Halp! Id Issue With African Cichlids. Also, Do You Use Aquarium Salt?

HAY.

Unfortunately, I've already lost the one I have good photos of. I've been gone a lot over the last couple weeks, so I wasn't noticing things getting worse until it was too late. It started as a couple scales missing but when I found him today it was bad. The picture shows the scales missing a bit, but it doesn't show the redness beneath that or the hazy, whiteish-grey, fuzz that hovered around it.

Now I noticed a few scales missing on another fish. CRIIIIPESS!!

I rinsed off the filter the other day and tested the water and my PH had dropped from 8.3 to 7.5ish
Ammonia and Nitrite are normal. My Nitrate is what it normally is, between 40-80ppm, which I'm not sure is okay or not but have always been around this level. When we first started the tank in April it had a small ammonia spike but reduced to normal levels aftercare, but I have never noticed a spike in any other level. The Nitrate seems high to me but it has never been any different and the tank hasn't had any problems until meow.

Today I did an about 25% water change with Prime, a small dose of PH booster stuff, and the fish lady at the store suggested that I use the fungus cure so I started that. So I would do the second treatment on friday and another water change on sunday....and I leave tuesday for four days.

Do you think that this is the best course of action? I'd hate to lose more fish, especially when I'm going to be gone for a few days and will have someone else coming to feed them.

ALSO do any of you use Aquarium Salt? some say it has short-term benefits that don't really out-weigh the risk but can help in certain situations...but also the dosages are all over the place. I'm still a newb and could really just use any help I could get.

P.S.
They seem super aggressive towards eachother meow too, but not the one that's hiding :/ HALP

 

What are the ammonia and nitrite levels? You need to keep the nitrates 20 or below, so you definitely need to do more water changes.

As far as that stuff on its side, that’s definitely not fungal. It’s dead tissue, I’m just not sure what's causing it.

I’ve never had salt work for anything, and there’s no “set” dosage for it.

 

What size is your tank and how many Africans? African Cichlids are aggressive and territorial. If they aren't housed correctly,its not going to matter what's wrong with them because they will most likely kill each other. Either through secondary infections from wounds or outright fights.

 

What are the ammonia and nitrite levels? You need to keep the nitrates 20 or below, so you definitely need to do more water changes.

As far as that stuff on its side, that’s definitely not fungal. It’s dead tissue, I’m just not sure what's causing it.

I’ve never had salt work for anything, and there’s no “set” dosage for it.

Looks like someone got him good and infection took hold.

 

What are the ammonia and nitrite levels? You need to keep the nitrates 20 or below, so you definitely need to do more water changes.

As far as that stuff on its side, that’s definitely not fungal. It’s dead tissue, I’m just not sure what's causing it.

I’ve never had salt work for anything, and there’s no “set” dosage for it.

Ammonia and Nitrite levels are normal.

Yes there is obviously dead tissue but it has to start from something and I first noticed the missing scales with the fuzzy greyish stuff around it and then turns to dead tissue.

Do you have a suggestion to help the Nitrates? Obviously water changes alone are not doing anything but nothing has ever spiked and this tank has been going for about 5 months now. Like I said I think it's between 40-80ppm but it's hard for me to judge the color of liquid in glass to an ink color chart on paper.

 

Ammonia and Nitrite levels are normal.

Yes there is obviously dead tissue but it has to start from something and I first noticed the missing scales with the fuzzy greyish stuff around it and then turns to dead tissue.

Do you have a suggestion to help the Nitrates? Obviously water changes alone are not doing anything but nothing has ever spiked and this tank has been going for about 5 months now. Like I said I think it's between 40-80ppm but it's hard for me to judge the color of liquid in glass to an ink color chart on paper.

What is normal though? How often and how much water do you change?

 

What size is your tank and how many Africans? African Cichlids are aggressive and territorial. If they aren't housed correctly,its not going to matter what's wrong with them because they will most likely kill each other. Either through secondary infections from wounds or outright fights.

I am 100% sure they are not just harrassing eachother. its a 45 gal I had 6, all rehomed together, one died and one keeps hiding so now only 4 in the main area of the tank and I took a few things out to be cleaned while I'm medicating the tank as well and those 4 just seem confused and on edge, no one bothers the sick one (this morning after day one of the fungus treatment the sick one seems to be out and about like normal, even eating, woohoo!)

 

What is normal though? How often and how much water do you change?

normal as in the level is the first option on the chart

 

Your filtration could be not handling the bioload. Overfeeding, infrequent water changes, the list goes on. Africans are hardy fish and can handle higher Nitrates than most fish. Obviously lower is better. I do 50% W/C on my tanks every 3 days. Missing scales is usually from biting and nipping,so is frayed and pieces of fins missing. He honestly looks like he lost a fight and it became infected. If you have one hiding in a corner of the tank, ask anyone that has experience with Africans, that's a very good indicator that he's been put there. Does he get chased back into hiding?

 

My nitrates in my 55 Peacock tank will go over 40 nitrates in less than a week, it’s exhausting.

OP: I’d suggest daily 25% water changes to see if it helps.

 

Your filtration could be not handling the bioload. Overfeeding, infrequent water changes, the list goes on. Africans are hardy fish and can handle higher Nitrates than most fish. Obviously lower is better. I do 50% W/C on my tanks every 3 days. Missing scales is usually from biting and nipping,so is frayed and pieces of fins missing. He honestly looks like he lost a fight and it became infected. If you have one hiding in a corner of the tank, ask anyone that has experience with Africans, that's a very good indicator that he's been put there. Does he get chased back into hiding?

As I said, these guys have not shown any aggression towards each other in the 5 months I have had them (they all came together). They only got a little fiesty after the one died and I cleaned and rearranged the tank

 

As I said, these guys have not shown any aggression towards each other in the 5 months I have had them (they all came together). They only got a little fiesty after the one died and I cleaned and rearranged the tank

Just age things to keep in the back of your head from someone that's kept Africans over the years.
1, Your tank can go from harmony to chaos in a day
2, Africans are so aware of the outside world that they tend to be like children and that you will will most likely never see the majority of what goes on because they know to wait until your not looking.
3 When you purchase Adticans they are very young and small. 5 months is a great age that they start to mature, go through puberty so to speak,hormones start taking effect and the tank that you once knew no longer exists.
4. No matter how long you've owned Africans you'll continue to learn things and being 100% sure of anything that is not seen with your own eyes,is not going to happen.
5. Being successful isn't about being right or wrong it's always being open to trying and learning new things. If something isn't true for a particular circumstance,use it for future knowledge.
I'm not trying to be rude, just trying to help. Africans are aggressive, territorial fish. There's no raising them like dogs to be gentle or good with kids. It's something that comes with the territory whether it happened this time or not, it will happen and it's not an indicator of your ability to keep them what is, is a persons ability to continue to learn and do your best. Good luck!