Raw Gill - Denison Barbus (Red Flash Barb)

[Chris Walker]

Hello,

I have been given a 125L tank about 6-8 months ago with 3 clown loaches, 2 shrimps and a gourami, then gradually added fish. The loaches then got white spot which I tried to treat but unfortunately the loaches died, all other fish were fine. Since then I have kept the tank temperature up to 30c and bought a thermometer and new heater as the temperature kept dropping. The fish seem allot happier with the higher temperature, I now have 21 fish (2 red flash barbs, 4 tiger barbs, 6 rummy nose, 2 cockatoo dwarf cichlids, 2 gouramis, red tailed black shark, plec, 2 shrimps and a armoured shrimp). Recently one red flash barbs gills have become sore under the gill plate and seems slimmer compared to the other flash but is still eating but is being picked on by the other flash. I have treated the tank with salt which failed and done water changes and checking the PH level, then added anti internal bacteria for 2 weeks which still has not seemed to get better, any ideas what I could do as I do not want to loose the flash. All other fish are ok

Thank you for your time

 

[WILDER]

Your tanks overstocked.
What are your water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.

I would issolate the sick fish if there picking on him.

Inflamed red gills can be bad water quality, bacterial gill rot, gill flukes.
Is there plenty of aeration in the tank.

I would lower your temp as it to high.
How much was the temp dropping.

 

[Chris Walker]

The ammonia and nitrite levels are at 0mg/l and the PH is at 7.5, when I add the salt the PH drops low which I added PH up to reach PH 7.

There is plenty of aeration in the tank which is central between the heater and filter. I thought it was an infection hence the anti internal bacteria and salt, I purchased safe start today as we do live in a hard water area.

The temperature dropped by 5c in day time and occasionally maintained temperature at night.

Thanks for the reply

 

[Chris Walker]

The ammonia and nitrite levels are at 0mg/l and the PH is at 7.5, when I add the salt the PH drops low which I added PH up to reach PH 7.

There is plenty of aeration in the tank which is central between the heater and filter. I thought it was an infection hence the anti internal bacteria and salt, I purchased safe start today as we do live in a hard water area.

The temperature dropped by 5c in day time and occasionally maintained temperature at night.

Thanks for the reply

 

[WILDER]

Don't use ph adjusters there more trouble than there worth.

Can you make a list of everything you have in the tank.
What the name of the test kit you are using.

 

[Chris Walker]

The tank is gravel based with 3 plastic plants, a piece bog wood and 2 ourments. I use a nutrafin PH test and a interpet health tablet test for the ammonina & nitrate tests.

I picked up a API test strips today which provides a 5 in 1 test and shows that we have high water hardness and high nitrate (NO3 only, NO2 is fine)which the interpet did not pick up.

 

[WILDER]

Bogwood lowers ph.
The test strip cards are not accurate and a complete waste of money.

I would take a sample of your water to the lfs and ask them to write the readngs down for you.

Until you know your water stats I would do water changes and increase aeration.