Flashing guppies advice

**Nanyan XD** · 14th Dec 2014, 14:02

I'm using this fancy guppies to cycle my tank.
they flash, not often but I have caught them doing so in the past 2 days, and I've done a 20% WC to keep ammonia levels down. yet today I've caught them yet again doing so.
Have seen no white spots whatsoever that indicate ich. Added some aquarium salt but doesn't seem to be working. What do you guys recommend?
Ammonia: 0.3mg/l
PH:6.5
Should I use any meds, if so, recommend pls. And what else can I do?
Ty in advance.
btw, I've heard of dousing certain types of meds but wasn't sure. Could you guys advice pls?

**Urban Aquaria** · 15th Dec 2014, 13:38

If you see the fishes flashing against the tank scape, then it could be an indication of the start of ich or other parasite infection, you may not see the white spots yet as it could currently just be underneath the fish's skin and causing irritation.

The relatively low amount of ammonia currently in the water shouldn't be causing that much issues (most tanks experience small ammonia spikes to those levels during the course of a day, even in well cycled tanks), but constant ammonia exposure could be lowering the guppies immunity to infections, so more water changes can help. Note that just doing a 20% water change only reduces the ammonia by 20%, so 80% of the ammonia is still in the water. To really reduce ammonia, you'll need to do larger water changes or more frequent small water changes.

The aquarium salt can help to build the fish's protective slime layer to better ward of the parasites so its beneficial for them. But do check that the salt levels are not too high that it affects the plants (if any) in the tank too.

If you are abit more kiasu, you can dose those general purpose anti-parasite/anti-fungus treatments. Personally, i dose a course of Seachem Paraguard in my quarantine tanks whenever i hold new fishes, even if they don't show any symptoms of infection, its more of a "just in case" treatment.

**Nanyan XD** · 15th Dec 2014, 19:36

Ty so much for answering my question. I have no doubt of parasites now, and am kaisu. Mind telling me which LFS in SG has seachem paraguard?
I think my LSF only has seachem fertilizer xD
Ok have done a 45% water change plus a small teaspoon of salt.

**Urban Aquaria** · 15th Dec 2014, 20:20

Originally Posted by Nanyan XD

Ty so much for answering my question. I have no doubt of parasites now, and am kaisu. Mind telling me which LFS in SG has seachem paraguard?
I think my LSF only has seachem fertilizer xD
Ok have done a 45% water change plus a small teaspoon of salt.

I'd guess the same LFS which stock Seachem fertilizers would usually also stock the Seachem medications/treatments too.

Anyways, places like Seaview and Polyart stock them, so you can check there.

**Suzerolt** · 15th Dec 2014, 21:58

I would take the fishes out & place them in a separate small tank for treatment with ich medication.

If you plan to have to have snails/shrimps in the display tank in future, do NOT put ich medication in the display as it will probably copper which will remain in your tank forever -> can't put invertebrates in there in future.
Popular brands for ich treatment is Waterlife White Spot & Fungus medicine.
A holistic method is to use API PimaFix. I've tried salt & Pimafix as well but found that Waterlife is the most effective.

Regarding cycling.
A safer approach without introducing potential parasites would be to use other forms to spike the ammonia for cycling.
Popular methods is to add a market prawn & let it 'rot' inside. Another is to spike with baking ammonia bicarbonate to 5ppm ammonia (available from Phoon Huat).
Just leave it in there & come back a week later. You'll find the ammonia reducing as beneficial bacteria builds up. No need to change water till the cycling process is over.

How long have you been cycling your tank to measure 0.3mg/l.

Regarding Quarantine.
As UA mentioned, use Paraguard in quarantine tank when purchasing new fishes.
Its really worth the effort to run a quarantine process.
I've seen Paraguard at Polyart & other major LFS. About $20 for 500ml bottle.

**Cmlee** · 15th Dec 2014, 23:54

is Waterlife White Spot & Fungus medicine safe for BB ?

**Suzerolt** · 16th Dec 2014, 06:31

Yes it's safe for bb

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

**Nanyan XD** · 16th Dec 2014, 19:15

Woah, paraguard costs quite a lot, must be effective.
ive been actually doing fishless cycle for a bit then less a week using fish flakes >~< but wasn't satisfied with results. So I hit myself real hard on the head and got guppies. Had guppies for almost a week, doing water changes daily that could have stressed them out.
waterlife seems good, after all I have waterlife test kits

But there has been no sign of ick so I'm dumbfounded. Have been doing 40% water changes per day.
On the safe side, which should I get?
I can get the waterlife meds since they are more effective. Or pimafix.
If my fish die and I have to clean out the gravel and stuff I think I'll try getting the ammonia from photon huat, didn't realize the shop had it.Haha I never knew everytime I passed by phoon huat there was available ammonia that I it could have used.
Any instructions on the dousing of the ammonia? I would really appreciate it.
Btw thanks everyone for all the info on meds you use. I will definitely take note of it. ^^
and yeah i think I will avoid copper products. Because I'm planning on getting shrimp after I get the tank settled down.

**Nanyan XD** · 16th Dec 2014, 19:17

Ok, I'll go check out polyart.

**Suzerolt** · 16th Dec 2014, 19:49

I was at polyart today. They now carry 2 sizes of Paraguard. The small one is about $10. Good enough for a start.
The dose is 1 cap (5ml) per 40L. If the fishes are OK, just dose 1 cap daily. No need to change water before each dose.
It is dosed daily partially because Paraguard helps keep ammonia & nitrates down in the quarantine tank.

To get ammonia spike, you can really just use a market prawn.
This is a pic from my marine tank during the cycling phase. Covered with fungus after a few days but it was giving about 3ppm of ammonia. I did the same for my freshwater tank. Works wonderfully.

Personally, i would use Waterlife since it appears to be 'proper medicine'.
Pimafix appears to be more holistic & all natural as its made from the extracts from West Indian Bay trees (no idea what this is)

**Nanyan XD** · 16th Dec 2014, 20:08

I see. Lol, Indian bay trees. Do they grow on bays xD(lame joke Ik)
Nice fungus tho 0-0 I'll rather do the ammonia chem for fishless cycling as I have to explain why I have a rotten dead aquatic animal in my tank xD
wait. If my guppies die :/ could I use em to cycle the tank xD(that would be really...)
I plan on going to polyart tomorrow, then. (They should also stock white spot & fungus meds right?)
then if my fish recovers I'll get paraguard on hand in case.(and yesh I would prefer the smaller bottle of paraguard, my tank is barely 8 gal.)
sigh I have 1 male n 2 females, they are already stressed enough by the male so I will put them separately in diff. Hospital tanks. One of the females are already in a hospital tank with a slight salt bath as she seems to suffer worse.
thx for fast reply~

**Suzerolt** · 16th Dec 2014, 20:27

You can get the ammonia powder either from Phoon Huat or Bake King. Both are big bakery suppliers locally.
I recall the dose is 1 teaspoon per 200L to get about 5ppm of ammonia. Better put half the amount first then test for it.