Marking or velvet disease?

[Alien Anna]

I have had one health problem after another since I was given my tank (which had astronomically high nitrates, a dodgy, overly hot thermostat and high pH of 8.4) and the latest is a patch on my rummy-nosed tetra's head.

I don't know if it's a marking but the rest of the school doesn't have it. It's glittery light green/gold and it's on the very top of his head, between the eyes. Is this a marking, or is it likely to be velvet or some other nasty? I first noticed it a couple of weeks ago and it doesn't seem to have got worse.

If it is velvet, what should I do? I have a 21 UK gallon Juwel tank, heavily planted, with pencilfish, cherry barbs, cardinal tetras, black neon tetras and pearl gouramis. I have two apple snails. My water parameters are:
pH 8.5 (arrgh!)
KH 10
GH 14
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 12.5

 

[Davy Reynolds]

After looking though a few things I've not come to the conclusion that its velvet disease. Nor think it's an injury. Velvet would have saw a deteration in the fish and if it were an injury it would be better. So pass. If you have a digi camera, I'd love to see a picture if you could

 

[adeyc]

I wouldn't nesiscerily panic the fish have a sort of yellow gold iridescents to them. if it's a very bright patch does it sort of blend in or stick out like a sore thumb. if you look closely just behing the red at the top of the head you can notice the colouring if the angle of the light's correct.
I'd do a water change to get the levels down.

 

[Davy Reynolds]

You know after reading this, I accually went and looked at one. So Cilck Here and you can just see the small patches on the heads

 

[Macquatic]

 Definately not velvet Anna. Velvet is a dull dusty coating on the fish and would have spread by now, I think it's natural and maybe a little more visible in this fish. It's like a squeaky floorboard though, once you have noticed it, you think it's more pronounced and it always grabs your attention!!!    Mac.
P.S. I'd try and get the ph down as all your fish like their water on the neutral to acidic side of things.

 

[Alien Anna]

You know after reading this, I accually went and looked at one. So Cilck Here and you can just see the small patches on the heads

Boy, do I feel silly! Yes, it's a perfectly normal, healthy rummy-nosed tetra. I'm so anxious about my fish, I've developed hypochondria-by-proxy!

P.S. I am working on getting the pH down. I know it's far too high, but after the problems I've had, this is a minor matter, I assure you.

 

[Great Lakes]

Anna, do you have any bubble blowers going? This can affect PH.

 

[Alien Anna]

Anna, do you have any bubble blowers going? This can affect PH.

No, just the internal power filter that comes with my Juwel tank. I am convinced the pH comes entirely from my tap water - it was 9.0 the other day!

Today I did a 25% w/c with 3 litres of distilled water, tap water and a couple of teaspoons of distilled vinegar. I've now got my tank water down to 7.6 from about 8.6 and although this is a big jump, my fish seem OK. I felt I had to do something quite radical because my tetras were showing signs of alkylosis (shimmying, going up to the surface more than usual, darting about etc).

Once I get my peat filteration set-up going, I'm thinking of getting my pH down to about 6.5 and re-homing my cherry barbs. But that really depends on my betta, who is still on the critical list in the spare tank.

 

[adeyc]

Anna if the local water authority have been doing work in the area they' will have added something to the water supply to make it safe for humans in the offchance some nasties got into it. How long do you let your water sit before puting it in the tank? test the ph straight from the tap. if it's normal then something like certain rocks or shells in the tank are causing the ph to rise.

 

[Alien Anna]

Anna if the local water authority have been doing work in the area they' will have added something to the water supply to make it safe for humans in the offchance some nasties got into it. How long do you let your water sit before puting it in the tank? test the ph straight from the tap. if it's normal then something like certain rocks or shells in the tank are causing the ph to rise.

Hi, thanks for your reply.

No, the water authority haven't been doing any work in the area - I checked.

I usually leave my water to stand a while since it allows the pH to drop slightly (in theory), but I always use Aquasafe to remove chlorines and chloramines.

The pH straight from the tap is scarily anything from 8.4 to 9.0. However, given the area (which is clay and limestone), this is hardly surprising. I have no limestone rocks or shells in my tank, but I do have a pile of bogwood (sadly to no avail).