brownspots/goosebumps

[doglover_50]

Thanks Emma. That makes more sense to me now-in my little corner of the world (social scientist), we call that "non-overlapping distributions" defined in units of standard deviation. yada yada yada.

Question: How do people keep weather loaches in 63 degree tanks. Use chillers? I don't see how I could do that, and I live in a cold weather climate.

Will have to work on that issue. Meanwhile, hoping I can do right by the fish this weekend by trading up to a 75g tank and obtaining sand.

[shari2]

How's the clown? any changes?

[doglover_50]

Nope, no change. Still circling with the 3 other tangs and still eating. I was trying to observe his gills last night to see if he had labored breathing compared to other 3 tangs--I think slightly so, but it was sooooooooooo hard to tell.

This is my upgrading time of year. As I mentioned, I should be getting the loaches a new 75 4' long tank imminently. However, I'm also upgrading my reef tank to give those fish more swim room.

So....I'm buying a 120g gallon established reef tank in Phoenix this weekend (2 hours away), so pretty much all my energies will go there (taking down my current 70g reef established tank to make room--setting it up across the room until I figure out what to do with it), so...UGH.

I did raise the temp to 80 degrees to make him more comfy, and just before posting this thread, I vacuumed the gravel and water changed about 15% and cleaned my aquaclear filter and emperor filter, so I think I've done all I can short of medicating.

I tend to take a stance of "first do no harm" with my treatment trigger finger, so I'll just be observing for now.

Thanks for asking! DL

[sophie]

you're going to make your weather loaches fairly unhappy, though

they're susceptible to bacterial infections and I have a suspicion that the high temps might exacerbate that.

sorry.

[chefkeith]

I'm glad they are moving to larger tank, but I still think there is a water quality problem in this tank. IMO, 10% weekly changes just doesn't cut it. It might go seemingly well for a year or 2, but after that you'll start seeing slow signs of OTS. Whatever you do, DO NOT make any fast changes to this tank. I doubt the fish can handle a big water change because they are so use to the high TDS environment. You'll need to acclimate them slowly to the larger tank when you get it.

Give this water change program a whirl. It might help you better understand the accumilation of TDS and/or nitrates.

http://www.geocities.com/chefkeithallen ... izard.html

[doglover_50]

well, I can't solve all the problems and issues at once, but...the clown is stable and eating several days in to noticing this skin issue. Everyone else continuing to look good.

The 75 gallon tank is being delivered in 2 hours, and the 3M colorquartz sand--in black--is ready and waiting for pickup in Phoenix. Switchout coming soon...............

[chefkeith]

Great news, but be sure to make the acclimation process very slow. Probably the best way to acclimate the fish to the new tank, is to do daily water changes for 1 week on the OLD tank. I hope you have a python water changer for this.

What I'd do-

Day 1 do a 15% water change
Day 2 do a 15% water change
Day 3 do a 20% water change
Day 4 do a 25% water change
Day 5 do a 30% water change
Day 6 do a 40% water change
Day 7 do a 60% water change

Each day add the water back slowly.

Day 8 Move the fish to the new tank.
Double check the TDS of each tank. They should be within 10% of each other.

With the new tank do 20% water changes 2x per week or 33% weekly.

I know this is alot to ask and you probably think I'm an idiot for suggesting all this, but I do think the daily water changes would solve all the problems.

[The.Dark.One]

I'm not up on diseases (fish books don't get them ), but could it be a species of oodinium (velvet)?

[doglover_50]

Keith, that does sound like a lot, but at the moment here's what I'm leaning towards--also a bit of work. With a 30g difference in the tanks, I will do 5 gallon water changes for 7 days (last day is for extra only). Removed water will be placed in a very large tub with aeration and sponge filtration. On day 7, I will thus have all 75 gallons of water ready to go, no additions of large amounts of new water.