MousePotato

First let me apologize for posting this in two places (I also asked in my fish diseases thread), but I think clinton is the only one reading that thread now and he's off being productive or working or something instead of sitting on his keister and surfing the Internet right now (the nerve of him)!

I used a dose of Maracyn One earlier this week in an attempt to cure Columnaris, but I stopped when clinton advised me it may kill my beneficial bacteria. Well, I just tested my water and I have ammonia between .25 and .50! Nitrites are 0 and Nitrates are 20 PPM. So, I have a mini-cycle.

As I understand it, I need to put carbon in the filter and let it clear out the Maracyn so it does no further damage. I also need to do daily 50% water changes until it cycles.

The problem is - I am still medicating with Maracyn-Two! How will this all affect the treatment? How can I filter out the Maracyn One and do the water changes without my babies succumbing to Columnaris?

Also, I will need a new water conditioner because I use Prime. Can anyone recommend something? HELP!!

Thanks!

Shawnie

how dare clinton!!! LOL

its a catch 22 ...and IMO you got to finish treating for the disease...then be vigourous on the re-cycleing...most meds tell you not to change your water...so its a risk either way

I wouldnt change your prime conditioner because as soon as you can start water changes again, it will lock down the ammonia and nitrites for the 24 hours between each water change...ill say some big fishy prayers for you!

Alessa

Thats why I didnt medicate. None of my fish ever became sick, and the growth in the glass stopped when I scraped the annemone looking things off. I have delicate ottos and fry in my big tank who for sure couldnt take a mini cycle.

But again thats just me. Like Shawnie said if you were already loosing fish it is kind of a catch 22.

good luck with your fishies... and also as Shawnie said, use prime, it might help you until you can finally run the activated carbon and start changing the water.

MousePotato

Thanks, Shawnie,for your quick response! And yeah, how dare he be gone! Doesn't he realize the world revolves around MY fish tank? That's the trouble with men - always thinking they have their own lives when a perfect stranger a thousand miles away has ammonia issues! <laugh>

Do you think it would help if I added some Prime without doing the water changes? I could at least "lock down" the ammonia, but I guess it could starve the bacteria I need. I still have another week of treatment to do. I can't believe I've come this far only to be caught by a mini-cycle. I have been fighting for these fish since I got them!

On the plus side, they are all active and looking a bit better for treatment. I don't see any sign of ammonia poisoning. And, yes, I use the API test kit, so I don't think the reading is false.

MousePotato

Thanks, Alessa. I haven't lost any fish YET, but they are definitely ill!

Shawnie

hahahahahha yes men!!

I wouldnt do anything but the meds if you think the disease is bad...and pray alot that they make it until then!

Lucy

See, I've been saying all along we need a rasberry smiley just for clinton.

MousePotato, I'm really sorry your having problems and hope you get them worked out.
Good luck.

MousePotato

Thanks, Shawnie. I will do that for now and keep an eye on the water quality. Is there a "save my fishies" prayer? I haven't been a very good little church mouse!

MousePotato

Poor clinton! He thought he just had trouble from "ninja-ing" you and now he's gonna log in to find a whole group of women ragging on him! LOL!

Thanks for your sympathies, Lucy. It helps me feel a little less alone in this. Oh, and I vote for a "banging-head-on-desk" smilie. It's what I've been doing a lot lately...

Shawnie

me either but ive been a great church fish prayer! (that should count for a feeder fish or two when I reach heaven!)

Lucy

Your welcome, your not alone!
I vote for the banging head on desk smiley too. lol

MousePotato

You ladies are the best!

Thanks for your support. I will stay the course, say some prayers and heckle clinton when he returns.

BTW, Lucy, I've always loved your avatar. "Catfish" rock.

Lucy

clinton1621

Wow when did I become so popular lol... First off I do have to apologize, as I didnt know about the Maracyn 1 until I researched more in depth about how different antibacterials affect the cycle. So for future reference to everyone... any GRAM POSITIVE meds will kill your cycling bacteria, because most of the nitrifying bacteria are gram positive. However even gram negative meds can still hurt the cycle, just not quite as bad as the gram positive meds do... it also depends on the length of exposure with gram negative meds, a short exposure wouldnt hurt much compared to a short exposure with gram positive that would kill a large percent.

MousePotato

No one is upset with you for the Maracyn One issue, dear. That is *totally* not your fault. I read about that on other sites. We're picking on you for not hanging around online, waiting for my cry for help 24/7. How dare you have a life outside fishlore?!?

Well, that's why *I* am picking on you. Lucy has her own issues with you...

clinton1621

If I didnt have to work I probably would be on here 24/7 lol... if only just to give Lucy a hard time

MousePotato

I need to ask again - is using Prime going to keep my tank in an indefinite mini-cycle? Do I need to use a different water conditioner? I can't keep up these 50% water changes forever!

heartsongsinger

That's what happened to me. I've got the stuff to help jump start your tank and I'm using it right now

MousePotato

That's a good idea, heartsongsinger. I was considering moving some gravel from my healthy tank in there. I'm just not sure if my using Prime is an issue here. Thanks.

clinton1621

I would be careful about moving gravel, even from a healthy tank... the fish you are treating now are more susceptable (due to stress from being sick) to other diseases that could already be in the other tanks. A lot of diseases are always present even in healthy tanks, but if the fish are not stressed then they dont get sick because they have a good immune system. Think of it kind of like you being around someone who is sick... if you have a healthy immune system then you probably wont get sick... on the other hand if you recently already had say the flu, then you would probably catch what that person had as well.

Also dont forget to do a 50% water change and use carbon for at least 2 or 3 days (then remove it) before you try to re-establish the good bacteria, or the remaining meds will most likely kill them

MousePotato

Thanks, clinton. I have been doing the water changes and ammonia has been around .25 ppm each time I tested it prior to the changes. However I am getting VERY tired of changing out 50 gallons of water every day! I was hoping I could use some Bio-Spira to get things back in order, but I guess I'll have to wait until I'm done medicating. I'm on day nine now.