My Glowlight Tetra "patient" still lives, still has a bloated belly, but it's swollen gill flap seems to have gotten better.
I'm having more of a challenge managing water chemistry in the hospital tank than I normally do in the community tank. It turns out that an entire ecosystem and waste cycle sets itself up in a regular tank under proper conditions. The fish generate ammonia containing wastes, as does decay of uneaten food. These wastes provide food to bacteria that turn it into nitrites. The nitrites in turn are eaten by other bacteria that excrete them as nitrates. At each step in the process the wastes are reduced many-fold in toxicity, until the nitrates, which are kept to a manageable level by regular water changes. This process is called the biological filter. It may take several weeks to become established in a new tank. In the sterile environment of the treatment tank, I have to deal with the build-up of ammonia directly. There are chemicals that will lock it up in a non-toxic form, but I still have to change the water more frequently. Everything you do causes stress to the fish. Let the ammonia or other wastes build up and the fish is stressed. Stir up it's water every day with major water changes and it's stressed. It's like walking a tight rope. It is a learning experience, with respect to silver *and* fish-keeping. Mike [Mike Devour, Citizen, Patriot, Libertarian] [[email protected] ] [Speaking only for myself... ] -- The silver-list is a moderated forum for discussion of colloidal silver. To join or quit silver-list or silver-digest send an e-mail message to: [email protected] -or- [email protected] with the word subscribe or unsubscribe in the subject: line. To post, address your message to: [email protected] List maintainer: Mike Devour <[email protected]>
