I recently started a tank with a school of 10 tetras (using Bio-Spira). It didn't cycle within 24hrs, but it's done something. Nitrites have been fluxing from .3ppm to .8ppm but amonia has been below .25ppm. The first PWC I did was about 40% -- probably a bit too much for the first time. I have filtered tap water so I tried to match water temperatures and poured the water (slowly) in straight from the tap along with a tiny bit of BioSafe just in case. The fish loved it! They started to dance around and chase each other -- very active.
My second PWC, however, did not go well. This time I poured the water in without adding any BioSafe or AmQuel -- I'm pretty sure my soft water filtering system gets out all the metals and stuff, and I've tested it for ammonia and nitrites -- nothing. Anyways, the fish were fine at first but then got very pale and started to swim funny. Some were gasping. Today, however, they seem fine. I'm guessing I should let the water sit a bit before adding it to the tank? They were happier before the PWC at almost .8ppm nitrite than they were after at about .3-.4 ppm nitrites. Maybe it was some kind of toxic metal?
What's concerning me, however, is that one of my fish has a white splotch in his coloring, between the red tail and blue stripes. It's been like that ever since I got him a few days ago. He seems healthy, but is very territorial. He separates himself from the pack and guards a little spot on the rock. I'm not sure if this is a symptom of NTD or just being territorial. :-/
How fast do the symptoms of NTD happen? I don't have a quarantine tank so I'd prefer not to take the infected fish out. Despite the whitish splotch he is swimming fine and appears to be healthy. Seems to me if that he really has been infected with NTD he's already been pecking at other fish for the few days I've had my tank and infecting them.
Any advice? Maybe some kind of medicine I can add to the tank as a precaution? I think I'll wait a day or so before another PWC to let them recover from the ordeal.
EDIT: Just had a chat with my dad...the water isn't "filtered," it's just softened. So I guess that's what freaked out the fish. I added AmQuel AFTER the fish started acting weird so I guess that's what saved them. I just tested the pH of our softened tap water and the pH of the tank and they're only .2 away from each other. I've learned my lesson.
Is it okay to pour the tap into the tank and THEN add AmQuel right after? Or should I add AmQuel to the pitcher that I use to transfer the tap to the aquarium?
Still not sure about the NTD ordeal, though. Has me worried.
My second PWC, however, did not go well. This time I poured the water in without adding any BioSafe or AmQuel -- I'm pretty sure my soft water filtering system gets out all the metals and stuff, and I've tested it for ammonia and nitrites -- nothing. Anyways, the fish were fine at first but then got very pale and started to swim funny. Some were gasping. Today, however, they seem fine. I'm guessing I should let the water sit a bit before adding it to the tank? They were happier before the PWC at almost .8ppm nitrite than they were after at about .3-.4 ppm nitrites. Maybe it was some kind of toxic metal?
What's concerning me, however, is that one of my fish has a white splotch in his coloring, between the red tail and blue stripes. It's been like that ever since I got him a few days ago. He seems healthy, but is very territorial. He separates himself from the pack and guards a little spot on the rock. I'm not sure if this is a symptom of NTD or just being territorial. :-/
How fast do the symptoms of NTD happen? I don't have a quarantine tank so I'd prefer not to take the infected fish out. Despite the whitish splotch he is swimming fine and appears to be healthy. Seems to me if that he really has been infected with NTD he's already been pecking at other fish for the few days I've had my tank and infecting them.
Any advice? Maybe some kind of medicine I can add to the tank as a precaution? I think I'll wait a day or so before another PWC to let them recover from the ordeal.
EDIT: Just had a chat with my dad...the water isn't "filtered," it's just softened. So I guess that's what freaked out the fish. I added AmQuel AFTER the fish started acting weird so I guess that's what saved them. I just tested the pH of our softened tap water and the pH of the tank and they're only .2 away from each other. I've learned my lesson.
Is it okay to pour the tap into the tank and THEN add AmQuel right after? Or should I add AmQuel to the pitcher that I use to transfer the tap to the aquarium?Still not sure about the NTD ordeal, though. Has me worried.
