Nitrite/Nitrate - Page 3

courtnee · 10-21-2006, 08:49 AM

Well Gitmo was alive when i got home this morning. I dreaded coming home. UGH.

His anal fin is pretty much gone.

Poor guy. He is still swiming and darting around the tank and wanting food for his tummy. He is more active at least. yesterday he spent a lot of time hiding under a rock like thing and resting. Today I took the rock like thing out so his fin can't rub on it. I also removed a lot of the gravel and have a very thin layer (1 gallon tank).

I did a 100% water change today and used very hot water and let the gravel soak for awhile. I put fresh water in with a tiny bit of salt and some more Melafix.

I worry if I am using enough. I dont want to use to much, but when you have something say use this much for 10 gallons and you have him in a tank that holds less than a gallon!!! I eyeball a tiny bit and put it in. I dont want to do too much.

The back fin being gone is sad. I wont give up though as long as he is fighting. Him being more active and still eating are what I am holding on too!

I just had to test the 10 gallon today too. My nitrites are down to 5.0 YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so exicted you have no idea to finally see them come down. Now only if Gitmo can get better and hang in there to go back "home".

I do have some guilt I have done this to him. I think this is why I am fighting so hard to pull him through this. I shouldn't of did this and wish I pulled him out earlier. I will be okay but at least I care enough to realize that I did this and in the future I will be much more responsible and careful as I see my mistakes.

Loman · 10-21-2006, 10:22 AM

Courtnee,
It is good news that h is hanging in there. I looked pthe details onMelefix and it is created bye the sap from a tea tree in Australia. It is all natural and I did not find concers about it becoming toxic over time. I also saw mentions of overdosing by a factor of 4 which was not really a good thing but some people do it with reasonable results. If you are using a 1 gal container I would try to use 1/10 th the dose but I would probably error slightly on overdosing. The nitrites coming down is also a great sign. I would expect them to keep dropping for th next few days. Once Ammonia and nitrites are at zero for a couple days I would probbaly return him to the bigger tank since it will probbaly bebetter water than the 1 gal tank

ahill3780 · 10-22-2006, 02:44 AM

Hello Courtnee,

I just want to mention a few things that I think might help out. First, in the 10 gallon tank go ahead and start vacuuming out the gravel to remove any waste or uneaten food. There are enough nitrites in the tank already to feed the bacteria so you don't need to add anything else. Do 1 gallon water changes on the tank every other day until the nitrite level has dropped. Then move Gitmo back in there as the 1 gallon tank is not really helping him too much.

When you move your fish from tank to tank you need to try and acclimate them a little first to ease the transition from one environment to another. Sudden environmental changes will shock fish. (Check out this link to learn about acclimating: Click Here) For now just make sure to remove any waste from the 1g.

The fin condition you are seeing is called Finrot and Goldfish are prone to this from what I understand. It is usually brought on by poor water conditions (nitrite, very high nitrates, high DOC levels) which can be treated through vacuuming of the substrate and regular water changes.

Once you have him back in the 10 gallon tank he should perk up more. Feed him and continue to vacuum the substrate out. His presence in the tank will supply the necessary food for the bacteria so don't feel that you need to allow scraps of food and waste to remain in the tank.

Eventually you will complete the cycle and he will get better as the water quality improves. I think you will be alright with just a little more work and a little more time.

HTH,
Aaron