My Green Terror

[missyintx_99]

well, he has quit eating again and still has fishie diareha(sp?)
I tested the water in his 55g and the nitrates are still way up. So, this time I've moved him into a 30 that has finished cycling (had the jd in there and have moved him into the 55g since he seems much more able to tolerate the higher nitrates)

So, after I moved him, I did a 25% water change in the 55g with no gravel vaccing. I'm being told I've been gravel vaccing way too often and this is why the nitrates are so high, true or not? All other levels are normal.
Now he's in the 30 and he isn't even interested in eating the frozen brine shrimp or the frozen bloodworms. Should I get the Hexamit again and retreat him?
If not, what should I do?
Let me tall yall he is pissed off at me! He turnes and faces away from me whenever I come up to the tank. I know he's not thrilled to be where he is now, but I really thought it might be better to isolate him so I can really monitor more cloesly what he is or isn't eating and if I need to treat him again, I can treat just him.
Any advice is really appreciated, once again!

 

[aernympha]

just out of interst what does a green terror look like?

 

[juanveldez]

I know what you are going through missy!!! I just got ernie this past thrusday and I have yet to see him eat. he is also in a 55 gallon tank with my JD I hope he eats soon he is by far the most expensive fish that I have ever bought with the JD being second.

 

[missyintx_99]

Here's a link. He's in this album.

My baby's name is Cuervo and he's now 4.5"
When I got him, he was only 2.5", he's getting so big!


http/www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4288823479

 

[smb]

I'm being told I've been gravel vaccing way too often and this is why the nitrates are so high, true or not?

Taking water out of the aquarium will lessen the nitrates. Unless there are some newfound bacteria in the gravel that gets rid of nitrates, I don't see how cleaning the gravel and changing the water will make the nitrates higher. Can you tell me what they said because maybe I'm not thinking clearly and missing the point or something. I'm thinking they that told you this might be a bit misinformed for what it's worth.

What is the nitrate level of your tapwater?


It does sound like internal parasites and if it were me I would treat for it as such. We can't let Cuervo feel bad. He's too cute.

B)

 

[missyintx_99]

QUOTE
I'm being told I've been gravel vaccing way too often and this is why the nitrates are so high, true or not?



Taking water out of the aquarium will lessen the nitrates. Unless there are some newfound bacteria in the gravel that gets rid of nitrates, I don't see how cleaning the gravel and changing the water will make the nitrates higher. Can you tell me what they said because maybe I'm not thinking clearly and missing the point or something. I'm thinking they that told you this might be a bit misinformed for what it's worth.

What I was told is that by gravel vaccing so frequently that I'm removing the good bacteria that are in the gravel and that it sets off a new cycle and thats causing the nitrate spikes. I've been vaccing the whole tank every time. I was told to only vac half the tank once a month. So the other half would get done the following month.
So, he told me that I can change the water all I want to and thats ok, just slow down on the gravel vaccing.
I don't know if this is good advice or not, but the tank shouldn't be cycling again since I've had it up for 6 months should it? I figure I must be doing something wrong and maybe this is it?

What is the nitrate level of your tapwater?

I haven't checked it. I use the Mardel 5 in 1 test strips. I'll give it a whirl and let you know what I find out. I know my water is naturally very hard testing pretty steadily at 250ppm +. Everything else is pretty steady in the average range (pH, total alkalinity).

It does sound like internal parasites and if it were me I would treat for it as such. We can't let Cuervo feel bad. He's too cute.

Yep, thats what I was thinking. Guess I'll be picking up some Hex-a-mit.
Thanks smb!

 

[smb]

What I was told is that by gravel vaccing so frequently that I'm removing the good bacteria that are in the gravel and that it sets off a new cycle and thats causing the nitrate spikes.

If you also clean the filters in chlorinated water at the same time, then this is a probability.

I've been vaccing the whole tank every time. I was told to only vac half the tank once a month. So the other half would get done the following month.

IMO? Absolutely not. I clean my whole gravel 2 times a week and have for 20+ years. Never had any problems with a mini spike or any disease. Cleaning only half the gravel once a month is rediculous when it comes to any fish let alone messy fish like cichlids. There are some weeks that I clean the top of the gravel daily for a week or two at a time. It's needed and mandatory to clean at least twice a week with tankbusters if you ask me.

 

[missyintx_99]

QUOTE
I've been vaccing the whole tank every time. I was told to only vac half the tank once a month. So the other half would get done the following month.



IMO? Absolutely not. I clean my whole gravel 2 times a week and have for 20+ years. Never had any problems with a mini spike or any disease. Cleaning only half the gravel once a month is rediculous when it comes to any fish let alone messy fish like cichlids. There are some weeks that I clean the top of the gravel daily for a week or two at a time. It's needed and mandatory to clean at least twice a week with tankbusters if you ask me.

This is what I was thinking. I can't stand to just sit and look at the mess! Even my little Africans are messy! I'm going to go ahead and up the number of WC, doing smaller ones until I get the nitrates back down and treat Cuervo with the hexamit.
If that don't work, then I guess I'll go back to the drawingboard.
Thanks!