Stress me out !!!
- Thread starter newfisher
- Start date
Stress coat, Novaqua, Aqua Plus, it is all the same thing, just a different company makes it. You definately want to use Stress Coat as a tap water dechlorinator.
Whether it actually "reduces fish stress" as it claims to, eh, I dunno. I pretty much doubt it. What that aloe verra extract is suppose to do is mimic the natural mucus "slime" coat fish produce on their scales to protect the skin. When a fish is stressed, that "slime" can get rubbed off. You will notice that if you've ever tried to pick up a fish. At first, the fish is very slippery, but as you continuously handle it, your hands get greasy but it is easier to grasp the fish. When the slime gets rubbed off, it leaves the fish open to abbrasions and disease.
But stress is already known to reduce the immune system, and suppress immune function, and that also contributes more to the fish becomming ill after stress.
Unless they put a seditive in Stress Coat that we don't know about, I don't think it actually reduces stress the way it claims too. But it does dechlorinate tap water, so it is important to use that or a similar product during a water change.
~~Colesea
Whether it actually "reduces fish stress" as it claims to, eh, I dunno. I pretty much doubt it. What that aloe verra extract is suppose to do is mimic the natural mucus "slime" coat fish produce on their scales to protect the skin. When a fish is stressed, that "slime" can get rubbed off. You will notice that if you've ever tried to pick up a fish. At first, the fish is very slippery, but as you continuously handle it, your hands get greasy but it is easier to grasp the fish. When the slime gets rubbed off, it leaves the fish open to abbrasions and disease.
But stress is already known to reduce the immune system, and suppress immune function, and that also contributes more to the fish becomming ill after stress.
Unless they put a seditive in Stress Coat that we don't know about, I don't think it actually reduces stress the way it claims too. But it does dechlorinate tap water, so it is important to use that or a similar product during a water change.
~~Colesea
Watch out for iron content in your well water. Heavy metals such as iron are very common in well water, and most of your tap water conditioners will also neutralize the effects of heavy metals. I know Aqua Plus does because that's what I use in the store. If the filter on your house takes it out as it softens the water, then you don't have to worry about it. They also do make special filters to remove iron from water, I don't know what they're called or how much they might be.
Stress coat couldn't hurt the fish. You can't OD on the stuff as far as I've been told. Use it as you will.
~~Colesea
Stress coat couldn't hurt the fish. You can't OD on the stuff as far as I've been told. Use it as you will.
~~Colesea
*crazysmiley*
Would a high iron content in my water cause a high nitrite level reading? The other day I lost my small marble molly. My ammonia level is 0, my PH is 7.5 or 8. But my nitrite reading was really high, and it shouldn't be...I don't know why yet. My UGF should be established...tank has been set up a couple of months. I did a 35 percent water change, and tested the nitrites the next day. Still high. Would the iron content cause this?
I plan on taking a water sample to my LFS for testing to be sure I am reading my results right (plus I want to look at getting more plants) hee hee.
Goodbye, little molly... :'(
Would a high iron content in my water cause a high nitrite level reading? The other day I lost my small marble molly. My ammonia level is 0, my PH is 7.5 or 8. But my nitrite reading was really high, and it shouldn't be...I don't know why yet. My UGF should be established...tank has been set up a couple of months. I did a 35 percent water change, and tested the nitrites the next day. Still high. Would the iron content cause this?
I plan on taking a water sample to my LFS for testing to be sure I am reading my results right (plus I want to look at getting more plants) hee hee.
Goodbye, little molly... :'(
Iron would not lead to high nitrItes.
Make sure you keep the gravel on top of the UGF clean, and not too deep. If the gravel gets gunked up, has rocks on it, or is too thick, parts or sections wont work right(or not at all)
Check and see if it is real clean, maybe parts got clogged and now your bacteria to convert the nitrIte to nitrAte is dead or low.
just a thought.
I use stresscoat, only because I bought a gallon of it a few years ago , because I thought it was a fin healer. Now it is a dechlorinator.
Make sure you keep the gravel on top of the UGF clean, and not too deep. If the gravel gets gunked up, has rocks on it, or is too thick, parts or sections wont work right(or not at all)
Check and see if it is real clean, maybe parts got clogged and now your bacteria to convert the nitrIte to nitrAte is dead or low.
just a thought.
I use stresscoat, only because I bought a gallon of it a few years ago , because I thought it was a fin healer. Now it is a dechlorinator.
*twirlysmiley*
Just an update:
I went to my LFS and I was right; my nitrite reading was too high. They recommended daily water changes, no liquid fert. for a couple of weeks, and cutting food amount by half.
So far, no more lost fish, and the water changes seemed to have brought down the nitrite levels some. I think, though, I need to look at investing in a canister filter and a different hood as I really want live plants, but they aren't too compatible with a UGF. Could someone recommend a good inexpensive filter for a 10 gal. freshwater?
Thanks, ya'll...
*thumbsupsmiley*
Just an update:
I went to my LFS and I was right; my nitrite reading was too high. They recommended daily water changes, no liquid fert. for a couple of weeks, and cutting food amount by half.
So far, no more lost fish, and the water changes seemed to have brought down the nitrite levels some. I think, though, I need to look at investing in a canister filter and a different hood as I really want live plants, but they aren't too compatible with a UGF. Could someone recommend a good inexpensive filter for a 10 gal. freshwater?
Thanks, ya'll...
*thumbsupsmiley*