I have a 21 Gallon community tank that includes amano shrimp. I do 30 to 40% water changes weekly via gravel syphon. I tested my water today before I changed it and I had nitrites at .2. My ammonia was at 0, and I don't have a nitrate test kit. I took out my larger ornaments and vacuumed the crud out around them really well and did a 50% water change. There was a lot of stuff underneath these ornaments. My problem is that my bronze cory has faded in color over the past two days and today I notice that one of his eyes looks cloudy. My ph is stable at 7.2, temp at 78. My question is should I treat the tank with Melafix or just let it ride for a few days? Also, will Melafix bother my shrimp? Should I use the recommended dosage or use less?
Should I use Melafix?
- Thread starter ET1
- Start date
why would you add melafix? what are you expecting it to do? your problem is/was tank maintainance ... all that 'crud' in the gravel. now that you've removed it, just keep on top of tank cleanliness and get those nitrites down to zero. all will be well without use of chemicals.
Melafix , IMO, is really only useful at preventing secondary infections in open wounds and torn finnage.
while you don't seem to have any problems which need the use of melafix, i have used it with great success in quickly healing fin rot, tail rot, etc etc..
if you don't have a specific condition, i wouldnt treat the tank. waste of money and stresses the fish.
if you don't have a specific condition, i wouldnt treat the tank. waste of money and stresses the fish.
Well, I thought I was doing a good job on my maintenance. I vacuum the gravel every Sunday without fail. I didn't realize how much would collect underneath the larger ornaments! Melafix was recommended to me for the cloudy eye, but I am not one to medicate without absolute necessity. Thats why I asked for your opinion. Thanks!
how old is this tank??
showing nitrites indicates it may still be cycling.
keep doing water changes to minimize nitrites.
hang in there
showing nitrites indicates it may still be cycling.
keep doing water changes to minimize nitrites.
hang in there
Sometimes fish eyes can appear cloudy in reflected light. I often think my betta has cloudy eys only to see him turn away and they look fine. But then again they can get a bit cloudy as they age, perhaps yours is older than you think.
This tank is almost a year old. The fish in question, Theodore : ) is around 8 months old I think, so its not a question of old age. I am going to guess that it was the stuff under the big rock that boosted the nitrites. I did, however, take out some of the gravel last week to help another tank cycle; perhaps it was the disturbance of the substrate that contributed?? Regardless, I've done another water change today and my nitrites have thankfully disappeared. Hopefully the cloudy eye will too. Thanks! ET
