Mcheuk's Tank And Filtration Setup, Experience/comments on use of pebbles Options

[MCheuk]

Dear veterans,

Originally I had pebbles & plants in my tank for visual appeasement (see attached picture). However, after two months, I found that the pebbles retained a lot of poop and debris. I also discovered baby snails developing (which could be a good / bad sign, depending on the person).

I made 20% water changes per week, but noted some of my ranchus developing red sores on the bodies and blood veins in their fins recently (Water temp was 26C. The tank was running a week before any fish were added) Therefore, I assumed the water quality was inferior. I decided to revamp the tank and it is now a bare tank. The pebbles and plants made the tank look nice, but it created water issues.

Have many of you experienced this?
For goldfish/ranchus - is the best suggestion to have a bare tank?

Thank you.



This post has been edited by CP: Mon, 13 Nov 2006 4:26 pm
Reason: Topic moved & renamed

[MCheuk]

I am doing all my updates over the past two mos because work has been too busy.

I bought another 100L tank to house my three 4 inch ranchus (two black and one red with white face). Since they were purchased at the same time, I didn't bother with the Qtank and placed them into the tank (which had been cycled for 7 days). This was in early Oct.

In third week of Oct, I decided to put one of the black ranchus into the 120L tank and move one of the ranchus into the other tank. But then noticed this blackie had an aggressive behaviour. After a wk I took him out and placed him back to the 100L tank.

Mid Nov - I notice two of my ranchus developing red dots. Wasn't sure if it was HITH. So put them in hospital tank and used JYP. After a while it turned out to be HITH!!! argh!

I was not able to rescue of the the red ranchus... sigh.
Other one is recovering after I got some medication from the dealer. Originally I used this medication called Ramical Flofenicol powder, since I am from HK, it's none of the packaging you guys have mentioned. It didn't work that well, so the dealer gave me some mystery medication (white cyrstal blocks that resembled crack). It worked.

Then in late Nov I noticed the ranchus in the 100L tank got the HITH too! WTF!

In my discussions with the dealer and his feedback from other customers, apparently there have been outbreaks depending on the which shipment of fish from Fushou.

I have attached some late staged pics of the HITH illness on one of my ranchus - she didn't make it. I am still trying to fight the battle with the other ones in the 100L tank. Note in the first picture, one of the black ones has it under its eye. They are all in the hospital tank where I have placed a filter and heater and air bublle.





Initially, I cleaned the wounds and applied H2O2. THen JYP to disinfect. After 9 days, I applied the Ramical powder... and then I lost my fish. I made 80% water changes daily. So just want to share my excitement over the past few weeks. Wish me luck with this HITH fight.