xen
05-24-2004, 11:16 AM
Heya guys,
I'm raising my first group of (8) juveniles in a lightly planted tank. I know, I know.
They've been mostly growing like the clappers now for about 4 1/2 months. Two had some hex on arrival. They were treated, and are now eating normally and growing again.
However, I'm worried about my RSG. He's one of the smaller of the group (about 7cm SL). Regardless, he's always been one of the more aggressive discus in the group. About two weeks back, he stopped eating as voraciously as normal, and started hiding. He would (and still does) come out now and again. He looks fine to my eye (very untrained as it is). No obvious marks on him, colour looks okay, eyes are clear. His stress bars are up maybe half the time. I've seen no faeces from him yet, but I'm watching closely.
Tank parameters:
Ammonia 0mg/l
Nitrites 0mg/l
Nitrates 5-10mg/l (before and after w.c.)
pH: 7.8 (tap normal here)
50% / day WC, aged, warmed, Primed water. Oversized canister filter for the tank (1500l/h w/ spraybar).
The rest of the group seem to be doing fine - eating like pigs. Maybe a little nippier than normal.
Here's my plan:
Put him in my 2'x1'x1' QT tank, warm up the water to 33'C or so, and try feeding him blackworms.
Q1. Any other treatment suggestions? Or things I should look for?
Q2. The QT hasn't been in use for about 6 weeks. I've left the sponge filter that was in there running, but there's been nothing but some (now very dead) blackworms in there. Do you think there'd be anything toxic in the sponge? Or would it have been filling up with "good" bacteria breaking down the blackworms? I'm trying to decide if I can use it, or if I should bleach it, and start again?
Thanks for reading - I really appreciate any help you guys can offer.
Cheers!
John
I'm raising my first group of (8) juveniles in a lightly planted tank. I know, I know.
They've been mostly growing like the clappers now for about 4 1/2 months. Two had some hex on arrival. They were treated, and are now eating normally and growing again.
However, I'm worried about my RSG. He's one of the smaller of the group (about 7cm SL). Regardless, he's always been one of the more aggressive discus in the group. About two weeks back, he stopped eating as voraciously as normal, and started hiding. He would (and still does) come out now and again. He looks fine to my eye (very untrained as it is). No obvious marks on him, colour looks okay, eyes are clear. His stress bars are up maybe half the time. I've seen no faeces from him yet, but I'm watching closely.
Tank parameters:
Ammonia 0mg/l
Nitrites 0mg/l
Nitrates 5-10mg/l (before and after w.c.)
pH: 7.8 (tap normal here)
50% / day WC, aged, warmed, Primed water. Oversized canister filter for the tank (1500l/h w/ spraybar).
The rest of the group seem to be doing fine - eating like pigs. Maybe a little nippier than normal.
Here's my plan:
Put him in my 2'x1'x1' QT tank, warm up the water to 33'C or so, and try feeding him blackworms.
Q1. Any other treatment suggestions? Or things I should look for?
Q2. The QT hasn't been in use for about 6 weeks. I've left the sponge filter that was in there running, but there's been nothing but some (now very dead) blackworms in there. Do you think there'd be anything toxic in the sponge? Or would it have been filling up with "good" bacteria breaking down the blackworms? I'm trying to decide if I can use it, or if I should bleach it, and start again?
Thanks for reading - I really appreciate any help you guys can offer.
Cheers!
John