New tank with Ich, Low readings...

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Hi gang!

I have a mysterious situation... Here's a bit of back ground... 135 gal
tank with 6 med/small Clown Loaches (CL), 3 Angels, 1 Pearl and 2
Opaline small Gouramis, a 1 Blue Ram Cichlid (super colorful!), and
some (17) misc tiney "dither fishes", I did not add them all at once.
The setup is about 2 months old, filtraion is 2 AC 500/110's and an
Eheim 2217 all were "seeded" with used sponges and/or aquachargers. I
just vaccumed all gravel and it was quite dirty although Ammonia and
Nitrate were testing zero! I don't have any other test kits so other
readings unknown. Half of the CL's are the only ones with visible signs
of Ich and rubbing/scratching themselves on gravel/drift wood,
mild/medium amount of white spots visible as of now. Yesterday I
treated 1/2 dose (2Tbs/6tsp/30mL depending on your favorite
measurement) with Wardley's Ick away and trying to raise temp (it takes
a while in a big tank) from upper 70's to mid 80's. Today LFS
recommended Kordon Rid-Ich and I put cardon back in with 35% (45
gallon! Boy that's ALOT of water!) water change with 1Tbs/3tsp salt per
5 gal plus conditioner and plan to treat again with Rid-Ich 1/2 dose
tonight after removing carbon again... All are eating very well and
othersie acting normally. I try to use many different foods, mostly
frozen. Please recommend if my plan is sound.

Questions:
-Are Zero ammonia and nitrate good? This is the mysterious part to me.
-One CL deid a few days ago with suddenly having very red gills, chin
and face, why? Was he attacked by a bigger rogue CL? It seemed like a
sudden trauma.
-One CL showed up dead today and looked like he died a few days ago in
hiding, looked like he had Ick.
-If I have a new tank with fresh water (half PHX AZ hard tap and half
RO water) and seed with filters will the bio-slime die/colapse with no
ammonia to feed it?
-I've been obsessing over bio filtration, each tank has at least two
filters (example 55 with two AC500/110's) that each alone would be
adequate to do the job, this can't be a bad thing... Can it?
-I'm soon to set up a permanent quanteen/hospital 10 gal tank just to
have ready at all times, should I add gravel? Should I have a couple
critters (gold fish) in there just to keep it cycling?
-I love CL's and have noticed they are not always so innocuous, is this
so? Can they be "trouble makers" too? I have one that just looks (in
the eyes) plain psycho like in the movie Jaws as the shark attacks.

Thanks for a great group and as always comments/recommandations are
invited please...

Happy Turkey Day to all!!!
Karl.
(aol email is shut off, Please use:)

[carlrs]

wrote:
> Hi gang!

> Questions:
> -Are Zero ammonia and nitrate good? This is the mysterious part to me.

Zero ammonia is good, zero nitrates is unusual, but not not as much in
a new aquarium where RO has been used.

> -One CL deid a few days ago with suddenly having very red gills, chin
> and face, why? Was he attacked by a bigger rogue CL? It seemed like a
> sudden trauma.

I doubt it, but but fish do have personalities, so it is possible. More
likely the trauma brought on by the ich infestation.

> -One CL showed up dead today and looked like he died a few days ago in
> hiding, looked like he had Ick.

Ich will infect each different fish at different levels, depending on
health. Maintain a kH above 80 ppm to provide calcium which is
important to proper osmodic funtion and is reallly important when
treating for ich.
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Ich.html

> -If I have a new tank with fresh water (half PHX AZ hard tap and half
> RO water) and seed with filters will the bio-slime die/colapse with no
> ammonia to feed it?

I would add ammonia or even some fish food to feed the bacteria.
http://aquarium-nitrogen-cycle.blogspot.com/

> -I've been obsessing over bio filtration, each tank has at least two
> filters (example 55 with two AC500/110's) that each alone would be
> adequate to do the job, this can't be a bad thing... Can it?

No, just make sure you rinse the sponges that come with the AC500s in
used tank water or de-clorinated tap water.

> -I'm soon to set up a permanent quanteen/hospital 10 gal tank just to
> have ready at all times, should I add gravel? Should I have a couple
> critters (gold fish) in there just to keep it cycling?

No gravel, but sponge filters are best. I would use another fish that
is less dirty (although that is your point), it is just that goldfish
do not digest their food as well and have a tendancy to spread disease.
http://spongefilter.blogspot.com/

> -I love CL's and have noticed they are not always so innocuous, is this
> so? Can they be "trouble makers" too? I have one that just looks (in
> the eyes) plain psycho like in the movie Jaws as the shark attacks.

CL are great fish, they do seem to contract ich very easily, which is
why I have often used Medicated Wonder Shells with them to prevent
disease in my aquarium maintenance business.

>
> Thanks for a great group and as always comments/recommandations are
> invited please...

Good luck, Carl