please help my Rummy Nose Tetra

**whistlerskipro** · 09-13-2012, 01:30 AM

I just introduced myself as a new member, but I am
Hello everyone, my name is Peter and I live in Whistler BC. I love the outdoors and playing in my garden. This summer i inherited an 25 Gallon aquarium and took up another hobby I was involved with when I was a teenager. Unfortunately I have to address a problem I am experiencing with my new 55 gallon freshwater Aquarium. After cycling my 25 gallon aquarium i was given a 55 gallon aquarium from a friend. Unfortunately my wife insisted one aquarium was all our house could live with. As I love her first and fish second I agreed. This is my problem which I hate to have to talk about when I am making my introduction. Firstly my original tank had only 6 Peppered Cory fish, we both loved the way they played with each other, and added two male guppies to the group. When I got my 55 gallon aquarium I moved all the media with it. Including 2X20 Aquaclear filters and added 1X30 Aquaclear filter i recently added a powerhead that I have on for 4 hours a day. So this is my problem. A week after the tank was set up I added 7 Rummy nose tetras and 5 Black Phantoms. Ammonia and nitrite levels were at 0 and PH 7. Two weeks afterword's with everything looking good I added some more fish bringing my total to 14 Lamb Chop Rasboras 7 Rummy Nose 8 Black Phantoms 6 Peppered Cory and two guppies. I have set up a Black water tank using organic peat moss and have two bogwood pieces and 16 assorted plants. So two days ago i noticed some white spots on my Black Phantoms but noticed my Rummy Nose having difficulty swimming whenever they rested. At first it was one which died yesterday but now seems to be affecting all of the Rummy Nose. I am treating the tank with 29 degree water 4 teaspoons of salt and 4 packets of super ick cure. question will Ick have such an effect on the Rummy Nose? What I have read I would have thought some bladder disease. I am sorry to have to introduce myself under these circumstances', however these fish mean everything to me.

Thank you

**mantis** · 09-13-2012, 03:56 AM

That sounds like Ich to me. If you could post a picture of the fish with white spots we could accurately make a diagnosis.
Can you explain the "I am treating the tank with 29 degree water" part?

I've had ich that whips out everyone in the tank of a fish get over ich in a couple of days, so there is hope. What I have done was raise the water temp slowly to about 80-82. and doing daily 25% water changes. I personally have never used aquarium salt or those medications.

But always keep the light off, this will help reduce the stress on the fish and hopefully the ich will go away, fingers crossed.

**Lady Hobbs** · 09-13-2012, 04:00 AM

That was quite a bit of fish to add in a relatively short time. Have you a test kit to check the water parmeters. I would be a bit concerned you may be having some high ammonia spikes and then the medication in addition is causing them a problem. With all medications, extra oxygen needs to be added but it sounds as you have plenty altho you may want to keep the powerhead on for longer hours during this medicating.

Some ick medication is not handled well by smaller tetra, as well, and it's recommended to half dose with them in the tank.

Keep that other tank. Use it for a quarantine tank for when you get new fish so you aren't adding ick to the main tank.

In addition, to treat ick, it should be one or the other. Either medication OR using higher heat and salt. Both methods are not needed. Heat and medication depletes oxygen. Treating in both manners reduces it even more.

**whistlerskipro** · 09-13-2012, 04:38 AM

thank you, thank you for your replies. Only concerned pet owners know the helpless feeling. Over the past 3 months i have been on so many web sites trying to learn everything about this hobby so that I would not run into the problem I now face. Thank God for your response and caring.

The reference to 29 was that over the last 24 hours i raised the temp to 29 cel
or about 82. I did do a 1/3 water change before i began a treatment yesterday.
I have turned off all the lights off but have kept a small blue light on at night to avoid any bullying to the sicker fish. As far as water parmeters go, I have checked ammonia nitrite and Ph daily since i started the tank. Like a prayer it's a daily thing. As far as araiton goes'I forgot to mention I have an air pump as well as lowering the water level for additional araiton. As for salt and ick medication, i did not do a full dose because of the cories. You are so right about setting up the old tank, I will never put another fish or plant into the main tank without first screening them for two weeks. It seems that in the 70's when I last had an aquarium I never had these problems. Though I am new to this site I must say I must have visited it a dozen plus times to get some pretty good info. I was thinking of letting the temp continue for another two days and the doing a 50 percent water change and replace all carbon filters. I will remove and boil the quick filters I am using to trap any nasties daily. I will keep you updated and again thank you for your support.

**Lady Hobbs** · 09-13-2012, 04:42 AM

I've only had ick 3 times in 9 years but all it takes is once and you can loose a lot of stock. Sometimes if the ick doesn't get them, the medication will. But you sound as you have a handle on things so good luck and hope the ick will be leaving you soon without loss of any fish.

**whistlerskipro** · 09-13-2012, 07:40 PM

So this is about the best picture of what i think is ick. Now one of the Lamb Chop Ras is just hovering about in one spot with what seem to look like white lips. I have a lot of aeration going on. As well one RNTetra dorsal fin area is all white, I saw this on another one as well. I do hope this helps.

**whistlerskipro** · 09-13-2012, 08:06 PM

So unfortunately I haven't used Photobucket for years so I hope they show up.
I did want to add that I checked Ammonia Nitrite and Ph levels and all is at 0 except PH at 6.8. At least for now the Rummy Nose are not doing the sinking thing when the reach the end of the tank today, however today is day one where a couple of the Lamb Chops are slowing down

**whistlerskipro** · 09-13-2012, 09:45 PM

unfortunately when i copied the photos to photo bucket http // was entered two times so please remove one after pasting and you should see the photos of what i think is ick.