[HOB Filter While Medicating?]

Wow, that's a great idea and thank you for sending me the video from Cory. I'll definitely be implementing this. Thank you!

[HOB Filter While Medicating?]

Hi everyone!

I've been having issues with ick for the last 2 weeks on some Corydoras that I purchased. I purchased Ick-X and have been following the directions, changing my water 30% daily prior to applying the product. I was wondering why I have not seen improvement with my fish at this point. I think I found the culprit. I use a HOB filter (Marineland Emperor 280) with the Marineland filter cartridges. Little did I realize that the cartridges themselves have carbon on the back which completely ruins the Ick-X. I am very hesitant to remove the filter cartridge entirely and lose all of my beneficial bacteria. Has anyone run into a similar issue? What do you do with a filter like this when you have to apply meds to your tank? 

Thank you!

[Where Is My Tank At Right Now?]

8 minutes ago, Ken Burke said:

Good put.  
 

if it was your tank, you would have seen an ammonia spike before you water change.  

I did not have a reliable water testing kit originally. I tested the water from the guppies that passed, prior to water changing and it was about 1.0 ppm ammonia per the API test. That was about 5 days ago. 

[Where Is My Tank At Right Now?]

Thank you everyone for your responses! I think my plan of action is going to be to let this play out on its own for the next couple of weeks and then re-evaluate. As you all have mentioned, a lot of change has occurred in a short amount of time. I feel like you can sit here and tinker with stuff forever and get nowhere. I will be picking up some Seachem Prime to make the trace ammonia that is left less toxic for the fish in the meantime. I would expect with light feeding, that the bacteria would be able to handle the ammonia eventually. If things get back to normal, I will be lightly stocking the tank with maybe 3 more Corydoras to go with the one I have now (since they really need a school). I plan on doing light additions into the tank whenever I buy new fish, so I don't overwhelm the tank. 

[Where Is My Tank At Right Now?]

[Where Is My Tank At Right Now?]

Hello all, 

This is my first post and I'm looking forward to being an active member in the community. I'm a new a fishkeeper and am about 2 months into my aquarium. First off, I want to say that I've done about everything wrong that you could have done up to this point. I currently have 7 neon tetras that have been in the tank for about a month and are doing well and one corydora. I overstocked my tank a couple of weeks ago with about 9 guppies that all met their maker quickly. Now, I am trying to make sure my tank is stabilized before I add anymore fish to this aquarium. Here are the stats on my aquarium. 

Tank Size: 30 Gallons

Filter: Marineland Emperor 280

Ammonia: .25 ppm 

Nitrite: 0 ppm

Nitrate: In between 0 and 5 ppm (Tested with API Master Test Kit)

I unfortunately changed the filter cartridge on my filter after the guppies died. I now realize that was a mistake, because I lost all the beneficial bacteria growing in there. Before this last test, I held off on feeding the fish for 48 hours, hoping that the ammonia would get eaten up. I can't seem to get it down to 0 and am concerned that I'm not really reading any nitrates per my tests. I have done three 50% water changes in the last 36 hours with gravel vaccuming. I lightly fed this morning and am planning on only feeding once a day from now on. I will most likely hold off on feeding tomorrow. 

Does anyone have any advice on where my tank is at in the cycle right now? I really would like to not have to do another massive water change, but that might be what I need to do in order to get the last bit of ammonia out. Hopefully once I get this tank in good shape, I can have more confidence in the next fish I introduce being a successful experience. 

Thank you all for your help and Happy Holidays!

Cheers!