Some Advice/Questions if I may

[Katchan]

First Up I have 3 foot tank of which 2 fish have ich, a pictus and salmontail cat, none of the other fish have contracted it in the last few days since I've been treating it, but they have gotten worse. I did the reccomeded 25% water change today and remedicated acording to the label, since they are scaleless fish I cant salt (I also have cardinals in there) Is there anything else I can/should do?

Second, sometime in the next day or two I'll be recieving my test kit in the mail. I know idealy the numbers should be ph neutral (for most fish anyway, which is about 6.5-7?). Ammonia and Nitrite 0ppm and Nitrate <20 ppm. What are safe and dangerous levels?

Thirdly - The missus recently purchased a 2 foot tank (54L/14Gallon) so she could have a fling/get some experience with betta breeding, after which it would go to me. Well it's come to me and its been filtering with 1-2 fish for about a week (male, male/female now female). I've put down a sand substrate, other than the female betta (cause she's already in there) what fish would be ok to cycle with? I plan to have it well planted, 2 Bolivian Rams and a BN other than that no plans.

Thanks katchan

 

[sgstvoy]

Even tho I'm new, Imma just try to help, heh.

You have to seperate the fish that has the Ich (they are irritating!) into a seperate 'hospital tank'. Vigirously filter the tank, and apply medication according to dosage. I think it's also reccomended to do a 100% water change when treating a fish with ICh?

Ps: I have a 57litre tank, and it's 12 gal... how come yours is 14?

 

[Katchan]

Ps: I have a 57litre tank, and it's 12 gal... how come yours is 14?

Because Google Told me so

bring up a google search page type in

54 liters in gallons, and it converts it. According to google if you have a 57 liter tank it = 15 gallon

Katchan

PS - Mods please dont move this topic to emergency help, as its not an emergency (yet), just after advice

 

[nc_nutcase]

First) I'm not real up to date on the latest ways to address diseases, but raising the temperature of the aquarium increases healing time, and good clean water always helps too. Carbon in filters will remove most medicines from the water so you might consider removing your carbon. Other than that you sound like your on the right track. Be sure to do a large water change at the end of your medicating to remove any leftover medications in the water.

Second) The kits pretty much tell you what levels are safe and what are dangerous. PH ranges between 5-8 for almost all tropical fish, research you particular fish for more specific numbers. Ammonia and nitrItes should be at 0 like you said. Make changes to your aquarium slowly (such as changing substrate, adding/removing decor, adding fish). Most surfaces in the aquarium host some amount of beneficial bacteria and adding fish increases your bioload. The heavier your stock the higher your nitrAtes will be at your next water change. If they are at the 'stress' level by then (60+ppm) you may want to consider doing more frequent water changes.

Third) I have always kept cichlids and cycled with 'feeder' guppies. This way when the cichlids are introduced there is a quarantined live food source waiting for them. With smaller cichlids the larger guppies may survive quite some time and end up supplying your cichlids with fry as a food source. If the idea of feeding fish to fish bothers you, Danios are the most commonly recommended cycling fish (that I hear at least). I've never tried them though.

Best of Luck!

 

[Bloo]

Even tho I'm new, Imma just try to help, heh.

You have to seperate the fish that has the Ich (they are irritating!) into a seperate 'hospital tank'. Vigirously filter the tank, and apply medication according to dosage. I think it's also reccomended to do a 100% water change when treating a fish with ICh?

Ps: I have a 57litre tank, and it's 12 gal... how come yours is 14?

If you use the really helpful converters (pinned in tropical Chit Chat) ( B) you'll see that 57l = 12.538 Imperial Gallons = 15.062 U.S. gallons

 

[Katchan]

Thanks NC I removed the carbon before I medicated. I will definetly keep in mind the thought of some chichlids but I didnt want anything to large (no bigger than a dwarf chichlid really), but I do have some nearly 2 week old guppy fry I could chuck in, thanks for the thought.

Katchan

 

[nc_nutcase]

I didn’t mean to sound like I was 'recommending' you get cichlids. You mentioned the Rams as probable stocking. I've never kept Rams but I'm sure they would eat small guppies or guppy fry.

I just cycled a 55 gal aquarium for Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlids with guppies. In the weeks the tank was cycling many of the guppies had babies. I put a baby convict in the aquarium temporarily after the nitrIte spike cleared up and she is now extremely fat and I can't seem to find the baby guppies... I'm sure your Rams will enjoy them the same as my Convict did. I also plan to leave the guppies in with the Cockatoos and I hope they continue to breed as a food source.