Alright, I'm a little worried, I think my GSP has a case of ICH. I noticed it today after doing my water change and raising the SG from 1.010 to 1.013 (yes I know I went too far with the raising this time around). I'm not sure if it would be ICH, but it's behind his left eye and there are about 3 spots. I can't find any evidence of spots on his gills or fins, and he is acting normal swimming around and not trying to hide. Still has a voracious appetite as well.. Just tested my water and looks like my Nitrites are really high for some reason, I did a water change before I left for 4 days and tested the water and everything was fine. I just did the water change today and tested the water and I noticed the spots, and the abnormal test results.
And one more thing, I have freshwater Ammonia test strips and saltwater. The FW tests dont even turn the test water a different color so I assume it would be SW ich?
1) Your water parameters -Ammonia-.25/ Nitrate >20ppm/Nitrite 5.0/Alkalinity 300/PH 8.4/ SG 1.0013
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants.-30 gallon/GSP only
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank - Every monday 50% raising the SG by .002, I condition water with PRIME.
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so.- None since I took out a big fake tree 2 weeks ago.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? Beg of July 2011, cycled it fresh with 6 tiger barbs (who all survived and were returned to my LFS)
EDIT:
I noticed some brown algae on my decor, I talked to my buddy who has been helping me along the way, he used to work at a LFS. He said def get my ammonia down, and the spike in Nitrites could be an algae bloom, hence the brown algae I see on the decor in the tank.
Possibly ICH?
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
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puffpaddy
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 142
- Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2011 1:27 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: RIP-Puffy(GSP)
10gal Snail tank. - Location (country): Dana Point CA
Re: Possibly ICH?
Good news, the white spots have gone away.. But the Nitrites are still super high.
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puffykid
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 537
- Joined: Mon May 30, 2011 3:16 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location (country): Madison, WI
Re: Possibly ICH?
Those parameters makes me believe that the cycling wasn't complete when you ended it. When you say that your water was perfect when you tested it 4 days ago did you have 0 ammonia 0 nitrates under 25 nitrites?
other than that my other thought is that could there be uneaten food stuck under decor or hidden in the substrate that you haven't cleaned? That could be causing your tank to experience a mini cycle.
other than that my other thought is that could there be uneaten food stuck under decor or hidden in the substrate that you haven't cleaned? That could be causing your tank to experience a mini cycle.
1 M. Turgidus - 29 gallon
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puffpaddy
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 142
- Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2011 1:27 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: RIP-Puffy(GSP)
10gal Snail tank. - Location (country): Dana Point CA
Re: Possibly ICH?
I had the tiger barbs for about 4 weeks prior to buying the puffer on July 6. As far as food goes, the only thing that could have gone uneaten are the frozen bloodworms, but I only feed him those once a week, the day before I do my water change. I also clean the substrate every time I do a water change, and the water changes are 50%. I cleaned the filter media, setting up water for another WC tomorrow... gonna keep testing, he's eating and active, so I guess it could be worse.
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puffykid
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 537
- Joined: Mon May 30, 2011 3:16 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location (country): Madison, WI
Re: Possibly ICH?
How did you clean the filter media?
Also ya I am happy to hear that your puffer is still eating and puffying around his tank.
Also ya I am happy to hear that your puffer is still eating and puffying around his tank.
1 M. Turgidus - 29 gallon
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puffpaddy
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 142
- Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2011 1:27 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: RIP-Puffy(GSP)
10gal Snail tank. - Location (country): Dana Point CA
Re: Possibly ICH?
I put freshwater in a bucket and condition it with NovAqua and toss them in hand wash style...
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puffykid
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 537
- Joined: Mon May 30, 2011 3:16 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location (country): Madison, WI
Re: Possibly ICH?
I think this explains why your water is off.
Next time when washing your filter use a small bowl and fill it directly from the tank that you grabbed the filter media from and then go ahead and hand wash it.
Also I am not sure how good NovAqua is (experts?) On this forum prime is considered the best for conditioning and for wc's.
Next time when washing your filter use a small bowl and fill it directly from the tank that you grabbed the filter media from and then go ahead and hand wash it.
Also I am not sure how good NovAqua is (experts?) On this forum prime is considered the best for conditioning and for wc's.
1 M. Turgidus - 29 gallon
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puffpaddy
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 142
- Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2011 1:27 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: RIP-Puffy(GSP)
10gal Snail tank. - Location (country): Dana Point CA
Re: Possibly ICH?
Well the water was off before I cleaned the filters. So I won't be doing that again, I'll use your method. I did a 70% water change today and the Nitrites went down considerably, and the puff is still happy and eating. I also see a new spot on the very top of his head, I think I may have something to measure if he's getting bigger or not besides my friends who see him every so often. I use PRIME for my big water changes, for little things I use the NovAqua to help lengthen the life of the PRIME bottle (as if it needs it though lol).