genie

OK, yesterday it was really hot here so I had to unplug the heater. I left it off overnight b/c the water was still 86 degrees. I came in to work today and the temp was 74.

Cobalt's finrot is back and he has a missing scale on top of his body (not his head, but close)

What should I do

Timesdragonfly

trun the heat back on, but bring it up slowly! You don't want to shock him worse. I can't remember if/what you are using to treat him for the fin rot. If you aren't already using something stronger like the maracyn and maracyn 2 combo, I begin something like that. Good luck!

LZ Floyd

Something similar happened to us a while back. It turns out that, because the temp dropped slowly, it wasn't a shock to the fish and didn't result in any real harm.

If the tank does get warmer than the heater is set for, though, the heater shouldn't turn on at all unless something is wrong it.

As far as the fin rot returning, sorry to hear about it. You could try Jungle Labs Fungus Clear or, as Timesdragonfly suggested, Maracyn 2.

Mike

COBettaCouple

Yea, we had the tanks go to 74 one night too when i had the heaters turned to the lowest setting because it had been so warm in the house. Like timesdragonfly said, Cobalt should be ok temp-wise with you slowly bringing it back up. I don't think it caused his fin rot to return.

Could that scale have been missing before and just gone unnoticed until a close inspection today revealed it or did it certainly fall off during the night? I think treating the fin rot should cover keeping that lost scale from being a problem. I read to use Jungle Labs' Ick Guard II to keep lost scales from leading to secondary infections, but I'd think a course of TriSulfa, Maracyn-2 and/or the Maracyn & Maracyn-2 combo or Fungus Clear to treat the fin rot would eliminate the need for that. I'm sorry little Cobalt's finrot is back, but you take great care of your babies and he'll get over it & soon enough be showing fin regrowth.

genie

Thanks for the speedy reply. I will go on my lunch break and get some meds. The other stuff I was using, I took home. Should I remove the carbon filter and replace it with an airstone until the meds are done (It is a small tank, I use a Small world filter)

genie

I am sure that everything happened over night-- I spend most of my work day looking at Cobalt. Plus, he is so dark blue, and the missing scale spot is pinkish white. I have been doing 50% water changes everyday b/c the tank is cycling and the nitrites are high. I am afraid to take out the filter, b/c you have to change the whole thing, and I don't want the cycle to be disturbed, but I also don't want it taking out all of the meds

And I am having bad luck with fish today. Spike is acting weird, and yesterday I sucked one of my cory cats up in the gravel vac-- I thought he was ok, but now his (non exhistant) eye is red. Ahh, when it rains it pours!

Please help!

COBettaCouple

Yea, I think the carbon will need to come out to do those meds unfortunately. What have the nitrites been running at lately? Do any nitrogen cycle experts think a dose of Amquel+ before starting the meds would be a good idea?

What's spike up to?

I hope that little Cory cat will recover.. I bet he will.. i've sucked up Platy fry a few times myself.. poor little guys.. but they were alright.

It does seem like a bunch of things happen at once sometimes, doesn't it? Well, you love your guys and will take good care of them so they'll all pull thru. We wish you the best with all of them.

oh.. when you get the meds at lunch, you might want to not go by the Bettas, ok?

genie

LOL-- you are probably right. Every time I see one, I want to take it home.
I think I will put an air stone in there.
Nitrites are at 3!! I know yikes, but I have been doing water changes every single day! I think I will try the AmQuel + if I can find it.

COBettaCouple

yea, 3 is up there.. I'd be adding Amquel+ to bring it down, it really works.. Maybe we can find the cause too, then you can get it stable at a good number.. is the ammonia good & where are the nitrates? any live plants in it? gravel for the substrata? and he's alone in the tank? i'm sorry i don't remember, but how many g is his tank?

genie

2 gallon-- he is alone, one live plant (hornwort) nitrates at 20 ammonia good. Regular Gravel.
Oh-- he is still very active.

COBettaCouple

The plant looks good? No dead or dying parts on it? When did you last clean the gravel? I wonder if this could be a nitrogen cycle thing - did you have an ammonia spike recently in that tank?

I'm not sure, so this is kind of an open question to those who know more about plants & their effects on water chemistry but is there any chance the plant is causing the nitrites problem?

genie

Ok, went to Petco on my lunch-- they were out of everything! I got Jungle Fungus Clear. I had to pre disolve it to measure it for such a small aquarium. I got the AmQuel Plus-- it is hard to measure as well. I took out the filter b/c of the carbon (all one piece) and I put in a 4" air stone. It says I can redose in 4 days if necessary.

I have a feeling that this is going to screw up the biological filter though. It says it clears fungus and bacteria and prevents secondary infections.

genie

the plant I have is healthy. I used the gravel vac on Mon. And the plant I have is supposed to eat up the nitrates so I am sure it isn't the prob, + I have one in my big tank at home. I think it is a nitrogen cycle thing since the tank is in the process of cycling. Ammonia has been good.

BTW Cobalt is not happy with the removal of the filter-- he liked to swim all around it. I guess he'll just have to play in the bubble stone.

Bonochick

I hope Cobalt will be all right! Good luck with everything.

antisen

Yeah, good luck! It seems like you are doin everything right. I had a lot of success with Fungus Clear and I hope you do too.

genie

Thanks for all of the help from everyone. I am glad to hear that others have had success with the Fungus Clear. I'll keep everyone posted.

voiceless_kat

Genie, continue to fight the good fight with Cobalt! Neptune has taught me these little fish are full of surprises!! Sending hugs, Val & Neptune

genie

Thanks-- I'm not givin' up!

COBettaCouple

We've had success with Fungus Clear too, and I bet Cobalt will respond to it well. Good luck with the little guy from us as well.