Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Aquarium question

If I were holding some small sunfish over the winter, does anybody have any suggestions about a chemical that could be added to the water that would be completely safe for fish, but would decrease the possibility of fungal and bacterial infections?

Thanks!

NaCl!

Keep it at about .2 percent ( aka 2ppt or 2000 mg/l.)

As you probably know it's not actually used to treat fungus and bacterial infections but it will keep the stress levels down to keep their immune systems up to par.

I've also become a big believer in potassium permanganate at 2 to 4 mg/ for about 4 hours to eliminate gram negative bacteria in the tank and external parasites if fish have problems. Just make sure the biofilter is offline and you start at the low end.

Had some serious bacterial and possible parasite issues with some tilapia I had fedexed overnight recently, and the PP in conjunction with a broad spectrum antibiotic finally did the job. Also briefly increased the salinity significantly. Thanks to Kellen Weissebach for his expert advice. (Fish are not destined for the table).

We would tread all my uncles tanks with Methylene Blue after we let the fresh water sit over night.

Cheers Don.

So...,let's see...how much salt is that in a 500 gallon tank?

I calculate about 8 lbs of salt per 500 gallons would give you Cecil's recommended 2000 mg/liter.....if I did the math correctly

500 gallons is a big aquarium, very cool. If you are overwintering RES get a heater and keep the temps above at least 60 degrees. RES are very susceptible to fin rot when water temps drop below 55 degrees.

Some good reading on salt and fish. Some of the species are different but the principle is the same. However different species react to salt differently.

http://www.ncrac.org/files/technical_bul...Aquaculture.pdf

http://www.discusnews.com/article/cat-02/salt.shtml

http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/ponds/Kebus_Salt_Treatments.html

Depends on how close you want to be Bill. OTOH it would probably be a good idea to check my math!

I got 8.326 lbs. or 8 lbs. 5.2 oz.

1 mg/l = 0.00378 gms./ gal.

2000 mgl ( 0.2 percent or 2 ppt) = 0.00378 X 2000 = 7.56 gms./ gal.

500 gal. x 7.56 gms. = 3,780 gms. divided by 454 = 8.326 lbs. or 8 lbs. 5.2 oz.


That is if Bruce does not already have some significant salinity in his water supply. I seem to remember at his original ranch the salinity was already 0.5 percent ( 5000 mg/l or 5 ppt). Was that the case Bruce?

Here's an awesome little salt meter that I use and have bought for the high school's that raise fish for me.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KOI-MEDIC-DIGITA...=item2ea94e0464

It's $10.00 cheaper on Amazon.

I wouldn't reccomend that stuff for other than ornamental fish. I think it's a proven carcinogen too. Really bad news for the biofilter.

I also read somewhere that centrarchids are sensitive to either methylene blue or malachite green. Can't remember which.

And keep in mind many of the chemicals and some antibiotics that are used on ornamental fish, are not approved for use on other species, especally those that will be consumed.

I think that's true with the whole centrachid family although perhaps moreso with redears. Many fish producers will not seine them in cold water.

From my limited experience stress + coldwater = fungal issues. Stress + warmwater = bacterial issues.

My exact experience.

I think I was even higher salinity than that!

Come see my setup sometime!

Where did you get a 500 gal aquarium? That is a zoo grade size of aquarium. Is it glass on one side or all 4 sides? Must be thick glass.

Last winter I has an ich infestation in my 110 gallon home aquarium, so I thought I would try using pond salt to help the fish out. The odd problem was I wound up causing the Fluval filter's bacteria to die off. I wound up crashing the aquarium since I introduced the salt too quickly into the system. What should have taken days, I did in a few hours and the biological filter did not like it. I lost many fish from this over a short period, and made matters worse.

I never had heard of this problem before, but the evidence in my tests said my filter did die off. Lots of water changing and re-starting the filter finally settled things down, but it was a mess.

So be careful with your salts and keep the level relatively consistent.

It's called a 625 gallon poly tank.

Yeah those little critters are sensitive! They don't like drastic salinity, temperature or lighting changes! Interesting thing is if you can hang on to them year around for a few years they become more mature and durable. Used to start the school bacteria over again each year. Took too long. Now I bring the media home at the end of the school year and feed it ammonia or incorporate it in existing systems. Then I schlup it back when school starts again.

On the other hand I have placed up to 4 cubic feet of the plastic media in a large tub without water for a couple of days because I was moving some from the schools, and didn't have a moving bed tank ready, and they were fine when I cranked them back up with water, air, and a little ammonia for food.

Someday I hope. Too many things going on right now. Adding on to the house to put in a Master Spa pool and exercise room. My aquaculture pole building is taking a back seat for a while. Just the pool is 28 grand!

But the wife needs to exercise for health reasons and swimming is her best option due to joint issues. We swim in one of the ponds but that's only part of the year. She's lost a decent amount of weight but needs regular exercise to go further. Can't say I won't enjoy the pool either! The parents that work out three days a week that live above my garage are excited too. This will prelude driving to workout.

Apparently your system is an RAS? What is your bilogical and mechanical filtration? DIY or turnkey?

If you get ich again turn the heat up to 86 degrees and it will get rid of it... I used to have a pet and fish store

I've tried the 86 to 87 degree thing, but it is a planted aquarium. Some plants don't like it that warm and die back or stall growth. Better option than copper based treatments though.

It doesn't matter much now, my pleco has gotten large and is eating my plants. Time to take him to the pet store for someone with plastic plants.

Have you ever considered native fish? Are you familiar with the NANFA website?

Haven't encountered ich yet with my native fish; knock on wood.

Cody Note: Okay that now makes a lot more sense as to what you are doing. "Aquarium" had me thinking aquarium and not a tank. Consider a heater as Shorty suggested to keep temps adequate for growth.

Just a thought on heaters: my systems run from 250 gallons (fish tank, clarifier, and biofilter) to 350 gallons. I use a 1000 watt aquarium heater and thermostat I get off of Ebay or Amazon and they work just fine. So far I've had several for at least three years. Even if they burn out soon I still got a goid bang for my buck IMHO.

One of teachers at a school I supply a system to bought a much more expensive heater from aquatic ecosystems and it was a piece of junk. Was wired by a licensed electrician and stopped working in a short amount of time. No clue what happened but I dropped in an aquarium heater and it just sits there unplugged.

And 1000 watts is a lot of watts, but mine seem to be off much of the time once the temperature reaches a certain level. My thinking is the higher wattage uses less juice vs. a smaller unit that is continuously running. I could be wrong on that though.

Oops looks like they went up just a little since I last bought one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1000-Watt-Titani...=item35e56b97bf

I had gotten 50 of the 1500 watt versions of those titanium heaters I'd bought from Aquatic Eco on a package deal...I paid $8ea. Some lasted well, some didn't. One was so well built my grandson almost burned down the house when he plugged it in while it was sitting on a pine end table. There was a haze of smoke and I couldn't find the source....FD used Thermal Imaging to find it...table looked like a cigar was on it and the FD said it was just starting to get flame.

Rex you never live a boring life do you?