We just performed a 50% water change because our nitrates had gone up to 40 within the last two days. We are battling ick on our pictus catfish. After the water change our red tailed shark died, could it have been due to the stress of the water change? Generally we only do a 25% water change at a time but since we wanted to get all this under control quickly we decided to do 50%. Everything I have read on red tailed sharks says they are hardy, we have only had this one about a month.
Red tailed sharks
- Thread starter Litespeed
- Start date
erv:yes....we must know
My two red tail sharks are approximately two years old and are the some of the hardiest fish in my tank.
Please respond to the questions in the previous posts as there must really be something wrong here.
TR
We have a digital temp gage that we go by before adding the new water to the tank so it is the correct temperature. We had to do the 50% water change in two parts since we only have a 20 gallon trash can to use. Our aquarium holds 84 gallons, but with the gravel and fake plants, I figure it comes out to more like 75 gallons. The temperature in the first batch was slightly lower then 85 degrees, the next batch was slightly higher then 85 degrees. I was sure to add the correct amount of water conditioner after I had filled up the trash can half full on both batches. I also added Aquari-Sol, 21 drops for each 20 gallons of water. The instructions say to add 12 drops for each 10 gallons of water. I also added 4 Tbs. of aquarium salt to each batch. We have been doing 25% water changes every week, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, and as of today nitrate was 40, that's why we did the 50% water change. PH is 7.6, we get our water from the Colorado river and the PH is the same for all the fish stores. I tested the water again about an hour ago and the readings are ammonia 0, nitrite 0 and nitrate 10. We have had the red tailed shark only about a month. We had added two new bristlenose catfish January 2 which we had purchased from our local aquarium shop (not Petco or Petsmart) Before 24 hrs. was up, one of the bristlenose died and the next day we noticed the ick on our pictus catfish. Yesterday the other bristlenose died. Our aquarium shop is the one that recommended the salt and Aquari-Sol and where we also purchased the bristlenose from. Before this we had not had salt in our tank. This is so depressing to lose fish so quickly. The pictus catfish are thin but hanging in there. Do you know what we did wrong?
Like a broken record here I go again - quarantine tank. Too much risk involved in adding new fish directly to your established aquariums - especially one that size. No risk to your healthy fish. Less expense and work if you do get disease. Less grief. Down side? The expense of setting up a simple 10 gallon aquarium. There are just too **** many weak, unhealthy fish for sale out there.
Beasts
Beasts
Is a 10 gallon tank as small as you can go for a quarantine tank? How do you keep the biological filter working if you don't have fish in the quarantine tank at all times? What are the requirements for the minimum maintence on a quarantine tank. We definitely would NOT have any sort of gravel or decorations in the tank, other then a piece of driftwood, if we were to get another bristlenose.
You will not save much money by going smaller than 10 gallons. You will need a sponge filter and air pump, a heater and thermometer, and a hood. Most people will say not to use gravel. I have gravel in all of my quarantine tanks - I have a 410 gallon main aquarium and like to use my quarantine tanks for various experiments (lighting, substrates, plants, etc.) as well as new fish. To maintain the bacteria population I just keep a couple of comets ($.10 each) in tanks that would otherwise be empty. The only problems with the comets are that they tend to get large and I get attached to them over time. Keep tabs on the pH etc. in the tank and do water changes accordingly - at least 25% each week. Depending on the species of the new fish you might want to have a ceramic ornament available as a hiding place. There are many species who will be much more comfortable with a hiding place - to the extent that their chances of survival are much increased especially when stressed.
Beasts
Beasts
I agree, Q tank is the way to go. Instead of a sponge filter I use a small HOB that takes the same size media as a second filter on an healthy tank. I can buy fish, then set it up in minutes. Fill tank (usually half from a going tank so it "tastes" good) & half new. plug in the heater, grab out the media (or entire extra filter) plug that in & begin slow acclimation. Add a few rocks & plants (real extras or fake), sometimes sand or gravel. For new fish I wait at least 4 weeks. Cheaper if meds are needed, less work for frequent water changes, there is no down side. Bleach all after diseases.
I think your BNs may have brought more than ich, it doesn't usually kill healthy fish that fast. You'd be wise to wait a few weeks before buying another to make sure the store stock is healthy & your tank gets better. Good luck.
I think your BNs may have brought more than ich, it doesn't usually kill healthy fish that fast. You'd be wise to wait a few weeks before buying another to make sure the store stock is healthy & your tank gets better. Good luck.