12/28/12 FISH DISEASE NOTES

 

Today Albino Coral discus is in quarantine with 1 TBSP salt/5 gallons, Furan, Maracyn(erythromycin 200mg) and Maracyn 2(minocycline 20mg). Temp 86F.  Triple sulfa added 8pm (Sulfathiazole 664mg, sulfamethazine168mg, sulfacetamide168mg).

 Blue diamond died of same infection affecting Albino Coral.

Used Prazipro (praziquantel) 1 tsp/20gal and metronidazole 150mg/10gal QOD for 2 weeks prior tentative diagnosis of Capillaria GI infection.

 

Infected Albino Coral discus has resp rate 104. Clearly elevated.  Uninfected Albino Coral resp 80. Water temp. 85. ph 6.8.

Appt with Dr. Crawford, Lawndale Vet tomorrow.

2012-11-21

Cleaned filter.
50% water change.

Used Prazipro for 2 weeks and Epsom salts and metro bc lost a fish.
Others are eating better now.
Got microscope.  Froze dead fish and his poop.  Will check out cause.

2012-10-16 update

Tank looks great.  New fish settled and look healthy.  They did not look good to start with.
Swords look better with consistent addition of water column ferts plus Excel.  Good pearling of plants.
Need to clean filter.
40% water change tonight and added 1 1/2 tsp baking soda and ferts incl 2 large caps Excel bc I see a number of spots of beard algae.

Nitrates, ammonia 0.
pH 6.8
KH 3gtts=30ppm
GH 4 gtts=80ppm

By calculator CO2 =8.08ppm.  Suggested goal is 15ppm.

2012-10-1

No further fish loss.  I have decided the loss of 4 discus in one day with the others gasping for air at the top of the water line was obviously secondary to low oxygen levels that happended at night.  It was clearly not disease as the fish were not sick.  The other fish responded nicely to the addition of the air bar.  No further problems of any sort.  I think it is the heavily planted tank using up Oxygen at night plus the additional fish that caused the problem.  Wow!  I didn't expect that.  I have read a fair amount but did not read about losing fish to low oxygen in a well-maintained tank.  I had just changed 45% of the water the day before the fish died.  I distinctly remember adding the Prime to be sure that the chloramines were not a problem.

I changed the water again tonight.  I am using the air bar from 7pm until 10am in the morning.  If everything goes OK I will buy 3 more discus from Pet Innovations locally.  The have 3 good-looking fish.  These will add the blue that I am missing. 

I have been pleased with the albino discus.  They are striking!  They really stand out in the aquarium.

The plants re looking great and filling in faster than I expected.  It is the best looking planted tank that I have seen in person.  Obviously there are better looking planted tanks, but I have not seen them personally.

I have checked NH3, NO-, Nitrates....all 0.  PH has been consistent as has temp.  I added ferts today.

2012-9-18 New discus arrive!

4 discus from Kenny arrive today.  Acclimation seemed to go OK.  There was a good bit of fecal waste in the bags with the smaller albino platinums.  IN QT tank.  Not sure how long to keep them there, but for a few days.

Main tank looks good after remodel.  Algae bloom cleared.  Have 10 rummy nose tetras, 5 glo fish, 5 discus, and 10 otos added about a week ago.  Otos have been amazing at the algae!  Much better than I expected. 

The sword plants look anemic and I'm not sure why.  I added flourish tabs to the gravel and have added 20 # Eco plant gravel and 15# fine black gravel over top of the Flourite.  Also switched an actinic 54W bulb to 54W 18,000K Power-Glo bulb.

Have glossostigmata doing well and dwarf hair grass.  Moved driftwood to left side of tank to break up symmetry and add the illusion of a mountain on the left.

 I hope the ARC's will brighten up a lot.  Discus are usually pale from shipping.

2 Albino Platinum A-grade w/full red iris--$165x2 = $330
2 Albino Red Cover A-grade 4.5-5"----------$200x2 = $400

Consider replacing other bulbs.  The 18k K is clearly brighter than the others, which I believe are 6700K.

2012-9-11

Bought 10 otos, 5 additional rummy-nose tetras to add to the 5 I have.  Also 4 more glo-fish to add to the 2 I have left.
Discus from Kenny coming Tuesday.
QT Tank going pH hi.  Other labs OK.  Will do a partial.

2012-8-6

Cleaned filter.  Changed water.