Ich problem, high nitrates please help

[3800rs]

Just tested it, the nitrates were indeed around 100pm. my kh was in the ideal range and everything else was the same. I did not put any more medicine in today. the fish still look the same. My water has a green tint in it from the fungus medicine i put in yesterday. I looked today at petco, no sign of the coppersafe stuff. I read the wardley stuff i have and it said something like not great for tetras. I have some tetras. should i not use it ?

 

[d3sc3n7]

Not if it says not to on the label. I know there are a few other products that people here suggest, however...I dont know the name of them. Can you order coppersafe online? I know it will probably take a few days to get it and you'll probably hit round 2 with ICH before you can get it treated. I hate to have you order it online, when your fish are already sick.

I just dont trust most of the real commercial products out there. Its good that your nitrates dropped to 100ppm.

Hmm, how many days has it been, since youve seen the white spots on your fish?

 

[3800rs]

i think i first noticed the white spots last friday night.

 

[d3sc3n7]

Ok, you have about a week...give or take...from the day they drop off, to they time they are back on the fish...and round 2 will be way worse. You really want to get the treatment in there during the dormant stage...so right when they become free swimming, the are killed

 

[3800rs]

so i have until about monday. i will see if i can get that coppersafe from somewhere. Do a dose of that on monday and go from there ? Thanks

 

[d3sc3n7]

Yeah, if you can get some by then...you should be good...and its only a 1 dose thing. Dose and forget about it. Even if you dont catch it in time...the coppersafe will stay in the water long enough to catch it when the spots come off again.

I'd say your in the "Free swimming" stage now...so that water change probably helped out a little by removing alot of the parasites.

If you can get it before monday, treat as soon as you get it...you cant put it in to early

 

[brian1973]

Looks like Jay has this well covered but i figured i wuld throw this out there, i have used quick cure for ich with excellant results but I have only dealt with it once. May work for you if you cant find coppersafe.

 

[3800rs]

ok, thanks for the info, i am gonna be on the hunt tomorrow morning for this coppersafe stuff.

 

[LMarts]

I found Coppersafe at the Petsmart by me.

 

[3800rs]

i dont have a petsmart by me i have a petco and i didnt see it there unfortunely

 

[3800rs]

i noticed today the one cave fish that had the flakey skin keeps hovering at the surface i guess for air. anything i can do ?

 

[3800rs]

Went to a good friend of mine today that owns a pet store. He had this parasite stuff that he gave me, i added it today along with some new tetras he gave me. We will see how it works out

 

[LMarts]

You added new fish when you have a funk going through your tank? Umm..that isn't the most advisable thing to do you know.

 

[3800rs]

You added new fish when you have a funk going through your tank? Umm..that isn't the most advisable thing to do you know.

My buddy gave them to me, i added some chemicals he advised me and dumped the fish in. Its not like i put some $30 parrot fish in or anything

 

[3800rs]

is it safe to change out some more water ? i did about a 45% change on sat and i wanna get the nitrates down. a few of the little tetras died.

 

[TabMorte]

I would be changing out 50% a day until you get your chemistry settled.

 

[3800rs]

I would be changing out 50% a day until you get your chemistry settled.

that wont shock anything ?

 

[TabMorte]

50%?

No you should be fine as long as you're treating your water with dechlorinator. But freash water is way better for the fish then bad water chemistry.

Double check on the bottle of medication you're using though in case it has any instructions in regards to water changes.

 

[3800rs]

50%?

No you should be fine as long as you're treating your water with dechlorinator. But freash water is way better for the fish then bad water chemistry.

Double check on the bottle of medication you're using though in case it has any instructions in regards to water changes.

Thanks for the input, gonna change out some tomorrow

 

[noob23]

Don't use all of that medication, and do less water change. All of this change in water has probably stressed your fish out alot. When you neglect your tank, nitrates rise to ungodly levels. As the nitrates rise, the fish adapt. So in your case the fish were all fine with 200 nitrate, because they were adapted. Don't get me wrong, that is bad, and extremely unhealthy. Here is what i would do. Stop all medication, and do about a 25% water change every day until your nitrates drop under 20. The water changes will serve as your medication. After you have done that, you need to keep up 25-30% water changes EVERY WEEK. Trust me, your tank will look better and your fish will live much longer, and look better. If you find water changes a hassle, they have these gadgets called pythons, and they attach to your faucet and use the pressure to clean and refill your aquarium.

You can read up on and order one here:
Aquarium Maintenance & Water Changes: Python No Spill Clean 'N Fill