Since it was new and wasnt cycling completely yet; PLUS I also had gotten
LEECHES with the hydra I took the fish out and did acomplete teardown; raised
the water temp by adding hot tap water. The hydra cooked and hopefully also
the leeches since I havent seen any. Ofcourse now I have new tank syndrome
(chlorine in tap killed the bacteria) but no leeches or hydra. I also soaked
the plants in hot tap water-but they didnt do to well to that treatment (most
have died; in restrospect a dip might have been enough) so I don't recommend
it. Hope my funbling around with hydra and leeches can help someone else
out with my mistakes.
Also the three spot gourami likes to eat hydra--you could try that as a
biological control.
Any ideas for new tank syndrome--I moved a filter from an established tank
and 20 or so gallons of water; testing the water everyday and I've been
adding ammolock2 for ammonia and changing water and adding biozyme and coral
life bacteria every day. I've also started a foam filter-on the air line in
the old tank to move to the new tank in about 3 more days as a sourece of
bacteria. I HATE new tank syndrome. But the fish seem patient-glad to be out
of the 30g temporary home when I did the hot water trick.
I'm doing water changes almost daily to keep the nitrite down, previous
experience was not favorable with the nitro-sorb type resin filter material.
Now to just get through the nitrite peak!
thanks for any advice. Im not looking forward to be doing water changes
Christmas eve and Christmas day!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
Dianne