Sores On Fish

[PlatinumAngel]

HELP Atleast two of my fish have open sores. Ones fins look not normal;it is trying to swim normal but cant. Taank in process of cycling Nitrite and Ammnia leavals are high. Doing daily WC. What can I do

 

[PlatinumAngel]

In looking around, it looks like it may be flex. Well to us it looks it. We just lost the one swiming on its side. There is another swiming around fine with a sore on him.
Everything's closed tonight. except walmart but can't get anyone to answer the phone in the pet dep. Don't even know if they carry the meds.
Do you think the tank will all be infected by tomorrow? I don't want to lose any more fish. I'm having enough problems with the nitrite and ammonia levels!
We just changed the filters yesterday too during our routine wc.... will they have to be thrown out? What about the wheels in the filter? The bio filter wheels?

 

[PlatinumAngel]

I DO need some help!

Do I continue to do my daily wc's to lower the nitrate and ammonia while I'm medicating?

 

[alysonpeaches]

I DO need some help!

Do I continue to do my daily wc's to lower the nitrate and ammonia while I'm medicating?

Was everything OK before you changed the filters? Could you have thrown away all the beneficial bacteria by changing the filter media? The beneficial bacteria change nitrite into less harmful nitrate, this is why you have to change only one part of the media at a time, and also just wash out the sponges in siphoned tank water.

The sores may be ammonia burns, so it would seem sensible to continue the water changes.

What are you medicating with?

 

[PlatinumAngel]

Was everything OK before you changed the filters? Could you have thrown away all the beneficial bacteria by changing the filter media? The beneficial bacteria change nitrite into less harmful nitrate, this is why you have to change only one part of the media at a time, and also just wash out the sponges in siphoned tank water.

The sores may be ammonia burns, so it would seem sensible to continue the water changes.

What are you medicating with?

Thank you for answering! I was starting to get very frustrated, seeing as this is the EMERGENCY forum.

No, that fish had sores on it before we changed it. I was thinking it was from the high nitrite or ammonia. We're medicating with maracyn two. Had it's first dose this morning.
Good to know about changing filters though. Will only change one or the other from now on.

Also, the directions told us to remove the filters entirely while medicating. So right now we are filterless for a few days... But with daily wc's, that wont hurt too bad will it? I'm doing a 30% change daily

 

[alysonpeaches]

Im not an expert, far from it, Im a beginner, so you need someone like wilder to help.

hey wilder are you there? please?

Ive not heard of removing the filters altogether during a treatment. Ive heard of removing the carbon from the filter though. Thats common practice. Im sure someone else will put you right though.

Where is the filter now? I was going to say that to keep the beneficial bacteria alive you will need to keep it wet, but as you changed all the sponges maybe this isnt such an issue.

 

[PlatinumAngel]

Im not an expert, far from it, Im a beginner, so you need someone like wilder to help.

hey wilder are you there? please?

Ive not heard of removing the filters altogether during a treatment. Ive heard of removing the carbon from the filter though. Thats common practice. Im sure someone else will put you right though.

Where is the filter now? I was going to say that to keep the beneficial bacteria alive you will need to keep it wet, but as you changed all the sponges maybe this isnt such an issue.

Well, you seem to be the only one that's bothered to try to help me. Thanks. I had to take the advice of my LFS.
the fish died, and none other showed signs so I stopped medicating on their direction and stopped the daily wc's, although my nitrite/nitrates are still high.
Had one other fish that had white spots... possibly ick but not sure, so I quarinteed him in the 10 gallon, and treated there. None of the other fish look effected at all.
So back to just fighting with the nitrites