Joeinlondon

Dear All

I left a post recently concerning a lot of flashing that was going on my tank. This is a development of that.

Despite treating with Interpet No.7, my fish are still flashing, and some have little grey patches on their flanks - more likely where the mucous is 'inflamed' rather than an actual beastie.

In my small 40L NPT everything is fine - equally there is no sign of sludge on the bottom - as if a miracle fishkeeper is maintaining it for me! In my 200L, where these problems are occuring, there is some sludge and detritus which collects around the base of the plants. I am wondering if this is indicative of a too high biological load on the tank. The tank contains a breeding pair of Bolivian rams (who are causing havoc every month now by spawning), an older Bolivian ram, 7 cardinal tetras, 5 glass blood-fin tetras, an Ancistrus sp. and three Ottocinclus sp. When the rams spawn, I try and feed the fry with frozen cyclops - very messy. But I can't let them starve, now can I? Of course the rams go on the rampage when they spawn, and everything gets chased about, adding to stress levels.

But I note in pictures of your tanks Diana - you have no sludge visible - as is the case in my well running 40L. It is as if the levels are all in balance and everything gets broken down. I'm wondering if my 200L is overloaded, and thus providing a breeding ground for these parasites - whatever they are.

Should I thus be more traditional with my water changes - with a bit of hoovering up of this sludge? As this tank is going to become a marine tank in the future, I am having a sump built, so hopefully this might alleviate the bio-load (as there will be a lit refugium where I will grow some Hygrophillia or something).

Any input, as ever, would be much appreciated.

Joe