melfrany

Hi Guys,

I have a bunch of questions for whoever have time for me!!!

My aquarium is empty actually. After I lost my fish because I didn't know about the nitrogen cycle, I did the fishless cycle which worked perfectly.

I have a 20 gallon with live plants inside.

Parasite question: Since I'm preparing to buy fish, now that I know that my tank is cycled, I was puzzled to see a black worm, which looks exactly like the ones that were attached to my fish when they were alive. I do not understand, how can I still have those worms in my aquarium, since I have no fish in it and the plants I have are with me for more than 6 month??

Besides, how can I prevent and clear them out of my water? Although my tank has only plants, I clean it twice a week!! I move really well all the sutrate, but as I see its not enough...
Also, if I have to use any anti parasites in my water, isn't it going to kill my good bacteria?? or is there such a product in the market that will not damage it??

Quarantine tank question: I have a filter pad that belongs to my quarantine tank, inside my cycled tank, but I don't really understand this whole idea of putting the fish into this small tank in order to medicate them, if the medication will kill the nytrogen bacteria and will eventually kill the fish I'm very confused...

Filter question: What I understand is that the filter is supposed to clean the water, but those hang on filters like I have "Elite 20", I see that it actually doesn't clean the water...it just moves it around...can anyone suggest a filter that would really help with the quality of water? I've seen the canister filter and I found that the idea of having the water passing through all those layers of carbon and whatever else is in there, sounds better than just relying on this small pad on my hand on filter that just doesn't seem to be doing nothing besides holding the good bacteria in it... I imagine that I good filter that actually cleans the water, would improve the quality of life of the fish.

I appreciate any suggestions, thanks

ray_sj

I can't answer your parasite question, but I'll try the others:

Putting a fish in a quarantine/hospital tank has benefits:

1. Allows you to use a smaller amount of medication (than if you had to treat your whole main tank)
2. Spares your other healthy fish unnecessary exposure to whatever the sick fish has, as well as the medication
3. If the medication kills the cycle, you only have to deal with water changes for a small tank with few fish in it.
4. A quiet hospital tank allows the sick fish to rest.

On the filter question, the pad should capture small particles in the water. If it doesn't, is the water bypassing the filter pad by going over the top of the pad, or spilling over the intake tube?

saqib

Parasites such as worms are eaten up by most fish...for them its just live food...so dont worry too much unless or until it is something other than a worm...

qurantine tank has tremendous benefits...as RAY_SJ has already mentioned....furthermore not only can it be used to medicate specimens falling sick....putting all your new fish into quarantine is a MUST! before you add them to your community tank...i have had to learn the hard way...

most hang on filters are generally used to create current and add airation to the water...however filter pads allow the filter to clean up any particles from the water too...they just get stuck inside your filter media...not the mention a great host for the bacteria.

lew2000

Hi Guys,

I have a bunch of questions for whoever have time for me!!!

My aquarium is empty actually. After I lost my fish because I didn't know about the nitrogen cycle, I did the fishless cycle which worked perfectly.

I have a 20 gallon with live plants inside.

Parasite question: Since I'm preparing to buy fish, now that I know that my tank is cycled, I was puzzled to see a black worm, which looks exactly like the ones that were attached to my fish when they were alive. I do not understand, how can I still have those worms in my aquarium, since I have no fish in it and the plants I have are with me for more than 6 month??

Besides, how can I prevent and clear them out of my water? Although my tank has only plants, I clean it twice a week!! I move really well all the sutrate, but as I see its not enough...
Also, if I have to use any anti parasites in my water, isn't it going to kill my good bacteria?? or is there such a product in the market that will not damage it??

mefany - below are two links that eplain parsite infestations. Fish usually carry some bactera and even parasites. The problem/infestation occurs when a fish's natural defenses are lowered due to other diseases, stress, etc. and the fish cannot resist.

The treatment of a parasite depends upon the type. (as described in the first link- depending upon the symptoms expressed). Some treatments can indeed affect bio-filtration, some only slightly and some not at all. Read the ingrediants (of course) on the treatment package and then research them. Some such as copper are easy, some not so easy.

That is why a q/t and/or hospital tank setup is a good idea. With a treatment tank as long as you have good aeriation. When i setup a Q/T tank i use a HOB and i take the bio-whell off of one of my HOB's on a working tank. If you don't have this option, i would take some filration media/sponge and place in the filter, some people keep them in for a week and use prime to lock up the ammonia (versus filter) with aeriation. (i don't go this route - don't like to keep adding prime daily) First-off i use a twenty gallon and i only do a few fish, (6 at most) and use a filter for a week and a weak light (lowers the biological activity of the fish somewhat). But this is just me - research q/t on the web and get a good concesus.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=443

http://www.fishdeals.com/fish_diseases/parasites/

Hope this helps.

melfrany

Thanks for all your answers, I appreciate that