148.6L (39.2 gallon) aquarium journal

[Colin_T]

Just looks like a small wound. She might have caught herself on the wood when being chased by a male. It should heal up in a few days. Monitor and post another picture if it gets worse.

You can reduce the chance of infection by doing a big water change, gravel cleaning the substrate, and cleaning the filter (if the filter hasn't been done in the last 2 weeks).

 

[elephantnose3334]

Just looks like a small wound. She might have caught herself on the wood when being chased by a male. It should heal up in a few days. Monitor and post another picture if it gets worse.

You can reduce the chance of infection by doing a big water change, gravel cleaning the substrate, and cleaning the filter (if the filter hasn't been done in the last 2 weeks).

I will keep an eye on her for the next few days. One of the driftwood pieces might be a bit too sharp for the fish. There have been no fish causalities in the tank as of now. I cleaned the filter media and vaccummed the gravel on Monday's water change (a few days ago), but I will monitor on the tetra's wound for now.

I will also prepare the tank for a future power outage (if there is one, planned or unplanned) while being budget-friendly, if my parents allow me to get the essential items. I had a power outage before (it was short and the fish survived while the old 10 gal was still around), and I don't want to risk losing the fish and snails if it happens again.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Today's full-tank shot.

Also, I've got the other free 3ft tank now. It came from a neighbour and it needs a clean, a leak test and some changes in equipment (i.e. filter and light). It had fancy goldfish in here before it was given to me. They were now rehomed. I might either use it as a temporary breeding setup or as a second main aquarium.

 

[Colin_T]

The silvertips in that tank will be fine for many hours without power. If you want something to help them get through a power outage, get a battery operated air pump and a plastic multi-coloured airstone to run off it.

During a power failure you can take a couple of liters of water from the tank and pour it into the filter. Do this once or twice an hour and that will keep the filter bacteria alive.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Today's exactly 200 days of my silvertip tetra tank!

Also, I took a clearer picture of the female's wound today.

 

[Colin_T]

Can't tell anything else from the new picture of the female with the sore.

How many fish have you lost since setting them up 200 days ago?

 

[elephantnose3334]

Can't tell anything else from the new picture of the female with the sore.

How many fish have you lost since setting them up 200 days ago?

No casualties in the tank. In other words, no fish deaths.

 

[Colin_T]

No casualties in the tank. In other words, no fish deaths.

You were stressed out last year because you had lost fish and now you have kept these ones for 200 days and everyone is still happy. Well done

 

[elephantnose3334]

Today's full-tank shot.

 

[elephantnose3334]

The other 3ft long aquarium is undergoing a leak test right now. Should I write a seperate journal for it or leave it in the 39gal journal for the timebeing?

 

[elephantnose3334]

Meanwhile in the 39 gallon tank, I've found some moving short worms (not the live blackworms) in the sand substrate while I'm monitoring the female tetra with the wound. What are these animals and are they harmful to the tank?

 

[MattW]

Those look like flatworms to me. If you can get a magnifying glass and video them, we might be able to see what they specifically are. Colin will know more about them than I, treatments / how to remove etc

I had some a while back but haven't seen any since. They are probably thriving in the substrate

One I caught

 

[elephantnose3334]

Those look like flatworms to me. If you can get a magnifying glass and video them, we might be able to see what they specifically are. Colin will know more about them than I, treatments / how to remove etc

I had some a while back but haven't seen any since. They are probably thriving in the substrate

One I caught

And that I never had them in my tank before... I didn't notice them until now.

 

[Colin_T]

Not sure on the worms, can't see them properly but it looks like you have a heap of snails in the tank and they will eat any fish eggs they find.

A lot of worms live in aquariums and they normally hide in the substrate, only coming out if the gravel or water goes bad. If you are doing regular gravel cleaning when you do the water changes then there shouldn't be any issues. If you want to kill them use a dewormer for fish like Praziquantel but most worms aren't a problem to fish, but some worms will eat fish eggs.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Not sure on the worms, can't see them properly but it looks like you have a heap of snails in the tank and they will eat any fish eggs they find.

A lot of worms live in aquariums and they normally hide in the substrate, only coming out if the gravel or water goes bad. If you are doing regular gravel cleaning when you do the water changes then there shouldn't be any issues. If you want to kill them use a dewormer for fish like Praziquantel but most worms aren't a problem to fish, but some worms will eat fish eggs.

I do regularly clean the sand substrate via the gravel vac during my biweekly water changes (once every two weeks).