Complicated problem

[fatbobsufc]

OK here's the problem - I'll try to be as brief as possible. I have a 44 gallon planted community tank. Two days ago I added 12 Neons and 2 Kuhlis. All fish looked fine and happy. However yesterday morning I woke up to find one of my Bronze Corys dead (see post in emergency forum for photos).

Water levels as follows

pH - 8
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0.1
Nitrate - <5

Yesterday too I noticed some fish flicking themselves, obviously suffering from some sort of irritation.

Here's the complicated bit. When I first added my substrate of Silver Sand, it was three or four inches deep. I quickly realise I had over done it and reduced it to around a couple of inches. I have been worrying about the problems caused by "dead spots" producing (I think) Hydrogen Sulphide. Firstly is there any way to test for this? Secondly you may all be thinking - remove some sand then - well the problem is that before I added my substrate I used the product "first layer pure laterite" which is a form of plant fertiliser. If I remove too much substrate I will be exposing this stuff to the aquarium. I have therefore taken the advice of the forums members and three weeks ago I took out all my rocks and ran the handle of a toothbrush through all sections of the substrate to reduce the "dead spot" effect. I would like to do the same again, but for one problem - I currently have some <1 week old Platy fry hiding in those very rocks. Not only would removing the rocks expose them to danger, but since I have my (20kg of Granite cobbles) rocks piled, I am fearful of killing the fry in the process.

The "flicking" may be due to nothing more than the onset of ich as one forum member suggested in which case I have added some myxazin treatment which I will add daily until the fish stop "flicking". Maybe I am jumping the gun about the hydrogen sulphide as the tank has only been established for a couple of months but I would very much appreciate anyone's help on this complicated matter! Thankyou

 

[BobTheDog]

Hey. I'm not sure you have an ich problem. I saw your post in the emergency section and noticed that someone said nitrites can cause the fish to "flick" as well. I recentely added some rummynose tetra to my very recently cycled aquarium and my nitrites spiked pretty suddenly. The tetras started doing something I would describe as flicking. Unfortunately, I ended up losing several of them... have read that they are pretty sensitive to water conditions. Which of your fish are doing the flicking? Is it the neons? I think they are also pretty sensitive to water conditions. I mention all of this because I noticed that you have some nitrite readings. I'm new to all this, but my understanding is that ANY nitrite is bad. How long has your tank been cycled? When did you start showing nitrite? I am a relative novice whose information is from research, not direct experience so all of this may be way off base! Good luck with your problem!

 

[Debo]

Hey Bob the Dog-That post helped me out. I have occassionaly noticed some flicking and no ich in the tank. I never knew that it was caused by nitrites. Where did you read that? Not that I am questioning you, but rather that it sounds like good info and I'd like to read it too. I am a real fish geek-I read everything I can get my hands on. Thanks for the info!!
Deb

 

[Cian McLiam]

Flicking can be caused by anything in the water or on the fishes body that causes irritation. You cant make assumptions based on this sign alone, you must get a bigger picture. You have to watch all water parameters, PH especially and any nitrite or ammonia should be treated as a problem. There is no acceptable level of either in a healthy tank, its got to be zero.
Treating with an anti-parasite may not be such a wise choice without further evidence, you may think you are treating the problem when in fact you are ignoring other very relevant factors. Even a water change can cause fish to flick if the water is different from the tank water.

Ken

 

[snowyangel]

Debo, bobthedog read it off my reply to fatbob in tropical fish emergencies. I mentioned that it's sign of bad/wrong water condionins(as Ken_g said) or early sign of ich, but since his pic of his cory resembles nothing of ich really i mentioned nitrites(because my fish were flickering because of my nitrites, now its quickly resolved). Also if its the nitrites, your bottom feeders will be affected first because near the bottom there is less O2 compared to other areas(in cases of nitrite spikes fish will breathe at the top of the water or near filters for more O2) therefor causing him to suffocate first. I say suffocate because nitrite reacts with the fishes Haemoglobin and forms Methaenoglobin which means the blood can no longer carry any Oxygen.

Here's a link i referred to in my nitrite problem:

http/groups.msn.com/FishHealth/nitrite.msnw

Thats all i've learned. Maybe i wrong, maybe im right. All i know is i haven't had a fish die from my nitrite problem yet. Maybe im just lucky.....anyways good luck