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Author Topic:   Cloudy water Nitrates hole in head
Wendy
Member

Posts: 23
From:Romeoville Il USA
Registered: Nov 2002

posted 01-30-2004 06:26 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Wendy     Edit/Delete Message
Help! I have been fighting cloudy water since christmas. The only thing tested bad was nitrates are high. I have nitra zorb in there to help. My Oscar has the HOLE IN HEAD thing now. The best way to fight that is clear up the water but it wont. I keep doing water changes every week or so. What now?

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puff
Member

Posts: 98
From:british columbia
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-30-2004 07:46 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for puff     Edit/Delete Message
hi, do u have a filter? how dirty are your rocks? u can get a hose thing that vacumes out the rocks if thats the case. i have a 6inch albino oscar but how do u tell if they have hole in the head ? im worried about my oscar getting it (if he doesnt already have it)

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Wendy
Member

Posts: 23
From:Romeoville Il USA
Registered: Nov 2002

posted 01-31-2004 08:01 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Wendy     Edit/Delete Message
Yes, I have 2 penquin filters running. MORE then needed. I cleaned the tank, the rocks and such before, so no its not that bad. The Hold in the head thing..you know you have it if you see a HOLE IN HIS HEAD. That easy. Plus it will look like scrapes down his body. So...water is still cloudy today!

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gr8fuljames
Member

Posts: 277
From: Indy
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 01-31-2004 09:42 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for gr8fuljames     Edit/Delete Message
wendy
Your right about needing to clear up the water but there is something else you need to do. Hole in the head can not be cured they will have it for life. Keep in mind nothing you can do for the hole in the head but it's caused by parasites. You absolutly need to eliminate those guys. I've found the best thing for that is metro it's hard to find but worth the search. The full name is Metronidazole. Some LFS will tell you that you can only get it through a vet but that's not true. Plus you'll pay about 50 times what it's worth from a vet.

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James (The Grateful One)

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friendly to fish
Member

Posts: 61
From:Alabama
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-31-2004 09:44 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for friendly to fish     Edit/Delete Message
A white cloud is usually a bacteria cloud the only real way to clear it up is not to do the water changes as much unless your ammonia and nitrate levels are through the roof. With all the water changes you are just continuing to introduce bad bacteria in your tank and not giving the good bacteria a chance to take hold. Once your bacteria levels are good your problem should go away. As far as hole in the head there are very good suggestions in this message board that covers that sort of problem. I am not a big oscar fan so please read them.

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Wendy
Member

Posts: 23
From:Romeoville Il USA
Registered: Nov 2002

posted 01-31-2004 09:54 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Wendy     Edit/Delete Message
THANKS for your help guys! The nitrate is thru the roof, but I have Nitro zorb working on that now. I ordered Metronidazole on line from a fabulous place I order from alot for only 5.00. Hope that helps. I havent done alot of water changes when this cloudyness started. That was back in Decemeber. Im getting upset to say the least. Its sorta green a little and I have added algea gone stuff...but TIRED OF THIS! Thanks for your replys!!

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Wendy
Member

Posts: 23
From:Romeoville Il USA
Registered: Nov 2002

posted 01-31-2004 10:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Wendy     Edit/Delete Message
WOW! I just got my order delivered! I got the medicine and treating it now. I ordered this less the 2 days ago!! Great place, let shope this helps!

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katanas_edge
Member

Posts: 266
From:Canada
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 02-02-2004 07:58 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for katanas_edge     Edit/Delete Message
Common freshwater aquarium filters will not remove nitrates through bacterial action. This is an anaerobic bacterial function. You can have 10 times the filtration "required" and you'll still have to do water changes - the easiest, cheapest and safest way to remove nitrates. Change 20-25% per week and vacuum the gravel evry 2-3 weeks (remove water, not just top up evaporated water) and be patient as the nitrates will come down gradually.

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dvross
Member

Posts: 78
From:
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 02-02-2004 10:16 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for dvross     Edit/Delete Message
Good advice katana. In response to Gr8fulJames, you most definately CAN cure and reverse HITH. Metronidazole is used to cure hexamita which is an opportunistic parasite but not the cause. I recommend you read the article below to familiarize yourself with the disease.
http://www.aaquaria.com/aquasource/hith.shtml

From looking around this forum there are many people who have tanks too small for their fish, insufficient filtration or a general lack of knowledge regarding both the Nitrogen cycle and basic dietary requirements. HITH will be a reoccuring issue that we need to make a concientious effort to educate people on.

[This message has been edited by dvross (edited 02-02-2004).]

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