Cudaman Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 New here, but been a fan for years on youtube. Not sure where to post, but having odd behavior in our 300 gallon African cichlid tank. I'm a bit confused. Fish are flashing here and there, and sometimes scratching. All water parameters are spot on. Fish show no signs of anything, temp is good, services on filtration done, extra aeration...I just can't figure this one out, but something is wrong. Behavior is just not right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwayne Brown Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 (edited) Sometimes conditions can be perfect and external parasites will prosper. My advice would be to administer aquarium salt per the manufacturer instructions and see what that does. Edited April 5, 2021 by Dwayne Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 18 minutes ago, Dwayne Brown said: Sometimes conditions can be perfect and external parasites will prosper. My advice would be to administer aquarium per the manufacturer instructions and see what that does. Needs an edit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwayne Brown Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 14 minutes ago, Frank said: Needs an edit. Thanks meant administer aquarium salt 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samanthabea Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 Definitely use the salt mine were rubbing against decor and tubes before ich was noticeable 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cudaman Posted April 5, 2021 Author Share Posted April 5, 2021 Normally I do use salt, however in this tank, we also have catfish. 2 pictus, 1 dorkious,, (sp) , 1 canary yellow synadontis and 6 exotic plecos of types. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cudaman Posted April 5, 2021 Author Share Posted April 5, 2021 I should also note, they are all eating well too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 If they have flashed for a few days with no spots, most likely flukes. PraziPro would be my go to. 300 gallons will be a bit pricey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cudaman Posted April 5, 2021 Author Share Posted April 5, 2021 I'll look into that. Would be nice if it covers several things being I really don't know what's going on. This is the 1st time I've had no clue what's up. We have 19 tanks and always were able to figure what meds were needed. But this time, all I have to go on is gut feelings and a change of behavior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 1 minute ago, Cudaman said: I'll look into that. Would be nice if it covers several things being I really don't know what's going on. This is the 1st time I've had no clue what's up. We have 19 tanks and always were able to figure what meds were needed. But this time, all I have to go on is gut feelings and a change of behavior. Grab one out, try a salt dip and see if anything collects on the bottom of the container? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 53 minutes ago, Cudaman said: I'll look into that. Would be nice if it covers several things being I really don't know what's going on. This is the 1st time I've had no clue what's up. We have 19 tanks and always were able to figure what meds were needed. But this time, all I have to go on is gut feelings and a change of behavior. Just remembered. Look into minnfinn. It's pretty hardcore, but reviews are positive. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cudaman Posted April 5, 2021 Author Share Posted April 5, 2021 Ok, checked the 1st aid kit, and had some prazipro on hand. Good date code. Treated the tank. That stuff sure is weird when added to tank. Kinda fun. Now I wait and hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 Just now, Cudaman said: Ok, checked the 1st aid kit, and had some prazipro on hand. Good date code. Treated the tank. That stuff sure is weird when added to tank. Kinda fun. Now I wait and hope. Increase aeration if you can. If it's flukes, they can be real resistant to meds these days. I had to do 5 weeks to finely stop them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cudaman Posted April 5, 2021 Author Share Posted April 5, 2021 Not sure what it is, but this is better than doing nothing. I am running a 4 foot air stone up the back wall with a huge pump running it. And, I have all 4 jets running from 2 fluval FX6 pumps shaking up the topside as well. I should have plenty of co2 in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cudaman Posted April 5, 2021 Author Share Posted April 5, 2021 According to the dose instructions, it only takes me 16 teaspoons to treat the tank. So that's nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 7 minutes ago, Cudaman said: Not sure what it is, but this is better than doing nothing. I am running a 4 foot air stone up the back wall with a huge pump running it. And, I have all 4 jets running from 2 fluval FX6 pumps shaking up the topside as well. I should have plenty of co2 in there. I think your good! 😆 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cudaman Posted April 5, 2021 Author Share Posted April 5, 2021 Lol, I sure hope so. The tank is 8 feet long so I figure the fly pumps at each end blasting hundreds pr hr. Plus the 4 foot stone in the middle should be a good blender.. lol. This tank with my DIY auto water change system has been bulletproof. And shockingly stable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 9 hours ago, Cudaman said: Lol, I sure hope so. The tank is 8 feet long so I figure the fly pumps at each end blasting hundreds pr hr. Plus the 4 foot stone in the middle should be a good blender.. lol. This tank with my DIY auto water change system has been bulletproof. And shockingly stable. I won't lie, you had me at auto water change! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cudaman Posted April 5, 2021 Author Share Posted April 5, 2021 1 hour ago, Mmiller2001 said: I won't lie, you had me at auto water change! Easy and cheap deal I made. With a tank this size..I needed options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 A couple questions... Do you use any buffers? I had a buddy that would try to adjust his water for African cichlids. Salts, either marine or aquarium and epsom. Once he stopped trying to adjust the water the fish stopped all the flashing. Also, could the tank have any stray electrical current? Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anewbie Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 Did you add anything recent to the tank or did things go on as normal for years and years and suddenly they started flashing out of the blue? I know i had a yoyo that use to have an itch and would scratch itself for while - but after a period it just stopped and I haven't seen him do it for at least 6 months. While it could be a parasite as others mentioned it could be well just a change in water condition or decaying decoration that is irritating them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cudaman Posted April 5, 2021 Author Share Posted April 5, 2021 1 hour ago, Brian said: A couple questions... Do you use any buffers? I had a buddy that would try to adjust his water for African cichlids. Salts, either marine or aquarium and epsom. Once he stopped trying to adjust the water the fish stopped all the flashing. Also, could the tank have any stray electrical current? Good Luck No, I adjust nothing like that. I have pretty good ph already, but when I set up the tank I mixed in 75 lbs of crushed coral to keep that in check. As to electrical ghosts, I checked with a fluke multimeter and I also run grounding systems on that tank. And no signs of electrolysis either. Good ideas though. I have heard of people fighting ph up and down buffers. Co OP did a great live feed on that a while back. I agree with Cory, keep it steady. And my ph is nearly dead on where they are born. I asked the fish farm what their ph was. I got lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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