Question
55 galon aquarium
Hi,
I have a 55 gallon fw tank with all live bearing platys, mollies, guppies. only
a few of the platys are showing signs of sickness such as closed or clamped
fins, waging in the water when they swim, and zombie looks as they swim, not
much alertness on their part. The temp is at 78, the food it the flake food,
there are about 40-50 fish in the tank with 2 separate 30-60 hob penguin bio
filters. The tank was started back in October 2010, I do a 30% water change
weekly and replace any medicine that I have tossed out with the water. I have
tried using copper safe for the last month, but that doesn't do anything, I have
also tried a fungal medicines and that doesn't help either. Have you seen these
symptoms before? Like I said, it's only happening with 3 platys so far, but I'd
like to cure it before more become effected. Thanks, Mike-
PS: As long as I have your attention, it it wrong to rinse off my filters in the
sink and re use them as long as I have the bio wheels? If not, how often should
I replace them with new ones?
AnswerHi Mike,
The only chemicals I want you to use are the dechlorinator product when replacing water only. The rest are not going to help this situation.
Clamped fins are a sign of generalized discomfort. My guess is the copper safe and the other chemicals are killing your fish.
What may have started as an infection has become toxic.
Changing 30% weekl should be bi=weekly to prevent constant cycling.
You need new filters, not old used ones as well. Every month. Washing them is insufficient, as carbon can clean some of the issues with water.
The tank is very pretty! I hope we can help you get it in order.
I have seen these symptoms and my initial worry are three things. First, would be poisoning. Certainly, the constant use of chemicals can cause this, but you began using them because of this, right? So, I have to assume they may be getting something such as Tuberculosis. The wagging...the clamped fins...all bad signs.
Let's do a water change of 50% asap.
Let's change out 25% more tomorrow and leave 25% only in the tank.
Remove sick fish tonight. House them in an alternative tank with a filter.
Please add 2 teaspoons of marine salt to the hospital tank, per gallon, dissolved thoroughly. If the tank is a 10 gallon, put in 20 teaspoons of salt. Watch the fish. They may begin to recover and if so, this is a very good sign.
I would not salt the entire main tank, because there are so many chemicals in it already.
Get that cycled out as soon as possible....throughout the week, cycle at least 1 to 1.5 times the entire tank.
I hope this is helpful. If it is TB, it may not be curable. But, watch the fish. Maybe it's not.
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