shadowavenger

I have a 14 gallon tank that is relatively new. It has not completed the nitrogen cycle that I am aware of but has been in service for about 3 weeks. I have a molly which is showing signs of shimmies and I know I need to add some salts to the tank to help it. I have some aquarium neutral regulator salts which also says to contain conditioning salts. It should take care of the shimmies because its obviously an Ionic salt of some kind (possibly a group I sulphate of some kind but Im not sure) and should provide the necessary electrolytes to take care of the problem. But my problem is that I also have a bag of zeolite to help keep the NH3 levels at a non lethal level while the bacterial colonies develope. I have this bag in an over hang filter, after the bio net so its not removing the NH3 before it has a chance to get to the bacteria. I know salts will reactivate the zeolite and my question is, how much of this conditioning salt can I add to the tank to cure the shimmies but not release the ammonia from the zeolite back into the water? do I need to just remove the zeolite? How much salt should I add? and if I have to remove the zeolite, how can I manage the levels of NH3?

NUMB3RS

When you are saying shimmies do you mean it's stressed or has ICH or another kind of illness? If the salt is beneficial then I would most definetly add it. Good Luck!

shadowavenger

Shimmies is a disease that is commonly experienced with brackish fish like mollies. Its also called molly disease and is characterized by erratic swimming and swaggering back and fourth. Since these fish live in semi-salty environments they require a small amount of salts in the tank to provide electrolytes.

agabr123

do you have a quarantine tank (or even a plastic/rubbermaid container with a heater and fiter) that you could put the molly in? that way you could dose with the salt and not have to worry about the zeolite?

CWO4GUNNER

You need to verify your water parameters (pH, AM, Nitri, Nitra) so you know yourself what the situation is. If you are into the 3rd week with a new tank stocked with fish as you mentioned above, the 3rd week is when the ammonia levels became very lethal in my new tank. Zeolites do very little to curb ammonia. You need to know for certain what your situation is quickly and then take the appropriate and aggressive action. A little salt like 1 tablespoon per 50 gallons will not affect zeolites but 1 tablespoon per 10 gallons probubly will cause an ion exchange causing the zeolites to release its hold on whatever minerals attached to it to release.

shadowavenger

At my last test my NH3 levels were +- .25 PPM. But I did remove my zeolite bag and I will test tommorow to see if the tank is completing its cycling or if it was just the zeolite taking the ammonia in. Since I have it out Im going to go ahead and put in some salts and see how my molly does. I did do about a 25% water change today too and did a quick gravel vacuuming but I don't think that would lower the NH3 levels too much.