Sick Discus & Need Antibiotics (PP Treatment did not work)

[32Bit_Fish]

I would leave the ac50 on and sponge and add another sponge.

The problem with sponges is they are only as good as the air pump driving them and their pore size. I use both hob and sponges on all my non- breeder tanks.

How often do you clean your sponge filters (hand squeezing the sponge in tank water)?

[brewmaster15]

Maybe once a month.. or as needed. But I only do 1 out of every 2 sponges at one time.

[32Bit_Fish]

I noticed that my fish's breathing rate is slower than before the PP treatment. I believe the PP treatment has clear out a lot of flukes/gill flukes in the tank.

However, I puzzled about why the spike of ammonia level even though I shut off the HOB filter and removed the sponge filter during PP treatment.
I even deactivate the remaining PP using hydrogen Peroxide before turning on the filters in the tank.
Will hydrogen peroxide kill beneficial bacteria in the water and inside of the filters?

Finally I want to give a big thank you to everyone who shared their expertise in this thread. Your help is greatly appreciated!

[jwcarlson]

If you did, in fact, kill a bunch of flukes than they're going to decompose and make ammonia. PP is probably also killing a lot of other stuff that we can't even see that could lead to a big spike.

[32Bit_Fish]

If you did, in fact, kill a bunch of flukes than they're going to decompose and make ammonia. PP is probably also killing a lot of other stuff that we can't even see that could lead to a big spike.

I had well established filters. So you are suggesting that the filters (BB population was not big enough to handle the decomposition of the flukes/bacterias/parasites)? Should the nitrate level been spiking as well when there were ammonia overload?

[brewmaster15]

Just to rule it out but did you test your water before the PP? Maybe the problem was already there?

Al

[32Bit_Fish]

Just to rule it out but did you test your water before the PP? Maybe the problem was already there?

Al

I did not test right before I noticed the abnormal behavior of the discus. But I truly believe my ammonia will not surge to 2.0 ppm at any point of time.

[brewmaster15]

What kind of air pump are you using on that sponge.. does it get good volume of air flowing through? One thing I have noticed here is that the tanks I run with Ati Hydro sponges and cages (grey) vs inexpensive China made ones ( they are usually Black)... same flow going in, the AtI work better..pull more debris out of the water as evidenced when I rinse them. There was a time I cheaped out on the sponges and bought a bunch . I have been switching back to hydro sponges and cages since then.

Its possible that sponge just isnt running efficient... and the hob is too small. That could lead to periodic spikes in ammonia depending on foods fed and amounts.

[jwcarlson]

It took me raising CPD and sterbai corydora fry and seeing how fast water quality can go downhill before I full accepted the idea that I could have an ammonia spike in a well cycled aquarium. It can happen unbelievably fast and for reasons you wouldn't necessarily think would cause an issue.

[brewmaster15]

It took me raising CPD and sterbai corydora fry and seeing how fast water quality can go downhill before I full accepted the idea that I could have an ammonia spike in a well cycled aquarium. It can happen unbelievably fast and for reasons you wouldn't necessarily think would cause an issue.

I agree Jacob and I think its one of the reasons people have fry die offs.

al