Sorry if I'm doing something wrong with this post, but I just registered with the sight a few minutes ago. I need help with what I think is an ich outbreak in my tank. Here's the information I'm supposed to include.
Sorry in advance about all of the missing things and unknowns. I have cared for a larger aquarium in the past and I do have some experience, it's just that right now I'm on a tight budget and trying to make things work in a college dorm room. In the years I've cared for the larger tank, I was lucky and my fish rarely got sick, so I don't have much experience in diagnosing and treating illness.
1. Size of tank?
5.5 gal
2. Water parameters
a. Ammonia?
Less than 0.02 ppm
b. Nitrite?
Unknown
c. Nitrate?
Unknown
d. pH, KH and GH?
pH is about 7.4-8.0, others are unknown
e. Test kit?
No test kit yet
3. Temperature?
About 75°F
4. FW (fresh water) or BW (brackish)?
Fresh Water
5. How long the aquarium has been set up?
Over 4 weeks
6. What fish do you have? How many are in your tank? How big are they? How long have you had them?
4 neon tetras, three weeks
1 betta, three weeks
1 ghost shrimp, three weeks
7. Were the fish placed under quarantine period (minus the first batch from the point wherein the tank is ready to accommodate the inhabitants)?
No, only acclimated over about one hour
8. a. Any live plants? Fake plants?
1 live plant
b. Sand, gravel, barebottom?
Gravel
c. Rocks, woods, fancy decors? Any hollow decors?
Had a brick of zebrastone, replaced it with a hollow plastic cave one week ago
9. a. Filtration?
Tetra PF10, carbon and bio-foam cartridges
b. Heater?
Tetra HT10
10. a. Lighting schedule? What lights are used?
Halogen desk lamp for a few hours each day
b. Any sunlight exposure? How long?
Little sunlight for most of the day
11. a. Water change schedule?
Water changed twice, no schedule yet
b. Volume of water changed?
About 50%
c. Well water, tap water, RO water?
Mixture of tap water and natural spring water. Spring water is probably not the source of the sickness, however, because my friend uses it in his aquarium as well and has no problems. Also, it has been a while since I used it.
d. Water conditioner used?
Tetra AquaSafe
e. Frequency of gravel/sand (if any) vacuumed?
Not vacuumed yet
12. Foods?
Tetra flakes
How often are they fed?
Once or twice daily in small amounts
13. a. Any abnormal signs/symptoms?
White spots on one neon tetra. Others look fine, but one died last night. Also, the betta needed to be removed from the tank as it repeatedly got stuck by attempting to swim up the filter's overflow spillway, hurting itself in the process. Betta also has white spots and appears to have popeye only on the right eye.
b. Appearance of poop?
Haven't seen any.
c. Appearance of gills?
Seem to look okay.
14. a. Have you treated your fish ahead of diagnosis?
No
b. What meds were used?
None
15. Insert photos of fish in question and full tank shot if necessary.
Tried multiple times to take a good picture of the fish, but the pictures won't come out clear enough to see much on my cell phone. I'll see if I can find a camera to take better ones.
I just really need help on diagnosing what exactly is wrong with the fish and what to do to treat them. Also, keep in mind that I won't be able to use more complex treatments as I am limited to what I can do in a dorm.
Sorry in advance about all of the missing things and unknowns. I have cared for a larger aquarium in the past and I do have some experience, it's just that right now I'm on a tight budget and trying to make things work in a college dorm room. In the years I've cared for the larger tank, I was lucky and my fish rarely got sick, so I don't have much experience in diagnosing and treating illness.
1. Size of tank?
5.5 gal
2. Water parameters
a. Ammonia?
Less than 0.02 ppm
b. Nitrite?
Unknown
c. Nitrate?
Unknown
d. pH, KH and GH?
pH is about 7.4-8.0, others are unknown
e. Test kit?
No test kit yet
3. Temperature?
About 75°F
4. FW (fresh water) or BW (brackish)?
Fresh Water
5. How long the aquarium has been set up?
Over 4 weeks
6. What fish do you have? How many are in your tank? How big are they? How long have you had them?
4 neon tetras, three weeks
1 betta, three weeks
1 ghost shrimp, three weeks
7. Were the fish placed under quarantine period (minus the first batch from the point wherein the tank is ready to accommodate the inhabitants)?
No, only acclimated over about one hour
8. a. Any live plants? Fake plants?
1 live plant
b. Sand, gravel, barebottom?
Gravel
c. Rocks, woods, fancy decors? Any hollow decors?
Had a brick of zebrastone, replaced it with a hollow plastic cave one week ago
9. a. Filtration?
Tetra PF10, carbon and bio-foam cartridges
b. Heater?
Tetra HT10
10. a. Lighting schedule? What lights are used?
Halogen desk lamp for a few hours each day
b. Any sunlight exposure? How long?
Little sunlight for most of the day
11. a. Water change schedule?
Water changed twice, no schedule yet
b. Volume of water changed?
About 50%
c. Well water, tap water, RO water?
Mixture of tap water and natural spring water. Spring water is probably not the source of the sickness, however, because my friend uses it in his aquarium as well and has no problems. Also, it has been a while since I used it.
d. Water conditioner used?
Tetra AquaSafe
e. Frequency of gravel/sand (if any) vacuumed?
Not vacuumed yet
12. Foods?
Tetra flakes
How often are they fed?
Once or twice daily in small amounts
13. a. Any abnormal signs/symptoms?
White spots on one neon tetra. Others look fine, but one died last night. Also, the betta needed to be removed from the tank as it repeatedly got stuck by attempting to swim up the filter's overflow spillway, hurting itself in the process. Betta also has white spots and appears to have popeye only on the right eye.
b. Appearance of poop?
Haven't seen any.
c. Appearance of gills?
Seem to look okay.
14. a. Have you treated your fish ahead of diagnosis?
No
b. What meds were used?
None
15. Insert photos of fish in question and full tank shot if necessary.
Tried multiple times to take a good picture of the fish, but the pictures won't come out clear enough to see much on my cell phone. I'll see if I can find a camera to take better ones.
I just really need help on diagnosing what exactly is wrong with the fish and what to do to treat them. Also, keep in mind that I won't be able to use more complex treatments as I am limited to what I can do in a dorm.