Uh oh, ich? stress? ahhh help =(

[simbadda]

Ever since I introduce my 2 red tailed ram's and my 2 frogs, my tri-color shark has been real stetchy, I'm worried that it has caused some stress on him. I've checked my water quality and everything is still in the norm....reason I may think it's
ich is because it looks like there's some very faint white marks around his nose...but it's so faint I can't tell if it's something else or ich. Anyways any info you need for me to describe this better please let me know!

 

[aquariumfishguy]

Well could you give us your water readings? That would help us a lot. Also, has the temperature been changed recently? Does it every get changed rapidly?

I only ask because usually healthy fish do not come down with ich. There is usually an enormous amount of stress in the aquarium, some how.

 

[simbadda]

ok, I don't have exact numbers because of the tester I'm using (Mardel master test kit). Since it gives it in ranges, but this is what it says.


nitrate level: 40 ppm

nitrite level: 0 ppm

total hardness level: 120 ppm (it's a little darker so maybe 100 - 120)

total alkanity/buffering capacity: 120ish ppm

pH level: 7.2

Total ammonia level: says between 0 - 0.25 ppm (looks like lower end)


I check my tempature daily and it remains stable at 78 .


The recent changes I've made are adding those new fish/frogs and a black mystery snail. I've sealed some holes in the lid so that the frogs can't get out, and have moved the heater from it's place on the far left hand side of the tank by the intake, to the middle of the tank so that it's more evenly heated.

One thing I've been doing for a few months is adding a multipurpose plant liquid, took keep my plants healthy. I've read the directions on it which state how much to put in and when, and am careful not to over due it.

 

[aquariumfishguy]

Ok, well work on keeping that Nitrate level below 20-30 ppm. Some people claim 40ppm is O.K., but I tend to disagree. I think fish are much better off in lower nitrates.

And as for ammonia, in a cycled aquarium you should have none. I would think this applies to you, unless the tank isn't fully cycled but I highly doubt it.

 

[simbadda]

ok will do on the nitrates, I was never to concerned with the level because, as you put it some people claim 40 ppm is OK. Even the tester said so... but I'd rather take advice from people like you who have been around the block.


Another thought I had is that I may be over stocked, with all the fish I have and + the plants...the tri-color looks like it doesn't have enough room to swim around, it enjoys zipping back and forth across the tank and these other fish keep getting into it's way. OR maybe it's not that I'm over stocked but that I have to many mid to bottom dwellers?? Ahhh so many possibilities!

 

[aquariumfishguy]

Well put it this way... those 3 feeder fish (comet goldfish) could use 90 gallons all to themselves.

I feel if you get them into another tank or give them away to someone you can trust that you would take a huge burden of stress off of your tank. Just a thought... or somewhere to start.