The Puffer Forum

Is it ok to use malachite green for a gsp with ich?

I wouldn't use any meds for ich. See the article stickied above, about treatment.

my gsp is very lethargic and he is laying on the bottom allot with heavy gill breathing. He seems to have 3 whit spots on his tail and a couple on the other fins. His coloration is not a sharp as usual looks dull, he wont eat just started yesterday with the not eating thing.

Well your tank was only recently set up, you think your GSP has one gill, and its bulging even though you said you haven't overfed it. Did you cycle the tank? If so, how? What are the current water parameters (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH, SG)? When did you last do a water change? Have you added any chemicals to the tank? Also, you said you used "live sand." How is it live? Did you cure it at all?

ammonia 0 nit 0 nitrates 15 ph 7.5 no chemicals, extra filtration, fully cycled is this sufficient.

3+ spots certainly isn't an infestation. What's the SG--are you using marine salt? The pH is quite a bit low--should be 8. What kind of sand is it? How deep is the substrate? How long has the tank been set up & are you stirring the sand before water changes?

I am using marine salt sg 1.009, if the ph is low what do I do about it? No I am not stirring the sand, 30 gallon tank.

Sand develops anaerobic (toxic) pockets, if not stirred weekly. What kind of sand is it? anaerobic sand, should be bringing the pH up to 8. I'd remove the fish, stir thoroughly & do an 80% WC.

the lfs just said it was live sand it is white in color. I will also remove the fish and do the water change. Thanks

Did it come in a bag?

Yes with water in it

Hmmm... should be aragonite sand then. Not really live though. You should still follow my recommendations for stirring though.

Ok I will thanks allot for your advice.