My fish may have velvet disease............

Question
Hi there, I have had my tank set up since probably Jan. 2006, or something like that. I can't remember how long exactly. I have had the 5 gal since Oct. 2005. Is there anything I can do about New Tank Syndrome? By the way, when I got home from college I found that three clowns died and the tiger barbs and the tetras have died. The goldfish look like they have been burned because they have a red spot on them. Each time I do a partial water change the levels are still high. Is there anything I can do to get the levels back to normal and keep them that way? Thank you for your reply hope to hear from you again about this one.-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I have a 20 gal tank and have 5 clown loaches, two tiger barbs, two algae eaters, three white high fin tetras and a glass fish and three goldfish.  Right now my clowns and tiger barbs are rubbing against the heater and the decor that I have in the tank.  I took out the glass fish and put him in my 5 gal, thinking that he was the only one sick but I found out differently.  What am I going to do?  I have Coppersafe but I don't want to risk losing my clowns if I do treat with it.  Is there any other product that is safe that I can treat for velvet disease? Please get back to me asap!!!!!  Thank you!!!!!!!!!!
Answer -
Hi Marsha;

It is possible the fish have parasites (ich or velvet) but also possible there are toxins in the water irritating their skin. Clown loaches are very sensitive to toxins and will respond to them before most of the others do. When under stress like overcrowding they will get sick with parasites quicker too. So, it could actually be both. Make an immediate water change of 25%. This will lower toxins as well as lower the numbers of parasites present in the water.

To see if it's parasites, look at the fishes' skin and fins. Ich looks like tiny white salt specks. Velvet looks like a gold-colored haze. Use the coppersafe if it looks like parasites. It is safe for the clowns. Also have the water tested. Test for ammonia and nitrite. Those two particular toxins may be elevated and causing the whole problem. If there is any trace of them, that's it. Ammonia and nitrite should be "zero" in an established tank. Make daily partial water changes to lower them if you find any traces of them.

The goldfish are just not compatible with the tropicals you have. They need a 30 gallon all of their own with good filtration and cooler water. (Each goldfish needs 10 gallons) They are deep-bodied very messy guys that get 6 inches and larger. The barbs may soon begin picking at them too. Tiger barbs are very aggressive, especially in smaller numbers. If there are 3 or more they distribute their aggression amongst themselves. They may still pick on their other tankmates, but less likely if there are more of them.

How long has your tank been set up? It's possible you are dealing with New-Tank-Syndrome. Let me know......

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins

Answer
Hi Marsha;

Poor guys. I was afraid that might happen eventually. The tank was overcrowded and now needs to get cleaned up so it can balance again. With so much waste in there the beneficial bacteria just could not keep up. It is far past the time where "New Tank Syndrome" should be a factor. This period only lasts 6 t 8 weeks. What you don't want to be doing is emptying the tank and starting over. The tank really will go through a break-in and you don't need to do that. It just needs a week of dilligent cleaning, followed by a regular maintenance schedule of weekly changes and gravel vacuuming every 2 to 3 weeks.

Start first by fasting the fish. Don't feed them for the next 3 or 4 days. They will not starve so don't worry. Fish can go for more than 2 weeks without any food at all. Their bodies are designed to do that. Holding back food will help the tank get cleaner as you try to straighten this out. The fish are stressed anyway so they may not be digesting properly right now.

Perform a series of water changes and gravel vacuuming over the next week. Replace 25% of the water every day for the next week. Vacuum the gravel twice in that week, starting on the first day. Once the week is over the tank should be pretty clean.

If the fish are not feeling better by the third day of this cleaning regimen, they may need an antibiotic. Redness can indicate blood poisoning from bacterial infection. Their blood vessels are inflamed and only an antibiotic can help. In that case, use "Maracyn 2". Do the daily water changes too. Every day, make the water change and then add the medicine to the tank. Don't worry that the water change is removing medicine. The medicine is old and decaying by that time so the water change during treatment is acutally helping the fish.

When you start feeding the fish again, feed once per day and only enough that it is totally consumed from all areas of the tank in less than 5 minutes. If there is food leftover anywhere after that 5 minute period, you are overfeeding.

I hope they feel better soon.......

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins