The Puffer Forum

1)
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrates: 10-20 ppm
Salinity : 1.004

2)
Tank: 33 Long
3x Bumblebee Goby
1x Olive Nerite

3)
Frozen Blood worms thawed in tank water with vitamins added. Cultured snails, crushed (Ramshorn and Common Pond)
Prime
Instant Ocean salt mix
Vita Chem Freshwater
Pimafix
Melafix
PraziPro

4)
Started treating with Pimafix+Melafix on 4/4/15. Olive nerite added ~ 2 weeks ago

5)
Tank was set up in January, fishless cycle with no seed material ~ 6 weeks total.



There is a strange white stringy growth on one of the larger BBGs it has spread progressively and one of the smaller BBGs now is showing signs of the same. Im sure it's not ich and have been treating with Melafix and Pimafix for a few days now without much change. I need to ID this so I can begin effective treatment.

Pics from shortly after introduction to tank:







*Edit*
I tried to take a few more pics just now to show how aggressively it has spread and to be honest guys, it's disgusting. I need your help.

More Pics:

Looks like whitespot/ich in that last photo. Wait for confirmation but in the meantime search for rtrs salt and heat method of ridding it. You might get away with esha exit I have used it in the past. Rtrs method is better though

I'll wait for confirmation. I've never seen filamentous ich, which made me doubt it was the problem. I have table salt at the ready just in case though. Thanks for the quick reply.

Well, without further evidence either way, I'd simply change the salinity upwards and see what happens. No freshwater parasite is likely to survive SG 1.010 for example. That should deal with most things.

Melafix and Pimafix are hopeless!

Cheers, Neale

@nmonks I hope to get several different opinions on this. I think raising the SG would be a logical step if I cannot get confirmation.

Dr Monks is one of the top of the field of BW fish: http://www.amazon.com/Brackish-Water-Fi ... eale+monks

Thanks for the info PP. I apologize @nmonks, a copy of your book is on the way as penance lol. Is there anything I should be mindful of while raising the SG besides the prescribed rate of .002 per week? I've read that the nerite should be fine up to about 1.010.

UPDATE

I lost that particular fish today. He was at the bottom pale, not breathing and completely non responsive. I will proceed with increasing the salinity to 1.010 over the next few weeks, it is currently at 1.006.

I noticed my KH went up with the addition of the new water. My KH from the tap is 4-5. Usually the aquarium is at 5-6 even with around 20 lbs of dry base rock and around 30 lbs of aragonite sand. Strangely enough after this water change it is sitting at 8-9. I assume the higher salinity and mineral content is the cause.