Pleeeease Help!

[JoanneH]

Apologies in advance for the long post.
I went away for a few days last week - before I went I noticed a couple of fish with potential finrot, so as I was not going to be at home I dosed them with Interpet fungus and finrot coz it was a 1 off dose to last a week - better than nothing I thought.
I left my dad instructions to feed them (only once a day so as not to over feed) I left the air pump on to aerate the tank.
On my return I was rather horrified to see the pump had almost blocked and the water looked awful, some plants had deteriorated and other fish had now got fin probs. Amazingly the water stats were ok.
I immediately did a 20% water change, cleaned my filter, removed the sick plants and put in a carbon filter to remove traces of the interpet.
The next day I started to treat with Myxazin after removing the carbon.
The next day (Sat) I did another 10% water change, put some new plants in and went to my lfs to get more med as I was running out - I purchased a larger bottle of myxazin, but noticed that the dosage was different, it was called myxazin 3, but the lfs said it was the same but must be stronger as it instructed me to use less (1/2)
My lfs said that my filter had blocked due to the fact I should change the filter sponges about 3 times a year and it was time for me to do that - so I've changed 1 of them and another to do in 2 -3 weeks time.
Now my amonia is up and my little bronze cory is looking subdued, the fins however do seem to be improving.
I've done another 20% change tonight, and am on day 4 of the med.
Can anyone advice me if there is anything else I should be doing and what's gone wrong? PS I haven't fed them since yesterday morning, should I give them a little or not whilst the amonia is up??
Thanks in advance.
Amonia 0.25, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10.

 

[Boxermom]

I would recommend large daily water changes until the ammonia goes back to normal, at least 50%. Smaller amounts aren't going to help all that much. Don't stop feeding them. As long as you aren't overfeeding, you won't affect the ammonia much.

I don't know anything about those particular medications so I can't comment on the efficacy of using them.

FYI, I rarely if ever change my filter sponges. All they need is to be rinsed in tank water that's been removed during water changes. The only time I ever replace one is if its falling apart. There's no need to otherwise.

 

[JoanneH]

Oh, thanks for that, the sponge was only 4 months old, so sounds like I was given some duff advice - I won't change the other one then in 2 - 3 weeks as the lfs recommended. Looks like I've messed up the cycle
Thanks for your reply.

 

[WILDER]

Lfs gave you crappy advice sponges last years and years, all you do when they get mucked up alot is take one sponge and rinse it slightly in old tank water, never the tap, and then two weeks later to the same with the other sponge if that needs doing.
Water changes but it will slow things down, do you have any other tanks you could take a sponge from.

 

[JoanneH]

No, I don't have any other tanks to take a sponge from, but I only changed 1 sponge not both although I had rinsed them both in tank water only two days before.
Glowlights have signs of fin rot, but platies and pep cory are looking improved - bronze cory looking v unhappy but no visible signs of illness, he's usually really lively.
what do you know about myxazin 3 med?
Do you think 10% water changes daily until amonia drops?

 

[WILDER]

Once you start doing water changes you will have to keep adding the correct dose of med back again.
I will look that med up for you.

http/www.waterlife.co.uk/waterlife/treat3.htm

 

[JoanneH]

Thanks, I'd had a look at that website. What I don't understand is the small size bottle of med, just called myxazin says to put 8mls in my size tank, which I've always done before, but the larger bottle I bought at the weekend which I have just started tonight says only 4 mls for my size tank??
I just wondered if you knew why??
Because its a daily med, i've been adding the med after the daily water change - hope thats ok? Should I contnue for more than 5 days?
How long do you think it will take for my filter to recover?
sorry to ask so many questions

 

[WILDER]

A stronger antibiotic bacterial med, does it say anything about your bacteria in your filter as it will wipe the gram neg bacteria away.

If i was the lfs would of gone with 2 rather than 3.

 

[JoanneH]

Just read the bottle, it reads the same as the smaller bottle and it says it doesn't harm filters or plants.
Do you think it will take long for the filter to recover then?

 

[WILDER]

Whats your other stats in nitrite,nitrate, stupid lfs only sold them sponges to you to make more money.

Nitrate 10, what is it usually

 

[JoanneH]

Nitrates usually 0.25.
not my usual lfs but more convienient - he didn't even realise the dosage was different until i queried it with him, he's really p****d me off now!
Does say for finrot though and as it cost me nearly £9, I'll give it a go for now.

 

[hogan53]

Hello
I think you should give your gravel a good clean dont remove, as the could be uneaten food in the substrate,and unhealthy bacteria.you need to read your ammonia instructions carefully.
best of luck

 

[WILDER]

The med should be good then, sounds like the tank is in a mini cycle it should't take to long, good luck.