White Spot On Fish ?

[bcarey]

Hi just done the test and the results are

Ph - 8 - 8.3
NO2 - 0.3 - (very yellow)

in the book it says these are roughly right ?? what do you think i have 2 parrot fish in there at mo it seems one of the parrots has lost quite alot of the spots ?

I was thinking of doing a water change and putting some more medicine in its been 3 days since i done it last

advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks
Billy

 

[Spooky76]

Hey
The NO2 is fine at that, but you also need the others.
Firstly your fish produce Ammonia (NH I think) which eventually will be converted to NO2 (Nitrite). This will then be converted to NH3 Nitrate which will not be broken down.
You could do with a test kit for Ammonia, Nitrite(Which you have) and Nitrate. The worst 2 are the ammonia and Nitrite, you cant let these get very high. But once your tank is cycled, providing you dont put lots of fish in at once, say 2/3 fish every few weeks, you should be OK.

With regards to the medication, its probably the right time to do a water change now, 30% should be fine, then if your medication says so, redose the tank.

What medication are you using ?

Its good that the white spots are going, well done. You just need to make sure that your water stats are good too, if they are within limits, theres no reason why the fish wont survive. Just remember you still does once the spots are gone, as they are waterborn and you still need to kill them.

Keep up the good work (But go get the other test kits from your LFS )

 

[bcarey]

tHANKS FOR THE HELP GOING TO DO A WATER CHANGE TONIGHT.

If the ph and no2 readings are to high what do i do to reduce them, do you no of any links that explains.

And also from now on a water change once a week 30% ?

Thanks
Bill

 

[Spooky76]

Hey Bill

You doing good

Basically when you add fish into a tank, wee and poo and food break down and produce ammonia which is lethal in high doses. Eventually you filter breeds enough bacteria to reduce the ammonia to nitrite. BUT...in a new tank this cant happen quick enough, so you have to reduce it by changing the water (30% when it gets highish usually). Once your bacteria colonise they convert the ammonia to Nitrite. This again is toxic. (Also the toxicity increases as your PH increases from 7). Again once your filter is established it converts Nitrite into Nitrate. Nitrate is less harmful. That conversion again will NOT happen quickly enough in a new tank. Again water changes at the start will reduce it. In my Rio 125 with 8 fish it took 2 weeks for the ammonia to get high, I changed 35% ish and then in a few days the ammonia stayed low and the Nirtite increased. Once it got high I changed the water again. Now I dont get either but I get Nitrate.

Nitrate is really only removed by good maintenance and plants. Water changes are essential - maybe 20% every other week once its going.

This whole process is called cycling you will see many posts on the forum about it.

Try here http/www.fishforums.net/Fishless-Cycling-t113861.html
and here http/www.fishforums.net/Step-by-step-Gui...ce-t171045.html

I cant stress enough how important this is and thus why you need a Ammonia / Nitrite and Nitrate test kit. Otherwise you dont know and you will lose fish.

once its established it will almost look after itself with Ammonia / Nitrite. But when you add new fish, do it slowly (3/4 at a time) and wait a few weeks inbetween, otherwise you will start another cycle in the tank.

Hope that helps..

Yes weekly changes are a great idea (20-30%) should be fine.

Stu