ok here is a new deal... now what???

[morris2002]

as most of you know I am very new to this... tonight I was looking at my cichlids and a few (2 or3) are rubbing up on the rocks and other stuff the manager at petsmart said he sounds like ICH !!!!... oh my god please say it is not so.... I got some stuff for it he said to do a water change in 2 or 3 days 20%?... what is that in a 55gl tank? 12 gallons??.. how the hell to you work that out?..
one cup at a time?... :confuzeld: I know two 5 gallon buckets and 2 more gallons .. I am not that dumb :hehe:
he tested my water and said my nitrate and nitrite was way high. PH is 6.8 (yes I got holy rock now) but he said to use a PH add.. he also said I may need a bye-o-wheel? (cost $50 what the hell they thank I am rich or something? :spend:) said my water system maybe to small I said it was for a 70 gallon tank???.. do the lakes in Africa all this sh*t in it no wonder the people over there can’t eat the fish they DIE from it.. :hehe: ok ok I know shut up already...sorry just been going to bed and waking up thanking about my cichlids...do I need professional help or what??... :tease:


Morris
Saginaw

[DallasDiscus]

How old is the tank? Has it cycled yet? The pH is off for Africans, but with a water change and holey rock, you should be doing better. What kind of filtration are you using? A Bio-Wheel is used in hang on back filters as biological filtration. They are composed of a cardboard like substance that colonizes beneficial bacteria to brake down harmful toxins in the aquarium water. I use them on all of my tanks, but there are others who dislike them. Other methods exist to utilize biological filtration (for example, undergravel filters) The point is, the man at Petsmart suggested using one to help your tank out. They say you can never have enough filtration. Typically look for a filter that will completely filter your tank 3 to 5 times per hour. Be wary of chemical buffers as consistency is critical to water health.

[alta678]

I would think it had more to do with your water parameters than with ick. Those high nitrites are a more likely culprit. When I do a 20% water change, I mentally measure about one fifth of the way down the tank from water level to the top of the gravel and pull out that much water. So, 50% would be half way down and so on. It does not have to be exact. If you do frequent water changes you should be ok with your filter, I would think. You can look around for a used HOB filter on here or craigslist to add to your current filtration. It does not have to have a bio-wheel.

[kSpieler]

Some cichlids just do that (glance offa rocks and the substrate) for fun, too.

If they have ick they will have teeny-weenie white flecks on them.

When I do a WC on my 55 I take out three 5gallon buckets of water...unless I am using the python, and then how much I drain out directly corresponds to how much attention I am paying to the water level! :eek:

[tsunderl]

The glancing off rocks is known as flashing. Basically, they are establishing who is top fish in the tank and territories. Harmless unless you do see other issues, like white spots, that would indicate something more serious.

Petsmart... :rolleyes: There's some good ones, but few and far between. Not sure how far away you are from The Fish Place, but have them test your water. If indeed you do have nitrites, I'd suggest water changes and vaccuuming the gravel every other day until it clears. What was the ammonia level? If it's high, the ammonia could be irritating them. Get the nitrites and nitrates under control and that will reduce the ammonia level.

Good luck and keep us posted!

[kewlkatdady]

well...
with nitrIte in the water tells me the tank isn't cycled yet...

nitrAtes... what is high? did he tell you a number?
if nitrates are truely high...then do some water changes.

if you have ich, its not biggie...raise the temp slowly up about 85-87 degrees...add some salt and add a bubble source.

do a water change ever 4 days and it should be all gone in 2 weeks.

good luck.

[morris2002]

the ammonia level was good... I am going to do a 20% water change today and again on Saturday see if the help...

Morris

[kewlkatdady]

well there is more to being "cycled" than just the ammonia...

there is also nitrItes...

[DevilChanel]

Yeah if it were ich your fish would look like they had salt sprinkled all over them. It's hard to miss! If you don't see this then it's not Ich.

[iron]

When I first started I had high levels. I didnt realize how much more I needed to do. Unfortunately the good hearts of Petsmart employees are not the wisest answers at times. I found volumes of info here.
Start a routine. I change my water (about 30-50%) about 1-2 times a week depending on the condition of the tank. I use a gravel vacuum to pull out the nasty stuff. Try to set the water going back in at the same exact temp as what you pulled out. My daughter killed all of her fish with a drastic temp difference.
Next always use Prime or something that works as good or better. I usually use a cap full on each of my tanks every water change. I also due, to some great advice use aquarium salt. I put a dash or so in each tank after the change.
Next I use Perfect 7.0 ph to help bring the ph up. Monitor your tank with testing the levels and you should do good.
Always study any new fish for ich or any other illness. Do not ever buy sickly fish. Do not ever put a sick fish in your tank.
Next filter the fire out of your tank. I have one tank that is a 20 gallon with the filters on it rating combined over 370 gallons. Thats heavy filtration. I try to at least double or triple filter all my tanks. If I have a ten gallon, I will filter for a 30 or 50 gallons. If a 20 gallon I will filter with at least a 40 or 60 filter.
I want the cleanest and healthiest tank possible. Also on a new tank, I add a bacteria suppliment. So with all this combined on the advice of many and through my own searching, I think I have very safe tanks. Crystal clear waters and clean enviroments saves your investments from dying off.
There are many treatments for illness that many here have tried and saved many many fish.
My cichlids rub on stuff and do all kinds of nutty things. They are healthier than a horse so far.
I hope this helps and the advice of the masses help. Take care Iron

PS. Try avoiding gravel and such from rivers, driveways or what have you. This stuff can contain harmful bacterias and such. Get new and clean stuff.

[morris2002]

Thank you all for the help I changed my water and retested everything seems to be ok now..
PH still a little low but I am hopping the rock bring that up..

Thanks again you people are GREAT...

MORRIS

[kewlkatdady]

the rock isn't going to bring the ph up...much at all...