Claire's Bad Luck Tank Update!

[MissClaire]

Just an update for all those who have helped me in the past when I lost half my stock....

As you are aware my tank returned to normal and the loss of fish ceased. I THOUGHT I had a happy tank once again but I thought too soon. All my parameters are fine except for a high PH and I test on a regular basis. I introduced a couple of new fish last week. I have spent Soooooooooo much on trying to perfect my tank since the last incident. Followed everything by the book and researched my little heart out

This morning I found my piegon discus on his side barely moving (I thought he was dead, on closer inspection his gills were moving)..yesterday he was swimming around and eating? and my diamond is covered in a thick slime (she has been like this since the weekend)

I have added geo liquid in my tank as a last resort this morning incase any -chemical- such as fly spray or something or anything has got into the tank(im desperate for answers!) earlier in the week I added melafix for my sick diamond. These are the only two things I have added to the tank recently. I have been doing routine water changes with stress coat religiously.

I just know that when I get home my piegon will be gone.

I think im going back to african cichlids, they never gave me any troubles, or maybe just sell my tank. Ive spent well over AUD$2000 in every effort to keep my fishies happy! (including tank) But I know when I get home and if Russell is gone I am giving up!

This has been a more upsetting experience then an enjoyable one

Maybe fish keeping isn't for me!

 

[sylvia]

Don't give up!!! From what I can see it is mainly your discus that are suffering. They are fragile fish anyway and your high pH won't be helping. Why not add some driftwood/bogwood to your tank to gradualy bring the pH down? As long as your water is in good condition and there are no sudden changes to the fish's environment, they should all do fine.

 

[jflowers]

I agree with sylvia. Discus need soft slightly acidic water and are delicate fish to start with. If you have a high PH look into getting some RO water instead of using your own tap water. The water where I live is hard and perfect for african cichlids too, thats probably why you enjoyed keeping them. Dont give it up.

Jon

 

[MissClaire]

Ah yes my PH Dont get me started on my Ph! hehe
Well in the past when I tried to lower it I had all kinds of issues and thats when I lost half my stock, the discus were fine but my smaller fish couldnt handle the Ph down and my buffering was all over the place...I came to the conclusion to leave it high - yet stable. You are damned if you do or damned if you dont! I have a large drfitwood creation in my tank at the moment sylvia so that should be helping. I might have to look into RO water I havnt researched that yet. Thanks for the advice guys. As for the africans they LOVED my water, but my boyfriend didnt like them because they were 'bullies' and when he bought my new tank he insisted on changing to community fish. I love my discus to bits, dont get me wrong, If they die Im going to be heart broken, and I think at this stage they are beyond help. (You just know)

 

[jflowers]

I know what you mean, an up down PH is worse than a wrong PH, but in the case of discus, they really do need soft water. RO water is the way to go if you want to keep them. An RO unit is expensive, but RO water where I come from is about £20 per 25 litres, so I could pay for an RO unit for the price of 125 litres, dunno about where you are, but if I kept discus that would be a sound investment.

Jon

 

[MissClaire]

They look worse this morning, Im surprised they are still alive. Im going to ring my lfs and see if they can take them back and quarentine them.
My diamonds skin looks like its peeling off in coats

 

[MissClaire]

THE VERDICT:
I HAVE AN ANSWER, FINALLY
Went to my LFS friday after work.
After questioning them on my discus's condition...some of their discus were sick as well. I looked at theirs and my diamond was in the exact condition.
The answer, after heavy rains on the gold coast a parasite of some kind has come in with the water source which has attacked most discus. My other fish were uneffected except for a clown loach.
My LFS have been treating their discus all week with tri-something err rather tablets and most have recovered successfully.
Unfortunatly I added this at double dose last night but it was too late for my diamond. She passed away this morning. My PH would have not helped her condition either.
My other two discus are sulking and extremely sick with this parasite. Lets hope this medication fixes them asap and gets rid of whatever this parasite is.
So doing water changes during the week did not help my diamonds condition but worsened it as the water source was the initial problem.
My LFS says that the water source is fine now...but it was only during the heavy rains/flooding we had.

RIP Bella

And PLEASE get better soon Russell and Tigey!

 

[blue_ram]

Sorry for you loss.

One thing I've learned early is that you MUST quarantine the new fish for at least 2 weeks. Preferrably 3 weeks. Once, I lost ALL my fish due to the disease (and secondary infection caused by the diease) that new fish brought in. I've always quarantined new fish since then.

Rember, business cannot afford to keep stock unsold for 2 weeks; it's just too expensive for them. So, you have to quarantine the fish your self.