything right... :help:
Sarah
I have a very big problem with my newly established 40 gal. tank.
I used biospira to cycle it, and added a full load of fish. I believe that my first problem was with the batch of biospira I bought. It must have been ineffective or expired, because my nitrites were pretty high for the first four days or so. However, the fish I had at the time (6 platys, 6 lemon tetras, 6 white skirt tetras, 2 rams, and 2 plecos) were doing just fine, showing no signs of stress. The nitrites didn't decrease, so I added a bit of Prime (following the directions) to the water in an attempt to help. Still no change in levels (nitrates rose as expected, though, making me believe some bacteria - action was at work). The fish were still doing fine about 7 days in.
The problem came when I noticed ich on my white skirts on day 8 -- the other fish weren't affected. I stupidly let the problem wait two more days -- day 10 of the "running" aquarium, at which point the white skirts were heavily infected, and the others were just starting to show some signs. I began treating with Kordon's Rid Ich, and that's when things went downhill.
FYI -- Before treatment, I noticed my nitrites had dropped to nearly 0 again, with "safe" nitrate levels, so that was good. Ph has always been steady at about 7.2. Moderate water hardness levels (not too hard, not too soft).
Two days into treatment (the recommended dosage of 1 tsp per 10 gallons, for a total of 4 per 40 gallons), I had lost about 1/4 of the fish, including the Rams, one pleco, several white skirts and several platys. The lemon tetras remained unaffected by either ich or any signs of stress. Today is day 5 of the treatment (day 15 total of a running aquarium), and I've lost the majority of my fish -- one pleco, two platys, 3 white skirts, and the lemon tetras are all that remain. The lemon tetras are now showing signs of ich. It's as if the treatment didn't help at all. Further, the dead fish seemed to have "disintegrated" at the time of their death -- their fins were frayed, their scales flaking, etc.
My question is, could the stress of poorly functioning biospira, along with apparently bad Rid-Ich, have caused this massive die off? The aquarium is also host to a fully complement of live plants, all of which are doing just fine, growing well, etc. The temp. is a steadly 78 degrees, the lighting is provided by a compact florescent light which is kept on for about 12 hours a day. I'm using an Enheim 2233 canister filter, rated for up to 60 gallons. The only problem I've noticed with it is that the flow seems awful strong, creating a strong current. Could this have contributed as well?
Any help with this situation would be greatly appreciated. I think, at this point, the remaining fish will be dead within a few days. Is there any way to save the plants in the tank, while "disinfecting it" for reuse and restocking? I will purchase my biospira from another source this time, to ensure that I get a "good" batch and would like to try again. If I raise the temperature to 83 degrees and leave it that way for a few days (a week?) would that be sufficient to kill whatever's in there (including ich) while not damaging the plants and giving me an opportunity to do a complete water change and try again in a few weeks? Thanks again, in advance, for any suggestions!!
A very, very desperate hobbyist who believed she was doing everything right... :help:
Sarah
