Dead Cardinals/high Nitrate Levels

[JamieB]

Hi Guys,

I'm hoping that someone can offer some advice to help me. I have listed the events leading up to today to give you the picture.

About 3 weeks ago I noticed that some of my Cardinal's and one Clown loach has developed some form of white spot. I went to my LFS and they advised a course of Protozin from Waterlife. This is a 4 day course used on days 1,2,3 and 6. I used this and it did not seem to make much difference. I left the tank a couple of weeks and I went back to the store and asked again and they suggested that I had under dosed and that I would need to redose but not over dose!

I started the course on Thursday and on Saturday added the 3 day's. I then went out for the day and came home to find all but 2 of my Cardinals dead. I carried out a water change and left this until today. I also tested my water at this time and the Nitrate levels seemed high. This afternoon the last 2 of my Tetras have died I once again tested the water and the Nitrate is still high the level is about 20mg per Litre, Nitrite 0, PH 6.5 and 0.6 ammonia.

I know that Cardinals are very picky on water quality but these have been fine for the last 2 months. All other fish seem to be ok but I'm a bit worried that this may continue.

How can I lower the Nitrate levels. I woudl assume that this has been bought on from the chemical I used to treat the white spot?

My Clown is covered all over and I have taken it out while this goes on.

Any advice will be good.

 

[WILDER]

You do mean nitrate and not nitrite, as you have ammonia reading, how many gallons or litres is the tank, plus full stock list of fish of how many and which type, tetras are funny with parasite med, did you increase aeration.

 

[jwddboy]

Never used the chemical myself but it is highly likley that it kills off good tank bacteria.

Increase the tanks temp. Increase airation. Try epsom salts or malachite green with formalin. Also there are specific whitespot remedies.

 

[WILDER]

That why i'm asking as the filter dosn't sound like it's coping with the stock in the tank.
As a high nitrate and ammonia reading is telling us that.

 

[JamieB]

You do mean nitrate and not nitrite, as you have ammonia reading, how many gallons or litres is the tank, plus full stock list of fish of how many and which type, tetras are funny with parasite med, did you increase aeration.

I have the Nitrate level at 20mg/l and the Nitrite at 0.1mg/l. So the Nitrate seems high.

The tank is 180L

Fish stock is not high as I'm just building up.

4 x Glow Light Tetra
2 x Clown Loach
6 x Beckfords Pencil Fish
1 x Red Tail Black Shark
1 x Algi Eater (Forgotten name but not pleck)


There were no instructions to increase the air but I will do this now.

You do mean nitrate and not nitrite, as you have ammonia reading, how many gallons or litres is the tank, plus full stock list of fish of how many and which type, tetras are funny with parasite med, did you increase aeration.

I have the Nitrate level at 20mg/l and the Nitrite at 0.1mg/l. So the Nitrate seems high.

The tank is 180L

Fish stock is not high as I'm just building up.

4 x Glow Light Tetra
2 x Clown Loach
6 x Beckfords Pencil Fish
1 x Red Tail Black Shark
1 x Algi Eater (Forgotten name but not pleck)


There were no instructions to increase the air but I will do this now.

There was also x 10 Cardinals (Now 0)

 

[WILDER]

That not a high nitrate reading, what your tap nitrate, how long has the tank been set up, you do know clown loaches like to be kept in groups, and need large tanks of 90gal.

 

[JamieB]

The filter is an Aqua One CF-1000 link below

http/www.aquariumworld.co.uk/equipment/i...arget=d277.html

 

[WILDER]

Thas fine, how long has the tank been set up, if it's not that the med has sent you into a mini cycle.

 

[JamieB]

The tank has been goin for around 7 months and I cycled it fully for around 4 weeks before adding plants, and then fish.

I was aware that the Clowns needed to be kept in goups but I was not aware of the tank size needed. The LFS advised I got them as I had a massive snail problem after buying some plants on line. I had not really wanted them. I will drop them both back off to them next time I go.

 

[jwddboy]

I was aware that the Clowns needed to be kept in goups but I was not aware of the tank size needed. The LFS advised I got them as I had a massive snail problem after buying some plants on line.

Clownfish dont eat snails.

I also think you have gone into a mini cycle. Next time try to use a seperate tank for treatments.

 

[WILDER]

Will have to get rid of the whitespot first, do the rest of the fish look stressed with the med, as clowns,plecs, corys, and some tetras are very funny with parasite meds.
Increase aeration as the med and high temp will reduce 02 in the water.
Clown loaches love snails.

 

[JamieB]

All the other fish look fine.

The last clown is a bit lost and is sticking close the RTB Shark but this would be as he is on his own at the mo. He also has some white spot but nothing else has been affected.

I have upped the temp already, and I have now added some air into the tank. My CO2 Unit is off as I need to add some more mix that I have but I have held off for the last couple of days.

But all the other fish are feeding ok and are looking fine. But so were the last couple of cardinals until about 4 hous ago!

 

[WILDER]

Poor clown they don't like being on there own, what a shame, keep a close eye on them if you see them looking stressed or gasping, do a water change, and you will have to use the med a half dose, it will take longer, but the fish are not tolerating the med, good luck.
Once the whitespot has cleared and the clown makes it bless him, i would rehome him.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

If you have ich, then you need to treat the entire tank.

Both tetras and clowns are very sensitive to most ich meds. Clowns because they ar a scaleless ffish. Most ich meds will say this on the label and suggest dosing at 50% strength.

Freshwater Ich
Symptoms: Fish look like they have little white salt grains on them and may scratch against objects in the tank.
White spot disease (Ichthyopthirius multifiliis) is caused by a protozoan with a life cycle that includes a free-living stage. Ich grows on a fish --> it falls off and attaches to gravel or tank glass --> it reproduces to MANY parasites --> these swarmers then attach to other fish. If the swarmers do not find a fish host, they die in about 3 days (depending on the water temperature).

Therefore, to treat it, medicine must be added to the display tank to kill free-living parasites. If fish are removed to quarantine, parasites living in the tank will escape the treatment -- unless ALL fish are removed for about a week in freshwater or three weeks in saltwater systems. In a reef tank, where invertebrates are sensitive to ich medications, removing the fish is the only option. Some people think that ich is probably dormant in most tanks. It is most often triggered by temperature fluctuations.

Remedy: For most fish, use a medication with formalin and malachite green. These are the active ingredients in many ich medications at fish shops. Some products are Kordon's Rid Ich and Aquarium Products' Quick Cure. Just read the label and you may find others. Check for temperature fluctuations in the tank and fix them to avoid recurrences. Note that tetras can be a little sensitive to malachite green, so use it at half the dose.

Use these products as directed (usually a daily dose) until all of the fish are spot-free. Then dose every three days for a total of four more doses. This will kill any free-swimming parasites as they hatch out of cysts.

Another remedy is to raise the tank temperature to about 90 deg F and add 1 tsp/gallon salt to the water. Not all fish tolerate this.

Finally, one can treat ich with a ``transfer method.'' Fish are moved daily into a different tank with clean, conditioned, warmed water. Parasites that came off of the fish are left behind in the tank. After moving the fish daily for a week, the fish (presumably cured) can be put back into the main tank. The disadvantage of this method is that it stresses both fish and fishkeeper.

FromFINS

 

[JamieB]

Thanks for your help guys.

I will call the LFS tomorrow and see if they will take them back as they are and treat them. I don't have the facilties to keep them seperate for any length of time. They will have a med tank I'm sure.

The two clowns are the only fish affected now as the 3 Tetra's that had it have died so if I take them back this and leave it for a few weeks it should hopefully go?