Something's not right!

[emma_421]

What is stressing out my fish??? As you all know I have been treating my tanks for internal roundworms. But something else is going on also. For one, I got a new pleco and it gave the 10 gallon ich (betta claimed the quarentine tank). And now two of my fish in my 55 gallon have got dropsy! I also, found a big white ball underneath the scales of one of my endler's. It really looks too big to be ick and I can see the lines of her scales on it. I know you would like pictures, but I don't want to stress her by catching her and it would be impossible to take a picture in her tank. I have added 1/4 dose of aquarium salt to the 55 (because of the plecos) and a full dose to my 10. The only things I have changed in the last week are: 1)feeding parasite flakes and 2) conditioning my water changes with Amquel+ (which I am using to lower PH and it's working!). The PH however is only at 7.8 instead of 8.4 now and it slowly dropped .01 a day so I don't think it's that..... Any ideas??? I'm clueless. Tomorrow I am going to pick up some melafix/pimafix combo for treatment.

[jeffs99dime]

what are your ammo, nitrite, nitrate levels at? also, if i'm reading your thread right, 8.4 ph is extremely high for the species you are keeping. fish will be very stressed when you are trying to alter the ph levels dramatically

[emma_421]

Nitrates 20, nitirites 0, PH slowly went from 8.4 to 7.8 with RO/tap water changes. Would a melafix/pimafix combo work on ich??

[~Erik3.8.07~]

for ick just get some ick away, ive used it with great success

[gm72]

Ich is ever present and will become a strong infection if the fish are stressed. You have added new fish and are dropping your pH. This combination could be resulting in your current situation.

[emma_421]

Sorry if I didn't specify clearly. The ich is in my 10 gallon tank, not my 55. I have only been using the R/O water on my 55. So adding new fish and lowering PH TOGETHER aren't the problem.

[emma_421]

I have a slight idea of what is wrong in my 55 gallon tank. I covered a clear plastic tube with that shiny aquarium background stuff for my plecos. I took it out today and it is see through! I think the water might be poisoned by it. The really bad news is that I am under a water boil advisory (again) and I can't go fill up enough jugs of water to change it out until tomorrow. Who knows, I hope that isn't it, I hope it's just bad luck.

[emma_421]

Ok. I did a 50% water change today with a serious gravel vac. I used half R/O and half tap water from my mom's house. I will do another one this weekend. I am also treating with melafix/pimafix just in case. I hope this is the end of my dying fish! I found two more dead fish when I was doing the gravel vac :scry: The ich is gone in the 10 gallon also. Wish me luck.

[gm72]

Unfortunately things like this happen, sometimes to the most experienced fish keepers. I had repeated problems with my dwarf gouramis, never did figure out what was wrong. Now I am having problems in my swordtail tank. I am slowly losing all of my fry (now maybe about 6-7 months old). No obvious problems, water parameters perfect. Just goes to show, crap happens. Glad you got rid of the ich though!

[kurly]

I hope things get better for both you and your fish emma_421. Good Luck!

[emma_421]

Thanks guys! I also found out today that I can get my R/O water for .30 cents a gallon! I've been paying 4 dollars for a 5 gallon bucket. And the best thing about it is that it is two blocks from my house!!!! I was considering getting my own unit but this is cheaper because of the cost of the unit AND the replacement cartridges, And then the time to fill up the buckets. Plus it is so close! All of my fish look good now besides one that showed labored breathing since yesterday.

[Incredulous_Ed]

Pretty cool! I wish I lived that close to a water dispenser RO thing.