Melissawater

I wish I had found this site earlier! I started my tank a week ago adding rocks, decor, bubblers, added aquasafe and plants (w/o food now I realize that was stupid). 2-3 days later we added our first fish a pleco (I know not good, good thing the pet store knew it was a starter fish!), 4 cardinal tetras, and an albino cat. I read the little signs for the fish and went on my marry way..... The fish seemed to good we got our test kit and we are testing everyday, it is even called an all-in-one test strip however it doesn't include ammonia!
About a week later (yesterday) we went and bought new fish asked the employee to make sure it wasn't to many and that the fish would be compatible, even bought the fresh aquariums for dummies book. I had noticed the day before going for fish that my tetras has small white spots, maybe 2-4 on their tails and fins. I asked the employee before buying more fish what it was and if it was ick. I even had her take one of the tetras out of their take that showed the same symptoms to show her boss to make sure. The answer was that it was just a couple of scales missing and that ick looks like salt. I got home with my new fish added them to the tank and realized the tetras looked like they were covered in air bubbles or salt. Crap! I did some more research on ick and we went out last night and bought Coppersafe after seeing a post on the net. We added it according to directions including leaving the filter going (weird) and went to bed. This morning all 4 tetras died and my pleco is now covered, it also looks like my dalmation dollies are getting it on their fins.
It was not until tonight after finding this site I read a post under things petshops should know, that copper meds are not safe for bottom dwellers.... I now know I have to go tomorrow and buy new test strips and pray my pleco doesn't leave me I thank you guys for all the info and I wish I had found it sooner. Sorry for the novel.
Melissa

BassNFool

Melissawater,

I feel your pain. I am trying very hard to keep my fish from suffering the same fate. I just bought some Tetra SafeStart with 1-3 day shipping. It looks like daily 50% WC for a while yet. . On a happier note: Day 5 with too many fish in an un-cycled aquarium and no deaths thanks to the advice from this board.

BassNFool

Lucy

Hi Melissa welcome to Fish Lore

I moved your post to a thread of it's own so the members can help you.

I'm sorry about your fish, I know it stinks to lose them.
Here's a great link to get you started:
Freshwater Aquarium Fish Beginner's Guide
Pay close attention to the nitrogen cycle information.
Here's a basic explanation of the nitrogen cycle:
First your ammonia (from fish waste and left over food) will rise.
In a few weeks bacteria will start to develop and you'll see the nitrite levels rise and the ammonia levels start to drop.
After a few more weeks a different kind of bacteria begins to develop and you'll see the nitrate levels rise and the nitrite levels drop.
Ammonia and nitrites are toxic to your fish.
So until your cycle is complete, you need to keep the levels down with 50% daily water changes.
Using Prime as your water conditioner will detox the ammonia for 24 hrs between water changes.
When you having readings of 0 on both ammonia and nitrites with some nitrates showing, your cycle is done.

When's the last time you changed the water?
Oh, avoid the test strips, they can be inaccurate. The API master test kit is a liquid kit and very reliable.
After you test your water, you can post the results and we can help you further.

For ICH, you can slowly raise the temp to 84F. Increase aeration to make up for less oxygen in warmer water. Leave it there for at least 2 weeks. Thoroughly vacuum your gravel to pick up all the ich spores.
If it's really bad, you might want to medicate.

bolivianbaby

Hello, Melissa. Welcome to Fishlore We can help you through this.

We usually recommend the API Freshwater Testing Kit because it's much more accurate then the strips, which will help you help your fish through the nitrogen cycle.

When you feed your fish, the produce waste which contains ammonia, which is toxic to your fish. But then nature has something that breaks down the ammonia called nitrites. However, nitrites are also toxic to your fish. Nature has something to break down the nitrites called nitrates.

To help your fish through the cycle, do daily water changes, add Prime as a water conditioner which help detoxify the ammonia and nitrites for 24 hours until your next water change while leaving them available for the nitrogen cycle to occur.

Once you have a rise and fall of ammonia and nitrites and are showing some nitrates, your tank is cycled. The exact readings on a cycled tank are 0-ammonia, 0-nitrites, and 5-20 nitrates.

To treat ich, we recommend slowly raising the temperature of the tank to 84 degrees and leaving it there for two weeks. During those two weeks, you'll want to vacuum the gravel really well twice a week. When your fish show no signs of ich for two weeks, slowly bring the temperature back down. Medicines and chemicals used to treat problems usually destroy your cycle and can cause harm to some species of fish, such as bottom dwellers.

I hope this helps and please feel free to post questions whenever you have them. There's always someone online at any given time

by Lucy

Melissawater

The water has not been changed >< I wasn't aware until reading this tonight that it needed to be. It still has the same water that it was started with about a week ago Thank you for the help! Looks like we will be making another trip to the pet store in the morning.

Lucy

BB

You should probably go ahead and do a water change tonight. Do you have water conditioner?
What kind of pleco do you have?

Melissawater

I have the Tetra AquaSafe. As far as the pleco I only remember seeing small written next to it, but I have a feeling it is the one that is recommended for a 55+ gal tank. Unfortunately I don't think he is going to make it At least we will know now what we can and can't do. I was worried about doing a water change without having the right stuff, but I guess it would be better to have good water. What percentage should be taken out?

Lucy

I hope he makes it.
Change out about 50%, just make sure your tap and tank water are about the same pH and temperature.
If that amount makes you nervous, you can do 25% now and 25% in a few hours.
Don't forget to use the water conditioner.
Tomorrow, you can get Prime, it's a water conditioner, but will also detoxify the ammonia for 24 hours between water changes.

Melissawater

I did the 50% water change, we lost a dalmation molly and 2 glolites Hopefully that is it for casualties. The tap water is the same in ph and made sure the temp was in between the 76-78 degrees. Water conditioner is in and hopefully they will be good to go now.....we will see. How often should I change the water until the cycle is complete? Was it every couple of days?

Lucy

I'm sorry you lost the little guys.
Change the water daily. Cycling a tank can take up to a month, so be patient.
Read the links in post #2, esepcially about the nitrogen cycle.
Test everyday and keep a log of the readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.

Many of our members are started out the same way, so hang in there.
Ask any questions you need, everyone is very helpful.

aquarist48

Hello Melissa and Welcome to Fish Lore. Sorry to hear you're having beginners fish woes but don't feel too badly as many of us have been where you are. It will get better but it's going to take a little extra effort on your part especially here in the beginning and due to the fact that you have fish in a tank that isn't cycled.

I just wanted to add that your water changes and using "activated carbon" in your filter should remove the coppersafe medicine you added to your tank to treat the ICH. (this may be stated on the medicine bottle) As stated above we don't normally recommend using medicines for ICH unless it is a severe case. Then it depends on the types of fish that you have.

Sending you lots of good will for your tank and your fish!
Anytime you need help or want to chime in to other conversations by all means don't hesitate
Ken

Melissawater

Thank you so much! Yes the coppersafe said activated carbon would take it out, but we looked up our whisper filter and it did not say it had activated carbon so we left it on during treatment. I did the 50% water change last night, so I am hoping that helped as well. The fish seem to be doing good and pinkie and the brain (one of our albino catfish and the pleco) seem to be doing good this morning. I will be doing a 25% change today as well as picking up prime, an API master test kit, and a new heater that I can change the temp on to get rid of the Ich.
I can not thank you people enough for all of your quick responses, condolances and help in getting my fish healthier, I just wish I found you before I killed 7 of my babies and hurting the rest! Now they will be healthier and happier fish and we will be happier less stressed people

Melissawater

I do have another question By turning up the heat to 82.5+ to get rid of the ich will it effect my glolight danios who prefer 65-75 degrees or my albino cats who like 72-78? I just don't want to cook them.....

Lucy

I'm glad your fish are doing well today.
The heat should be turned up (slowly) to 84F to kill and stop the ich cycle.
As long as you increase the oxygen by adding an air pump and stone, they'll be fine for 2 weeks.
Don't forget the gravel vacuum when you go to the store.

Melissawater

Lol some how the gravel vac was purchased in the first trip, I don't like it though because it is gravity feed; at least it does an okay job though. Okay I just wanted to make sure no cooked catfish were produced! We have a bubble stone and long, flexible bubbler that we started with so that should be plenty; man do they love that thing!!
Thanks again Lucy

aquarist48

1-2-3 easy aquarium siphon instructions - video
Is this the same type of vacuum that you have Melissa? This video is made by one of our moderators CapeKate. Thank you CapeKate!
Ken

Lucy

My poor fish were so grateful to Kate for making that video.

Melissawater

Lol yup that is the one!