Conditioning water AFTER it's been added back in

[callen]

Tetracycline would be a good one. Not sure if you can get the Gel Tek one but if you can that would be great. there are other brands of Tetracycline meds that will work too.

Nitrite: Aquarium/.10 Tap/0

Need to try and bring that down. Not sure why you are showing it with the water changes.

PH: Aquarium/6.4 Tap/8.3

Huge difference...try adding an air stone and more water movement...may need more oxygen and that should help with the "hiccups".

Sorry fast post as I need to run.

[Gerry]

That is huge swings for a tank getting daily water changes in the 50% region

[Alan]

whats the ph of the tap water after it has sat for a few hours ?

[donsfish]

Looks like everyone has you covered on most things. Keep answering as many of the questions as you can to help sort everything out......you're in great hands.

As for the bio media, you can mix and match.......and yes stay away from carbon unless you're trying to remove medication after a treatment, set that carbon bag that came with the filter aside for now. Renas come with those stars which you can use right in the same basket as whatever else you get....they don't give you enough to be used on their own. Really, whatever bio media you want from the list already given. Personally....mine are all ceramic rings.

If I understand your statement about the baskets being in two parts......they aren't really. I know the renas come with "strainers", all I can think to call them. I really only use one of those on top of the bio media in the top basket, to keep the very fine filter separated from the bio media.

Getting the new filter set up and running will help keep your water in check as the good bacteria become established in it, that'll also help your Oscar get better.

[mssbass]

Ok - After letting my tap water sit overnight (approximately 10 hours, it reads 7.6 on the PH.

Also, I noticed tetracycline kills bacterial infections. Well so does the Fish Zole I've been using which is Metronidazole (targeted for HTH). After all of the medication has been used, the hole is still there and hasn't shrunk. He still is acting like he has the "hiccups". I'll try to get this on videotape for you...

I've made a concoction of food for my oscar using the link you guys gave me previously. I put the following in a blender:

Cod
Shrimp
pellets (oscar)
gelatin
broccoli
cauliflower
carrots
vitamins
water

The oscar seems to eat it; however, it sure is terribly messy. Once the oscar takes it, little particles of the food go everywhere and now the gravel is covered in it. I only fed him a small square (about 1" X 1") Will I have to clean the gravel every time I feed him this stuff? Do you think I should stop feeding him twice a day even though he acts starving? Maybe every 2 days you said?

[Blake]

Ok - After letting my tap water sit overnight (approximately 10 hours, it reads 7.6 on the PH.

Also, I noticed tetracycline kills bacterial infections. Well so does the Fish Zole I've been using which is Metronidazole (targeted for HTH). After all of the medication has been used, the hole is still there and hasn't shrunk. He still is acting like he has the "hiccups". I'll try to get this on videotape for you...

I've made a concoction of food for my oscar using the link you guys gave me previously. I put the following in a blender:

Cod
Shrimp
pellets (oscar)
gelatin
broccoli
cauliflower
carrots
vitamins
water

The oscar seems to eat it; however, it sure is terribly messy. Once the oscar takes it, little particles of the food go everywhere and now the gravel is covered in it. I only fed him a small square (about 1" X 1") Will I have to clean the gravel every time I feed him this stuff? Do you think I should stop feeding him twice a day even though he acts starving? Maybe every 2 days you said?

It doesn't need to really sit in there, but I am surprised that your convict or plec didn't go and have at it. When I feed my fish, the catfish all come out and wait for the particles to hit the bottom and they tear them up.

[mssbass]

Nope... Neither one touched it... Maybe I shouldn't be feeding twice a day...

[donsfish]

Maybe try just once a day feedings.
Meanwhile tetracycline will have a different benefit than fish zole/metradizanole for bacterial infections.....definitely worth trying.

Were you able to get the rena filter up and running?

[callen]

Maybe try just once a day feedings.
Meanwhile tetracycline will have a different benefit than fish zole/metradizanole for bacterial infections.....definitely worth trying.

Correct...different antibiotic's target different infections. So if one does not target it then something else needs to be tried. It's the same in humans. We definitely do not want to over load your O with meds but since you have not seen any improvement then it worth looking at something else.

[mssbass]

I haven't received my new filter yet - I'll be sure to try some tetracycline... I'll keep you updated - thanks to all:)