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Post by merryfield on May 12, 2019 17:18:06 GMT -5
Hi, my common Pleco has developed some strange growths on this skin beside his dorsal fin. I first noticed them on May 5, but a photo from April 1 reveals that something was growing then although I hadn’t noticed it at the time. He’s about 12 years old, 12” long. Lives alone except for 7 nerite snails I added on March 13. I’ve recently (and slowly) switched from using softened water to unconditioned well water. However, I’m not sure which happened first—the switch in water source or the growths. Below are details. 75 gal. Two Marineland Penguin Bio-Wheel 350 filters Well water Aquarium water perimeters, using API water test kits. These numbers have been consistent over time. Ammonia 0.0ppm; Nitrite 0.0ppm; Nitrate 10.0ppm; pH 8.4; calcium—80mg/L; GH: 214.8 ppm (12 solution drops); KH ??—15 drops, the conversion chart goes up to “12 drops” only so i’m not sure what “15 drops” equates to in ppm. 79.5 degrees (consistent) 20-50% w/c approximately every week Second time I did a w/c using well water, temp dropped to 73 degrees (the well water is very cold). This worried me. I attached 4 dated photos. The “bubble” farthest from the dorsal fin appears to have burst, while the one behind it seems bigger. Please advise. (He’s a special fish to me. I managed to bring back from the brink of death a few years ago after he burned himself on the heater.) thanks janis
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Post by Carl on May 13, 2019 9:40:23 GMT -5
Welcome to EA!
In looking at your water parameters, your pH is quite high for a Plecostomus and likely your KH based on your numbers. What are the parameter directly from the well?
Is your Plec. acting normal otherwise?
As for as the growth, I am not sure what the cause (it appears to be like a cyst), but I can say that it is not Saprolegnia. My thinking is to try and hold him and directly apply AAP Wound Control.
Carl
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Post by devonjohnsgard on May 13, 2019 11:29:52 GMT -5
Welcome!
Agree with Carl. It does look minor. Also maybe the addition of some electrolytes would aid the healing process. I recommend the AAP Wonder Shells.
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Post by merryfield on May 13, 2019 12:20:05 GMT -5
Thank you, Carl. Answers to your questions:
Water directly from well (May 13): pH 7.8; KH 12 drops of solution; GH 15 drops of solution. Calcium 140 mg/L; Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates all 0.0.
Retest tank water (May 13): pH 8.4; KH 13 drops of solution; GH 12 drops of solution. Calcium 40 mg/L; Ammonia 0.0, Nitrites 0.0, Nitrates 10.0.
Yes, he’s behaving normally and eating normally.
Temp of Well water is 55 degrees. So I’m afraid to do more than a 20% water change at any time.
I’ve ordered the AAP Wound Control.
Questions: Should I place him in a hospital tank? I have another tank 11” x 12” x 20”. Should I also give him a medicated bath? How can I safely lower the pH?
Thank you, Carl!
Janis
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Post by Carl on May 14, 2019 9:41:23 GMT -5
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Post by merryfield on May 14, 2019 13:39:05 GMT -5
Thank you , Carl. I’m making my way through the article. Two questions— 1) From article— “Carbonate hardness (KH) is sometimes called temporary hardness because it can be removed by boiling water. ” Does this mean I could boil my well water to remove some of the hardness. Of course, this might be impractical, but I’m curious. 2). Does the Common pleco fall into the category of Amazon River fish? I’ve also ordered the Spectrogram, Metroplex, Frog Moss, and Acid Buffer. I already have two medium-large pieces of driftwood. I removed one because it kept growing copious amounts of beard algae, but I’ll return it to the tank. Should I slowly lower the pH by maybe half dosing with Acid Buffer until I get KH and pH down?. I’ll work on his tank while he’s in hospital tank, but what about the speed of lowering pH on nerite snails? I’ll see if moss, driftwood, and buffer treatment stabilizes KH and pH before investing in an RO system. In the meantime, I think I can purchase RO water locally. Finally, he’s developed one small white spot on his back (next to dorsal on opposite side from cyst-like growth). I first noticed this just 2 days ago. There’s only ONE spot, so I don’t think it’s ICH. Also, it’s not fuzzy. Instead the edges are crisp-looking like a drop of paint. Am I just stressing? Should I just wait to see if the meds clear it up? See photos. Your thoughts? Thank you! Janis Attachments:
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Post by Carl on May 15, 2019 11:49:01 GMT -5
Yes, boiling can remove carbonate hardness, but it is very impractical IMO
In the wild Plecostomus live in rivers in Costa Rica, Panama and South America. The water level in the rivers where plecos live varies with the amount of rainfall the region receives. This rainfall rise & fall means they are quite adaptable, but I still find that they are best in more closer to neutral water than in water that borders on brackish in chemistry other than salt.
I would start the pH/KH down by adding Acid Buffer (the chemical reaction is good for plants too since it produces CO2). The Frog Moss and Driftwood to a lessor extent will help hold it down. Cutting water with RO, simply gives you more a of a start.
This new spot does not look like too much at this time, it could be the start of an opportunistic Columnaris infection (which brings me back to improving water, then adding a small amount of mineral Cations for maintenance)
Adding a swab of Wound Control here along with the hospital tank would help here too
Carl
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Post by merryfield on May 15, 2019 22:08:25 GMT -5
Thank you so much, Carl.
By mineral Cations, do you mean Wonder Shell?
As soon as everything arrives, I’ll start treatment. I also bought another piece of driftwood to add.
Janis
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Post by devonjohnsgard on May 16, 2019 11:00:25 GMT -5
mineral cations=wonder shells.
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Post by Carl on May 17, 2019 9:09:49 GMT -5
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Post by merryfield on May 17, 2019 17:14:58 GMT -5
Thank you.
The Spectrogram, Metroplex, Frog Moss, Acid Buffer, and driftwood should arrive sometime next week.
Can I use the Spectrogram, Metroplex, and Acid Buffer in conjunction with the Wound Control?
Janis
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Post by Carl on May 20, 2019 9:10:40 GMT -5
Thank you. The Spectrogram, Metroplex, Frog Moss, Acid Buffer, and driftwood should arrive sometime next week. Can I use the Spectrogram, Metroplex, and Acid Buffer in conjunction with the Wound Control? Janis Sorry for the slow response. Yes, these can all be used together. I would use the Acid Buffer with water changes and in between treatments if needed to maintain a lower KH/pH Carl
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Post by merryfield on Jun 7, 2019 11:42:44 GMT -5
Carl On June 3, I removed the pleco (to a hospital tank) and the nerite snails from the 75 g tank so that I can work on reducing the pH and KH in an empty tank using frog moss in filter, third piece of driftwood and the acid buffer. After 5 days of treatment, the KH has come down somewhat, but the pH is still 8.2. I’ll continue to work on that. Since the tank has no living creatures in it, I upped the dosage of the acid buffer today to 2 teaspoons. Peco’s been in a hospital tank since June 3. I’ve been treating with Wound Control, Spectrogram, Metroplex per your advice. Unfortunately, I’ve seen no improvement thus far. 1) is it ok to dose the empty 75 gallon tank with 2 teaspoons of Acid Buffer? 2) attached photo was taken today of Peco’s “wound”. Any new ideas about what it could be? 3) As you can see, he has inflammation on the tip of this fin as well. This is new as of moving to hospital tank. I’m hoping it’s because he’s in a smaller tank now and not that the condition is spreading or something new. 4) Could the snails have introduced some kind of disease to the tank? The growth appeared 2 weeks after adding the nerite snails. Thank you! janis Attachments:
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Post by Carl on Jun 7, 2019 11:53:05 GMT -5
It is possible the Nirite snails could have brought in a disease, but I really doubt it as they are not common carriers and this problem does not look like a contagious issue. Acid Buffer should be safe to use in any aquarium, just always start out with small doses. IMO, this looks like an encased cyst type infection. You might consider lancing is then treating with Wound Control, followed by a direct squirt of AAP Res-Q along with in tank treatment of Triple Sulfa Resources: www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquatronics.htmlwww.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumPharmaceuticalsAPI.htmlCarl
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Post by merryfield on Jun 7, 2019 12:00:54 GMT -5
Thank you, Carl.
1) I’m assuming you mean “lancing it”? Just want to make sure I understand.
2) Lance with a sterilized needle?
3) If I start the Res-Q and Sulfa, should I stop the Metroplex and Spectrogram?
Janis
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Post by Carl on Jun 7, 2019 12:32:17 GMT -5
Yes, I meant lancing (I've corrected this) A sterilizer razor is my device of choice, but a sterilized needle is fine Sulfa would replace Spectrogram/Metroplex, although it can be used concurrently wth one or the other (but not both) Res-Q is a medicated water conditioner and can/should be used with any treatment during water changes or after direct application of Wound Control, PP, or MB Res-Q should be the water conditioner of choice for any aquarium that has had recent issues or is having issues with Shieldex otherwise. Prime if ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, or chloramines or an issue Reference: www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2007/04/aquarium-water-conditioners.htmlCarl
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Post by merryfield on Jun 8, 2019 11:46:55 GMT -5
Carl, the wounds on Peco’s back and fin tip have improved slightly. He’s still in the hospital tank, so I’m continuing to treat the 75 gallon tank with Acid Buffer to get KH and pH down.
Questions:
Today’s water perimeters in 75g:
KH. 196ppm. (Down from above 214.9 on June 3) GH 214.9. (no change!) pH. 8.2 (no change!)
Why is pH not coming down even as KH is? Should I concern myself about GH?
Thank you! Janis
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Post by Carl on Jun 9, 2019 10:33:43 GMT -5
Carl, the wounds on Peco’s back and fin tip have improved slightly. He’s still in the hospital tank, so I’m continuing to treat the 75 gallon tank with Acid Buffer to get KH and pH down. Questions: Today’s water perimeters in 75g: KH. 196ppm. (Down from above 214.9 on June 3) GH 214.9. (no change!) pH. 8.2 (no change!) Why is pH not coming down even as KH is? Should I concern myself about GH? Thank you! Janis This is likely because your KH is quite high. Just 50 ppm can buffer. Pillow/Frog Moss is can help too www.americanaquariumproducts.com/FrogMoss.htmlCutting your new water with RO, DI, or RODI can help considerably here too Carl
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