Help- Tank Levels & Ich

Hi,

I have a new 75 gallon tank set up January 1st actually, and I've had a hard time getting my tank levels under control as well as control the Ich in my tank. I know that it's a new aquarium and it needs to complete the cycle, but, when I bought the tank the person I spoke to said I would be fine to add some fish to get the cycle going. I've added 12 Guppies, 2 Platties, and a Common Pleco.

I'm adding my tank levels below. As you can see, I've had Ich in the tank for about 3 weeks now. I've been using Jungle Ick Guard, and doing frequent water changes. I also bumped the temp up to 82 and it has stayed there. As far as tank levels, I've added Ammo-Lock and a Nitra-Zorb filtration pouch, which is supposed to drop all of these levels, but they've actually gone up.

The fish physically seem fine, but there are Ich cysts on 3 of them, and 1 that is not seemingly affected by Ich has damaged fins. I'm not sure the cause - would it be the nitrite?

I'm not sure what else I can do. Do you think this is happening because I added fish before the cycle was complete? Is there anything more I can do? Also what do you think the random drop in PH was?

Thank you so much for your help!

Date PH Ammonia Nitrite Nitrate OBS
1/2/19 8.4 1 0 0
1/4/19 8.4 0.5 0 0
1/8/19 6.8 0.5 0 X Signs of ich
1/11/19 8.4 0.5 0 0 Ich
1/18/19 8.3 1 0 0 Ich
1/21/19 8.4 0.25 2 0 Ich
1/23/19 8.4 0.25 2 X "Ich; temp +82
1/26/19 8.4 0.5 1 0 Ich
1/30/19 8.4 1 2 5 Ich

 

I can't comment on the ph drop but can give my experience of ich..

The tank was only about 30l and took about two weeks . I was doing a 7 day treatment and was to continue if the ich was still there .

There is a process to ich . When the eggs are attached the eggs can't be killed it's only when they have fallen off and in the cycle of mass producing .

Are you doing water changes and if so are you vacuuming the gravel ? Ich can get caught in the gravel as well . I don't think cycling tour tsnk would have any affect on ich. More than likely they have been there when you've bought the fish .

The fin could be due to find rot or if the ich is causing the fish discomfort it might have rub its body against a surface and damaged the fin .

I'm sure more people with better experience will give more information .

Looks like your tank might finally be cycling on the last one

 

Welcome to fishlore!

Sorry to hear about the ich problem.

In the future, before adding fish, you need to set up a quarantine tank so the new fish live in it for a few weeks. That way you can monitor them before dropping them in the 75g.

What type of filter do you have?

What method are you doing water changes? Gravel siphon vac + bucket, gravel siphon vac + hose or other?

Ich can be treated with heat or heat + meds.

I would first bump temp up to 86f.

Also, I would recommend looking on YouTube for "Ich Life Cycle", it will illustrate how ich lives and reproduces.

I would also recommend to vac the substrate thoroughly a minimum once every 3 days to remove Ich that have fallen off the fish and onto the substrate.

I would also recommend some large water changes. This removes free floating Ich.

As for meds, contine with your regime since you already bought it.

I have used "Kordon Rid Ich +" in tanks with "sensitive fish" with no problems and positive results.

Many people use freshwater aquarium salt.

It does seem though that using meds and/or salt is divided about 50/50 with hobbiest with either people recommending it or stating to use heat only for Ich treatment.

Either way, monitor your fish and keep up with substrate vacs and water changes.

By the way, make sure if your filter has carbon in it, remove it. It will adsorb all the meds and render the treatment useless

 

HerrwibI I didn't think of that...the fish with the damaged fin has been scraping himself on rocks and plants tonight, so that could definitely be why his fin is damaged. He must have Ich too, but just hasn't developed any cysts yet .

Islandvic I have a Marineland Bio-Wheel Emperor 400 filter. I've been using the gravel siphon vac + bucket technique. I just bumped my temp up to 86 and ordered some Kordon Rid. I did remove my carbon filter, but, I'm wondering...would the Nitra-Zorb filtration pouch have the same affect as the carbon filter? Should I remove that as well?

 

I'm not sure about the NitraZorb. I don't think it will affect the meds though.

When you start the Kordon Rid Ich, be fine with 1 dose a day. Try it for 2 days and make sure the fish are doing good. Then bump up the doses x2 a day.

When we first got our 75g, I also used a bucket for water changes.

Then I got smart.

The method I use now may help you out to perform large water changes and frequent substrate vacs while dealing with the Ich.

I had a spare Camco brand 25ft garden hose that is for RV's (drinking water safe). They are $10 at Walmart and Amazon.

I then bought some plumbing fittings from Home Depot, but any hardware store has them.

One fitting was a barb that screwed into o e end of the hose, allowing it to be connected to the end of my siphon vac's tubing.




To drain the tank while vac'ing the substrate, I stick the barb into the end of the siphon tubing and run the hose to a shower stall. It can be also run out the window.

To refill the tank, I first remove the siphon vac tubing from the garden hose and turn off my filters.

The other end of the hose has the other fitting.




It allows me to screw it on to my kitchen sink faucet. After I remove the aerator from the faucet, the hose attaches right up.

I can now use the faucet to refill the tank.

I use the tank's thermometer and stick it into the flow of water so I can match the temp of the tank by adjusting the hot water handle.

All this allows me to do 50% water changes with ease.

 

HerrwibI I didn't think of that...the fish with the damaged fin has been scraping himself on rocks and plants tonight, so that could definitely be why his fin is damaged. He must have Ich too, but just hasn't developed any cysts yet .

Islandvic I have a Marineland Bio-Wheel Emperor 400 filter. I've been using the gravel siphon vac + bucket technique. I just bumped my temp up to 86 and ordered some Kordon Rid. I did remove my carbon filter, but, I'm wondering...would the Nitra-Zorb filtration pouch have the same affect as the carbon filter? Should I remove that as well?

Some ich can actually form in the gills so you can't see it and it's hidden . Always best if you do manage to get rid of ich keep going for a week or two afterwards just to make sure it's gone.

 

I'd say you should definitely remove the nitrazorb and while your tank is cycling, control ammonia, nitrites and nitrates with water changes. You NEED ammonia and nitrites in the tank to feed the beneficial bacteria you're trying to establish. Poor water quality (water that contains ammonia, nitrites, ammonia, high nitrates etc.) affects fishes immune system and makes them more susceptible to ich, fin rot and other infections) Do water changes to keep ammonia/nitrite level combined to 1.0 ppm or less, I recommend using Seachem Prime to bind with ammonia so that it's still available to the bacteria but harmless to your fish. Treat entire tank for ich and fin rot. I suggest API General cure and Super Ich cure. They can be used together and follow directions exactly. Continue dosing with Prime as long as ammonia and nitrites are present in the tank (while your tank is cycling). Once medication dosing is completed, do water change and add carbon to filtration-as per medication instructions-to remove medication residual from tank (carbon will absorb it). That's how I'd do it. I treat all quarantined new fish with erythromycin, gen. Cure, and super ich cure.