Jonah

Just when I thought the day was going so well I noticed my male Guppy was not doing his normal job and was ignoring the females. I had just done a PWC yesterday but it was not like him to igniore is harem so I tested the water.

read the results and took a deep breath

ammonia = 4ppm
NitrItes = 0ppm
NitrAtes = 20ppm
pH= 7.2 (its my natural PH lucky me)

So I have just done a 50%pwc (the 1st of many to come no doubt)

While we were changing the water my daughter, with better eyesight than me, noticed a little 'cotton wool' like growth on the back of one of the neons and when I looked closer its on the back of one of my ancistrus as well.

I am at a bit of a loss as to what is going on here, this tank has been stable for months, no new additions in weeks, and it usually sits at 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrates and < 5ppm Nitrates its heavily planted.

While I had the water level so low I did a fin count nothing has died so I am at a loss to understand the ammonia spike!

I am already planning large daily water changes, and I have started raising the water temp as well and have taken the air pump off the timer and put it on full time but the fluffy clouds on the 2 (so far) fish has me concerned what else do I need to do

I am running a spare filter in 1 tank and have a LOT of spare media in another so a QT tank will take minutes to set up and I have a couple of spare 10gals & heaters no lights spare though.

Lucy

Wow, sorry, I don't have a clue where the ammonia would have come from.
Did you over clean the filter, replace the media?
You already know daily water changes are in order. If you use Prime it'll detox the ammonia for 24hrs. between water changes.

It sounds like your fish have some sort of fungus. It would be a good idea to quarantine the 2 effected fish. Be careful of what meds you use, as I beleive some cats are sensitive to them.

Jonah

No nothing done to the filter, its a large cannister filter that I usually only clean out every 4 weeks and then only 1 of the 5 media sections gets cleaned at a time.

last filter clean was 2 weeks ago, i only did the pwc yesterday as I made up too much when i was doing a PWC on the fry tank.

But thanks Lucy, you made me think about the filter and after thinking about it its not what I did but rather what I didnt do! I meant to take the activated carbon out of the filter and replace it with floss when I did that change.

The floss is still in the cabinet which means the carbon is still in the filter and has been for about 6 weeks now.

That will probably be the cause!

Lucy

lol, Glad I could help if even in an indirect way.

cerianthus

Elevating temp for fungal and bacterial infection is not good. Q/t sick ones to treat/monitor should be in order, IMO. Extra salt can take care of fungal and some bactrial infection and med if necessary.
Do you happen to use Amquel+ and API liquid NH3 test kit? Amquel+ has specifically pointed out that it may give you false reading when using in these combo. When such unexpected readings are registered, it is good idea to rinse the tube well and run another test to be ensure the residue on tube did not affect the test. It is very odd to have NH3 spikes in well established unless pH had BIG BIG swing (up or down) or tank had been massively disturbed.
Hope all fish are OK.

Lucy

I thought plecos couldn't handle salt?

Jonah

I dont use Amquel and I do use the API liquid test kit. I did however add some Tetra EasyBalance when I did my normal PWC at the weekend. It was recommended by my Bro the fish keeper. I presume that EasyBalance is similar to Amquel in that its supposed to help balance a tank and reduce the need to make PWC's on tanks.

I was at my usual reading on Saturday though of 0 Ammonia, 0 nitrite and <5ppm nitrate before the change though.

So answer is Easy Balance goes on the shelf never to be used again, carbon comes out of the cannister, infected fish go in a QT tank and daily PWC's on both tanks till both problems are resolved.

but no salt as the Plec/ancistrus is not compatible with it.

Lucy

I'm pretty sure easy balance is one of those bacterial additives that uses up the ammonia the bacteria that grows through the natural cycling process needs to survive.
I agree...stick that on the shelf to gather dust. lol

Thanks for the clarification on the salt and plecos, I wasn't positive.

cerianthus

Glad water is back to normal.
Common Misconception about salt. Unless discus/Uaru or other fish from water w/ no or little salt, f/w have some sort of salt dissoved in it (not just NaCl, thre are other kinds of salts in the water). Have done it with most of f/w fish to treat using salt, even wild cardinals/discus out of Rio Negro (very soft water). When no salt in water, fishs kidney has to wok harder to keep proper salt level w/i body (Osmosis, diffusion gradient), wasting more energy to keep salt and kidney have to work harder thus lowers their immune ability or other physiolocal/anatomical needs. Mentioned ealier on another thread about a Jan issue of FAMA which will explain the need of salt in F/W AQ. Once read this article, you will understand that overworked kidney will/can shorten the lifespan. No different from our Renal function.
BTW, the product which will be on the shelf. How about doing the NH3 test with couple of drop diluted in tap water? Just curious!

mondicat

Tetra easybalance actually doesn't contain any bacteria. It adds carbonate and buffers, and absorbs nitrate and phosphate. It also adds vitamins and trace elements. It is supposed to be added to the tank on a weekly basis, and it's supposed to keep your water stable for 6 months without water changes. I bought some when I set up my tank, but haven't used it since I was afraid it would suck up all my nitrates and not leave any for my plants! I wonder if it might create an imbalance in an already well balanced tank.

Edit: I have read reports of people who have used it successfully in planted tanks. I've just never tried it myself.

Lucy

I always figure why put money out for a product (other than conditioner) that you have to add when nature takes care of ir for you.

Shawnie

WOW JONAH!!!!!! I just faced the same exact thing today...on a tank no less thats been running for at least a year!! ...as far as the easybalance, I cant imagine any product promoting no water changes for 6 months ....not to mention, imagine never flushing your toilet for 6 months? ewwwww...im wondering jonah why you were changing the water with such perfect readings?

I had this happen to my betta tank today......the white fuzzy stuff was everywhere and I did loose 3 boys ...it was after a water change also(which I did last night)...and im wondering if we have an issue with our well because in all the years ive had fish, ive never seen anything like it...my ammonia was well over 8ppm but the tap is 0..prior to changing the water, everything was 0 except the nitrates were up so hence the water change....it was this morning that it was noticed and although there was none of the white cottony stuff any of my fish, there was tons floating ..ive been shaking my head since then ...if you find something out, lemmme know!! im sorry for your fishies

Butterfly

You are exactly right the Ancistrus and salt are incompatible good job.
If you see that it's not going to clear up Maracyn 1 is a good med for fungus
just remember to add some extra aereation when you use meds or raise the water temps.
carol

Jonah

Thanks Shawnie, (hugs back)

Well it was Saturday, i always change the water on Saturday, but i only do 10% just to freshen it up.

But I also added the easy balance I think that and the old carbon bags in the filter have combined to throw my cycle out. I just noticed it today but i suppose its been going since then to creep that high on the Ammonia side

Will let you know how things go with the white cottony stuff I went to set QT up tonite but I'm out of conditioner and Stresscoat as I used all of the last bits I had today with the 50% change so thats going to happen tomorrow now,was due to go to shop for more tomorrow anyway, the darned fry tank is using it up at a heck of a rate.

Have to check Ebay for Prime one of the other UK folks here posted he got some on ebay

Thanks BF

Shawnie

well let me know what you find out about the cottony stuff...that has me totally in a tail spin..and the fact that last nite i had 0 ammon and today it was 8...goodluck!! and if you ever get stuck needing fish supplies, im sure we can send some from the states right? (not sure on laws mailing products like that)

Butterfly

Here thanks to plecofanatics.com is a med list. It even tells which country you can buy them in and what their for.
http://www.plecofanatics.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=25611
Carol