Fish Trouble

[nessy123]

So about 3 weeks ago I bought 6 tiger barbs to go along with my red tailed black shark and angelfish, after about 3 days they became really aggressive then I began noticing ick on them. I returned them to the store and got a male swordtail, a platy, a blue dwarf gourami and a golden wonder killifish. I then began treating my tank for ick using the salt and heat method because my angelfish and shark had gotten ick too. The heat and salt method didn't work so I picked up some Super Ick Cure by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals and followed the directions to add 5 ml for every 5 gallons of water and raise the temperature to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, I lowered my water level so there would be more oxygen in the water. Everything was going fine and dandy till I came home and my blue dwarf gourami was dead he had seemed fine the last time I seen him except for a bit of heavy breathing. Yesterday I noticed my shark was swimming near the top of my tank and then he would go back down to the bottom he sometimes does that when I feed so I didn’t find that unusual but this morning he was dead. I checked all my other fish for any unusual signs and they all seemed fine except for my swordtail, he is breathing heavily and hiding behind the log in my tank. The tank temperature is just under 80 degrees Fahrenheit, I started lowering it slowly because I am finished treating ick. Could my fish have died because of stress from ick treatments? What can I do to help my swordtail?

 

[fluttermoth]

Can I ask the usual questions, nessy? What size is the tank, how long has it been running and what are all the fish in it right now? What were the results of your last water tests and what'a your maintenance regime?

In the meantime, always do a couple of big water changes (at least 50 or 60%; warm, dechlorinated water, of course) and see how things look. Water changes should always be the very first thing you do in any case.

 

[nessy123]

The tank is a 40 gallon and in it right now are a angelfish, platy, golden wonder killifish. The tank has been running for over a month and a half. The last time I tested was yesterday and ammmonia was at 0 to 0.25 nitrite is at 0.1 and nitrate at 0. I change about 25% of the water every 2 weeks.

 

[fluttermoth]

Any sign of ammonia or nitrite and you need to do a big water change; they should be at zero at all times.

How do you clean your filter?

 

[nessy123]

I rinse the filter pad with water I am going to get some new filter cartridges this weekend. I did a big water change and that seemed to help.

 

[The chilly dipper]

I rinse the filter pad with water I am going to get some new filter cartridges this weekend. I did a big water change and that seemed to help.

WITH TAP WATER!!!
dont forget about the bacteria my darling they are as important as anything.

do not change your filter pads yet, wait till this has sorted itself,(this is what id do anyways)

make sure you properly aerate too.
maybe some big water changes will do them all a favour
40-50%

 

[fluttermoth]

Chilly Dipper is quite right. Never change the filter cartridges. Just gently swish them in old tank water

 

[This Old Spouse]

And 25% every two weeks?? You should be doing about 50% every week, especially since you have such a young tank and because you've had these problems. The ammonia and nitrite should be at 0. Anything above that is toxic. I'd wait before adding any other fish at this point, too.

 

[nessy123]

Ok I will hold off on the filter pads. I had done a big water change and my swordtail finally came out of hiding. He is swimming around a bit now but he is now showing a couple signs of fin rot. Could it just be from the stress of ick treatments? Will he just heal himself if I keep good water quality? Or should I get some meds and treat the tank? If so what ones do you recommend?

 

[The chilly dipper]

Chilly Dipper is quite right. Never change the filter cartridges. Just gently swish them in old tank water

 

[fluttermoth]

Ok I will hold off on the filter pads. I had done a big water change and my swordtail finally came out of hiding. He is swimming around a bit now but he is now showing a couple signs of fin rot. Could it just be from the stress of ick treatments? Will he just heal himself if I keep good water quality? Or should I get some meds and treat the tank? If so what ones do you recommend?

Fin rot is normally caused by poor water conditions. Keep up the water changes, leave the filter alone and, depending on how bad it is it will either clear up on its own, or if it doesn't improve within a few days you might have to use a med for fin rot. I can't recommend one, I've never had to use one!