10 Gallon Tank Help..sick Fish!

[alscrx]

I have a 10 gallon tank with a pleco, 2 red eye tetra, 2 serpae tetra(1 of them i just got), 1 painted tetra(just got it). I noticed the pleco has white spots so i researched and came up with ick and a couple of cures.

First off, I did a vacuum and about 50% of water went with it using the python about 2 weeks ago before i got the new fish. I tested the water about a week later after adding the 2 new fish and realized the nitrate was way too high. Hoping it was from the new water i let it filter for another week just adding stress coat. So lastnight i realized the pleco has white spots on him. I never seen that before so i went out today to pick up some stuff to treat ick.

Here are my reading before i added anything.
Nitrite- 0ppm
Ph- 6.4
ammonia- 0ppm
Nitrate- 80-160

Guy at pet store said do a 25% water change so i did that today with vacuum and added 6 drops of tap water conditioner.
I also turned heater to 80 degrees. Added one teaspoon of aquarium salt. I used a pinch of PH up to try to get it to around 7.0 I also bought the Nitro-Zorb. I replaced my media in my power filter with the nitro-zorb and its currently filtering.
All this had to be done before using meds for ick i was told. How long should i wait to retest water?? I do not want my pleco to die. I had him for 2 years. The other fish i had about a year and 2 of them are new. I want to treat this ick right away but i know it may do harm if water conditions are poor.

PLease help!!
-Just got it
-notice missing eye and fins nipped
- notice white spots

 

[Mikaila31]

I'm guessing your nitrAte is 80-100ppm, It would be helpful if you could get a test of the nitrates out of your tap. Also I am very concerned that you replaced the media in your filter. Did you replace all of it? If you did your tank is now completely uncycled and your water quality is going to plummet.

what med did you get for the ick?

Also your pleco is a common pleco from the looks of it. He really needs to be in a 55gal tank minimum or a 75gal tank ideally. A common pleco normally should be about 8" to 10" when it is a year old. They max out at about 2 feet.

 

[gourami_fan]

I can't tell from the picture what type of pleco you have, but if it does happen to be a common pleco, its gonna grow to about 50cm or more. When treating with meds or salt, careful not to add too much since plecos are scaless fish and will not tolerate high amounts. Try cleaning the gravel as well when doing a water change. Hopefully the new media you have is matured and full of beneficial bacteria or else that might be a problem and may be the reason for your nitrate spike.

Tetras are schooling fish and do better in groups. Also serpae tetra tend to be nippy, that may be the reason why your red eye is all ripped up.

Here is a link where you can find info on tetras in this site:
[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showforum=40"]http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showforum=40[/URL]

Heres a link to catfish and info on your pleco:
[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showforum=38"]http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showforum=38[/URL]

 

[alscrx]

I'm guessing your nitrAte is 80-100ppm, It would be helpful if you could get a test of the nitrates out of your tap. Also I am very concerned that you replaced the media in your filter. Did you replace all of it? If you did your tank is now completely uncycled and your water quality is going to plummet.

what med did you get for the ick?

Also your pleco is a common pleco from the looks of it. He really needs to be in a 55gal tank minimum or a 75gal tank ideally. A common pleco normally should be about 8" to 10" when it is a year old. They max out at about 2 feet.

Yeah its a common pleco. So with the nitra-zorb you shouldn't with your top media?? I still have the foam,and activated carbon. Its an aqua clear power filter with basket. I put the nitro zorb on top. The nitrate level was high before, thats why i replaced it. How else do you use the nitro-zorb???

I bought quick cure and coppersafe. I used the coppersafe last night cause pleco is not being himself. I only used 1 teaspoon

*update*
Painted tetra is swimming on its side and in rapid circles. Looks as though he is not going to make it.

 

[Mikaila31]

Get your water tested ASAP also get your tap water tested. It is helpfull to know how many nitrates you are geting out of your tap.

mikaila31

 

[CathyGo]

I bought quick cure and coppersafe. I used the coppersafe last night cause pleco is not being himself. I only used 1 teaspoon

*update*
Painted tetra is swimming on its side and in rapid circles. Looks as though he is not going to make it.

Did you read the bottle directions and add EXACTLY the amount it said to. I don't mean to suggest that you're stupid or careless but I've heard some pretty bad dosage interpretations from well-meaning people. Time to test your water again and start getting those nitrates down. 25% daily would not be a bad move at this point. Also how big is your pleco. I won't join everybody else in telling you how big he will get other than to suggest finding him a pond home. The bad new is that due to your tank size you may have stunted his growth which will make them much more susceptible to everything. I really suggest moving to a larger tank because as you're discovering small tanks can "crash and burn" when everybody gets sick and water quality gets bad. Also what was your maintenance schedule before this?


Oops, just realized this is an old topic. But it's till a common problem so it's worth something I guess.