55 Gallon - Fish In Cycle - Ich

[Akera]

Hi,

I started a new 55 Gallon tank, doing a fish in cycle using API Quick Start (first week) then finally got my Fritz Zyme and dosed 1 time. Water is cloudy as expected with the nitrogen cycle, and ammo levels were between .5-1ppm. I dose API Ammo Lock every 2 days and doing 20%-35% water changes daily. I noticed ich spots on my fish and decided to start ich treatment. Yesterday night, I did a 30% water change, used API Stress Coat to condition water, used Ich X as directed, and Ammo Lock. I also dosed API Quick start in hopes of speeding up the nitrogen cycle. This morning, I woke up to 4 dead shrimp, 1 dead Neon Tetra, and the rest of the fish gasping at the top. Instantly did a 60% water change, used a different water conditioner (tetra aquasafe plus) and Ich X. I'm thinking either Quick Start, Ammo Lock, or Stress Coat reacted with the Ich X treatment and became poisonous. I know that I shouldn't use "sulfinate-, or sulfoxylate-base water conditioners" with Ich X, but there are no ingredients on any of the API bottles, which is why I used Aquasafe Plus to condition water and treat for ich. Any advice, hoping to go home with all fish doing alright. I have Live Plants, Tetras, Guppies, Snails, Corys, Mollies, and Platies in tank.

Water Parameters:

Temp: 74-78

Nitrite, Nitrate, CL,: 0

PH: 7.0

Ammonia: .5ppm

[Colu]

It sound like low levels of desolved oxygen caused by the medication did you add an extra air stone before you started treatment also with ammonia 0.5-1ppm your fish will take longer to recover from ich I would keep doing daily water try and keep you ammonia below 0.25

Edited May 17, 2022 by Colu

[Akera]

Hi @Colu, I was thinking low oxygen, but didn't expect that it would've happened so fast. I have a 60 gallon air pump with 2 air stones on very low setting. After reading your suggestion, I turned it up so now it's like a "wave" at the surface of my water. I will be doing another water change tonight and medicating again. This time I will be using Stress Coat as the water conditioner because I read it should be fine with Ich X. Any suggestions on using Ammo lock with Ich X, or would a 50% water change every day do the trick?

Thanks for all the help 🙂

Edited May 17, 2022 by Akera

[Colu]

I have never used ammo lock before so am not sure if the two would have a reaction if your doing daily 50% water changes you shouldn't need to use API  ammo lock @Akera

[Akera]

Only reason I was using ammo lock is because my tank is still cycling, so I'm hovering at .5ppm ammonia. I am conflicted on whether I keep adding beneficial bacteria and ammo lock every day, to speed the cycle, or do I focus on treating ich then deal with cycling and ammonia later. 🥲 @Colu

[Colu]

As your using ick x the daily water changes will help to keep your ammonia under control and  you can still add the benefial bacterial the main focus is treating the ich but keeping your ammonia under control will help with their  recovery

[Akera]

Thank you @Colu, I hope it works. Just did a 50% water change, used API Stress Coat as conditioner, waited 30 minutes, added FritzZyme 7, waited another 30 minutes, added Ich X, and as mentioned previously, I turned the air pump all the way up. Wish me luck!