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New Member
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Last Login: 8/19/2008 11:12:35 AM
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| I have a 60-gallon aquarium containing four large discus. I have had them for about two years. A couple of weeks ago my aquarium became infested with a light brown, cottony outbreak of something or other. After treating the aquarium with both an algaecide and an antifungal liquid and not noticing a significant change, I removed all of the gravel, which contained a ton of the brown stuff and did a large-scale water change (which I do every week anyway). My aquarium now is bare and the brown stuff seems to be gone, but my fish are not eating, and haven't eaten much or anything for five days or so. HELP!!!
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Senior Member
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Last Login: 11/20/2008 1:14:06 PM
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| What are your tank parameters (pH, Hardness, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, etc.)? How do you normally clean your tank? What percentage did you remove this time and what percentage do you normally remove and how often? Why didn't you put the gravel back in after rinsing it off? What kind of a filter do you have and how do you maintain it? What is the tank temperature? What do you normally feed the fish? Are they exhibiting any other symptoms besides loss of appetite? Have you tried starving them for 24 hours yet (no food in the tank whatsoever)? Are there any other fish in the tank? Do you use a gravel siphon (I'm guessing not)? MOA
"Tears aren't a sign of weakness, they're a sign of poor plumbing." --Dead Men's Lies
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New Member
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Last Login: 8/19/2008 11:12:35 AM
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| ph around 6.5 nitrites and ammonia undetectable don't know nitrates I use a Python No-Spill Clean and Fill once a week; I remove about 75% of the water. Only other inhabitants are three small cardinal tetras.
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New Member
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Last Login: 8/19/2008 11:12:35 AM
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| Also, tank temp. 84 degrees. I didn't put the gravel back in because I have wanted to replace it anyway with a finer gravel. I normally feed them twice a day-frozen bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp, frozen beefheart, with an occasional meal of discus flakes.
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New Member
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Last Login: 8/19/2008 11:12:35 AM
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| I have not noticed any other symptoms other than some timidity on the part of the fish (retreating to a corner). They seem to have stopped doing this. Yes, I have gone for a 24-hour period without feeding.
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Senior Member
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Last Login: 11/20/2008 1:14:06 PM
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| Thank You for the Info, Knowing the nitrates would be helpful. Also, you didn't indicate a filter; was that a mistake (do you have a filter)? Also, 75% once a week can result in a DW/G that is simply too high for Discus. The nitrates could be way to high for your fish and lead to the problems you're experiencing now. Cleaning every other day at 25-50% would be better. As to the python, do you actually sift through the substarte with it? If you do, then the brown stuff should never have been a problem in the first place. Additionally, moving all the gravel at once can put the tank into a mini-cycle due to the loss of beneficial bacteria. Subsequently, your fish could be suffering from nitrite posioning. Also, problems can occur if the new, finer gravel is too deep or doesn't receive enough residual flow. Finally, you feed your fish a very protein-rich diet which can result in blockages. The fish might just be constipated. If the fish at least show an interest in food, you might try some shelled peas and minced garlic. Both of these can help a lot. MOA P.S., You also forgot about hardness. (In ppm if possible.) Furthermore, do you use activated carbon regularly?
"Tears aren't a sign of weakness, they're a sign of poor plumbing." --Dead Men's Lies
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/19/2008 11:12:35 AM
Posts: 5,
Visits: 3
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