Will They Ever Be Normal?

[tttnjfttt]

You need to remove the carbon filters because the carbon will absorb the medicines. They should stay out for the entire treatment and only put back in when you are done treating.

Ok, i've been reading the stuff that I got with my copperSafe, and it says you can combine it with with Maracyn and Maracyn 2.

So, here is what i would recomend for meds: Use CopperSafe to try to tackle the parasites, as well as Maracyn and maracyn 2 for the bacterial infections. Another option instead of the maracyn and maracyn 2 is to use tetracycline, however, this med can damage your beneficial bacteria, which you are struggling to establish right now

 

[WILDER]

If the skin has dry out they have lost there slime coat protections so parasites and bacteria problems have now do there worst.

 

[rEvolution27]

well i had a two disease epidemics when i just started out. Maybe you tanks biological cycle hasn't established well enough.

i'm no expert but my best advice is to start outwith hardy fish (aka guppies) for about a month and then introduce new fish little at a time. Whe you wsee a sick fish immediately remove it and treat in in a hospital tank.

Thats all i can say except HANG OUT AROUND HERE!

 

[tttnjfttt]

If you have to start over, guppies are NOT a hardy fish, they are very inbred and prone to disease

Good point wilder. If the slime coat is gone, maybe something like stress coat which provides an artificial slime coat?

 

[WILDER]

I would try ttnjttt advice with the meds, but they might not be strong enough for all them meds, so good luck, and increase aeration.

 

[tttnjfttt]

Also, you may want to consider getting a bottle of clove oil to keep on hand. This can be used to humainly euthanize a fish. Some times fish get to the point of no return, the best thing we can do for them is to end their suffering.

I should also add that CopperSafe is gentle enough to use on scaleless fish at a full dose, which is something that isn't true for many parasite meds, so it is one of the more gentle ones out there.

 

[sj022698]

I just spoke with my wife

Ph- highest on the tab testing strips
nitrates- fine
nitrites-fine
alkolides- high
hard- caution

We have used JUNGLE parasite clear today with a 20% water change and we used JUNGLE fungus clear on sunday with a water change

Today she got advised to add a yellow bottle, not sure of name, of something that balances the nitrates and ph and maintains them for up to 6 months.

I hope this helps.

Where should I go from here?

 

[WILDER]

No need to use ph and nitrate stuff a load of crap and with all the meds i wouldn't of added it, causes more problems in the long run, no need to alter ph, plus water changes are best for nitrates.

 

[tttnjfttt]

Ok, don't try to mess with the pH. You have a very high KH and GH, meaning you have hard water and it is very resistant to pH changes. You may consider looking into adding some distilled water to your regular tap water to lower the pH and hardness, that is the best way to do it. Or look into getting a RO (reverse osmosis) unit.

I would stop the fungus clear. I have never had much luck with those, and you are going to need a stronger anti biotic. I'm not sure whats in the fungus clear either.

I'd be very hesistant of using somethng that claims to last for up to six months, simply because you will be taking out water and doing a gravel vac frequently, which should remove it.

 

[sj022698]

No need to use ph and nitrate stuff a load of crap and with all the meds i wouldn't of added it, causes more problems in the long run, no need to alter ph, plus water changes are best for nitrates.

Even if the PH is at the highest the test strip will go?

 

[WILDER]

Plus you don't no what they are doing with the meds all these chemicals you are adding to the tank.Best thing for now is to do a water change and run some black carbon to get all the meds out.

 

[tttnjfttt]

It is high, but the only way to safely lower it would be to use distilled water, as it will dilute whatever is making your water so hard and the pH so high.

DO water changes, add the carbon to get those meds out, then start the new meds.

 

[sj022698]

Stop the pH stuff, honestly, it is junk. I used to try using it in my fish tank when i first began and it would lower it only to bounce back up the next day, that will stress out the fish. How high is your pH? i have successfully kept fish that prefer acidic water in a pH of 8.0

Maracyn and Maracyn 2 can be combined, i have done that before. I'd be more worried about the bacterial infections at the moment, as they are highly lethal. I'm currently using copperSafe by Mardel, it is to treat parasites (i'm dealing wiht gill flukes), and i THINK it said it can be used with antibiotics, I will check to be sure

So, now that you know when and what I've treated it with recently, do you still advise the coppersafe?

I'll try anything to save them

 

[WILDER]

Never used coppersafe so ttnjfttt will have to answer that one for you.
To be honest they sound doomed i no that harsh, but to much going on sorry, but there is no harm in trying, good luck fingers crossed.

 

[tttnjfttt]

The reason why i'm a fan of copper safe at the moment is because i have seen my clown loaches be fine with it. They are scaleless and are more sensitive to meds and additives. And the fact that it is working in my tank right now, You can see why I like it.

Since your fish sound like they are pretty bad off, so i'd go for a gentler med that works. Especially with the slime coat problem Wilder pointed out.