Cycle causing fishie problems?

[SirChiefton]

May be a silly question but, here goes. I set up my 125 in late November 2010 and let it run for about 10-12 days with no fish and about two cups of gravel from an existing aquarium hanging in a stocking in front of the intake. I noticed a slime/algae looking substance on the waterline of the intake and exhaust tubes, checked the filter and it looked as though the bacteria was growing just fine. I then added some feeders, about 20. I left them in there for about 3-4 days. Only a few died, the majority looked great. The few dead were stuck in the intake, i figured they got too close.

In goes Shoe, my 5 year old 8" Jack. He makes short work of the feeders over the next couple days. Water parms looked good and continue to look good, Ph is a little high (8.2ish) ammonia 0 (tonight is .25) nitrite 0 (has been since the beginning and nitrite went from 40ish to 10 to 0 and now is back around 20.

I have cleaned the filter once and done about 4 partial water changes.

Have a few plants growing, well most are but some are dyeing slowly from lack of light. Green algae is forming on the glass and sand substrate.

Long story short, my Jack is sick. I currently have him quarantined in a 29g and undergoing meds.

Y'all think I might not have cycled the tank properly and messed up my Jack?

Just wondering - Thanks bunches

[sunfishman]

How long did you aclimate, and what are the meds you are using? Is there anything different environment wise between the old and new tanks? can you see an actual disease or could it be stress? all of this info would help. if it is stress, moving it might have been worse, because that stresses it even more. Let me know how it does, hope everything turns out all right.

[SirChiefton]

I dont know what you mean acclimate, I dont know that a 8" Jack is too easy to bag up and float around like you do brand new fish. I am using an API general cure anti-parasitic fish medication. It is 250mg Metronidazole and 75mg Praziquantel per packet. It is a powdery substance. He has been on it for 4 days now. Not much environmentally different, sand substrate instead of gravel is about all. I cannot see an actual disease, he is panting and not eating. For a few days, a few weeks ago, he was sitting on the sand with his head in a corner. Now he is up and swimming around but will not eat. His poop is stringy and white. Someone on here said it might be internal parasites, thus the medication.

I am completely stumped and dont really want to start throwing medications at him.

Thanks, and sorry. This should be in a different topic than cycling.

[kingkarter]

I dont think your tank is cycled

[Lady Hobbs]

You did not cycle the tank. You started with some bacteria which was fine but then you just left the tank empty with no fish in it for over a week. In that time, the bacteria died. You then tossed in all those feeders and also why some of them died due to ammonia levels rising. So now in goes the Jack and now he is ill.

You must have a test kit but for right now, do a large water change and add your dechlorinator (first). You also did filter cleaning but how did you do it? If you cleaned it in old tank water, then that's fine but if you cleaned it under the tap, then you have lost whatever little bacteria you had.

Please read the cycling links in my signature.

[SirChiefton]

Thank you Ma'am. I feel like an idiot for not doing homework on this.

I will be going out of town for a week, starting this Saturday. Is there anything I can do to help this cycle while it is unattended? I will have my neighbor come over and check in on my Jack who is back in his original 29g.

Thanks

[kingkarter]

If i were i would restart the cycle when you get back and i would cycle with fish. I know alot of ppl on here dont like to. but i do and from my experince it takes less time.