Aequidens metae and/or diadema

neutrino

Goliath Tigerfish
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Jan 22, 2013
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Anymore I collect my own, some of it similar looking to Manzanita, don't know what it is exactly but it's not Manzinita.

But, anyway, got a couple of big pieces of Malaysian once years ago and, wow, was it ever a pain trying get it to stop releasing heavy tannins and messing with my water chemistry before trying to put in a tank with fish, to the point I ended up chucking it. I'm guessing not that all of it is like that, but this stuff was evidently pretty raw and definitely nasty. Probably should have gotten a giant pot and boiled the heck out of it.

My only cases of ich in over 20 years was a couple summers ago due to a 10 day power outage at my place after the derecho, after doing daily water changes with lots of river water to keep my fish alive-- I'm in the sticks and on a well, no power equals no water. Salt and heat didn't do it, so went with Coppersafe and/or good old Aquari-sol (not enough of either one available locally to cover my tanks).

On a side note, almost all my fish got ich, haps, peacocks, SA cichlids, but my Kapampa fronts were immune to it, not a speck visible, even on their black bars. Also, not much on my plecos, few specks but not bad.
 

darth pike

Peacock Bass
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Apr 3, 2008
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I prefer the malaysian driftwood in most of my SA tanks for two reasons ... the dark wood against the light sand is a nice contrast but much much much more importantly, I want those lovely tannins that are so important for water parameters and breeding SA cichlids. Buying blackwater extract is darn expensive, as is driftwood, so why not get wood that does both?
 

fug202

Gambusia
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Feb 23, 2012
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I prefer the malaysian driftwood in most of my SA tanks for two reasons ... the dark wood against the light sand is a nice contrast but much much much more importantly, I want those lovely tannins that are so important for water parameters and breeding SA cichlids. Buying blackwater extract is darn expensive, as is driftwood, so why not get wood that does both?
I agree with Darth Pike. The Malaysian wood does stain the water, sometimes heavily, but over time even that property disappears. When selecting a piece, make sure it is solid - some pieces on the market are pretty crumbly and will break apart once water logged.
 

xEchOx

Fire Eel
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Mar 2, 2006
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Guys, just confirming what everyone else already has - When I got my order of metae/k. xingu in they had ich as well. I began treating with Salt right away, but even at concentrations of 1 TBSP per 5 gallons it still spread. I eventually upped it to 3TBSP per 5 gallons and it began to decline. I also used cupramine in a seperate tank of Geos that had the same strain I believe. Anyway, that was the strongest form of Ich I had ever encountered. All fish tolerated the salt levels fine including a BN pleco and all survived the ich.
 

Mythic Figment

Feeder Fish
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Jul 27, 2012
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Guys, just confirming what everyone else already has - When I got my order of metae/k. xingu in they had ich as well. I began treating with Salt right away, but even at concentrations of 1 TBSP per 5 gallons it still spread. I eventually upped it to 3TBSP per 5 gallons and it began to decline. I also used cupramine in a seperate tank of Geos that had the same strain I believe. Anyway, that was the strongest form of Ich I had ever encountered. All fish tolerated the salt levels fine including a BN pleco and all survived the ich.
My ich seems to be resisting the Coppersafe. If I don't see improvement by tomorrow evening, I will have to switch to salt and use a high dosage like you are. :(


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convict360

Potamotrygon
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Dec 9, 2013
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I havent read the previous 90 or so responses so forgive me if im flogging a dead horse, but recently I have had problems with super resistant ick

I'm talking water thats showing 0 in nitrites and ammonia, <5 nitrates, so that stress isnt an issue, water heat being turned up well above 30°, salt added, and different brands of white spot treatment before either the fish dies or somehow gets rid of it after at least a couple of "cycles" of the ich parasite. I remember 10 years ago it used to be super easy to treat quickly, now its a real challenge, in my limited experience anyway

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Andicca

Gambusia
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Mar 18, 2012
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How many days have you had it in? I have found that it takes about 4 days before you start seeing improvement. Dont forget, it doesnt kill any ich thats already under their skin, you have to wait till the trophont drops off. So far, no other fish in the tank infected except the diadema (the worst) and a few spots on the metae. My krobias havent gotten it.
 

Mythic Figment

Feeder Fish
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Jul 27, 2012
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How many days have you had it in? I have found that it takes about 4 days before you start seeing improvement. Dont forget, it doesnt kill any ich thats already under their skin, you have to wait till the trophont drops off. So far, no other fish in the tank infected except the diadema (the worst) and a few spots on the metae. My krobias havent gotten it.
Really? I usually see some improvement in 24-48 hours. Mine have been undergoing Coppersafe treatment for a little over 48 full hours now.


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Aquanero

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Feb 16, 2009
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Salt & heat the spots are gone did a 80% wc last night and re-slated the water. I'll leave the heat up for the next week with the salt.
 

Andrewtfw

Fire Eel
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Dec 23, 2005
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Salt & heat the spots are gone did a 80% wc last night and re-slated the water. I'll leave the heat up for the next week with the salt.
Did you add salt every day? How much?
I ask because thanks to this thread, I checked my fish (picked up a trio of diadema JH from Rapps yesterday at Aquamania2), and found they too have a few spots of ich.
 
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