[Lots of fish loss in quarantine]

Thanks for everyone's advice and 2 cents.

@Colu I just finished Day 5 of treating kanaplex and the jungle tabs. I lost 2 more fish on Day 1 of treatment, but no more after that. Thank you for laying that out for me.

I have been testing ammonia daily and have not had any readable levels after getting the first spike under control. I believe it spiked due to the dead fish, and now that death is under control the bacteria have been keeping up with the load.

 

 

[Lots of fish loss in quarantine]

On 5/19/2023 at 6:19 PM, Galabar said:

 

There should be no noticeable ammonia.  I think anything show up on those test scripts might be a big problem.

100% agree. That’s why I’ve been doing water changes.

[Lots of fish loss in quarantine]

 

On 5/19/2023 at 5:22 PM, Galabar said:

When you say ammonia is "< 0.5 ppm," how are you measuring that?

I’ve been using multi-test strips. Basically, it between the 0 and 0.5ppm color.

[Which test kit for testing chlorine?]

The Aquarium Coop multi test strips can measure chlorine.

 

[Lots of fish loss in quarantine]

On 5/19/2023 at 12:01 AM, Odd Duck said:

What size tank and how many and what other fish do you have?  Also what filtration do you have?  I’m trying to get an idea of your existing bioload vs. filtration levels before you added a good number of new fish.

This is a 29 gallon quarantine tank. it has two medium sponge filters. The tank was empty before setting up for quarantine and the sponge filters came from a 20 gallon tank that had some rosy barbs and corys. I believe I did not have enough beneficial bacteria or the meds wiped it out, which led to the ammonia spike.

My ammonia levels have been stable at <0.5ppm for a day now, and I have not had any losses since it has been <0.5ppm.

On 5/19/2023 at 12:01 AM, Odd Duck said:

I suspect your high pH and the ammonia spike is a big part of the problems you’re seeing since ammonia is more dangerous to fish at higher pH

I agree, but I did not know higher pH makes it more dangerous. Good to know.

On 5/19/2023 at 12:01 AM, Odd Duck said:

You will certainly have to treat the fish with antibiotics (follow @Colu’s recommendations there, he’s always on track) now since they are so ill but you probably have lost significant biofiltration along with damaged gills/skin from an ammonia spike with high pH.  Take steps to restore biofiltration as quickly as possible and use Prime (or similar) with water changes as needed to get the ammonia down as quickly as possible to protect the fish from their own wastes until back on track.  This does mean you’ll have to do some redosing to keep the antibiotics levels appropriate and effective.

I was able to track down those meds last night, so some more water changes will be happening as needed. Then it is back to meds.

Thanks all for the help. I feel like I at least have a game plan. It is definitely hard to think straight when you are losing fish left and right.

[Lots of fish loss in quarantine]

Do you think Kanaplex and Jungle Fungus clear are stronger than Maracyn?

Just curious why these over Maracyn?

Thanks.

[Lots of fish loss in quarantine]

Thanks Colu & Guppysnail! If it is a bacterial infection I am surprised that fish had no issues at the store or the week before meds. Maybe it just had enough time to work through the fish finally. My initial thought was some ammonia burns/poisoning. Is there a good way to distinguish between ammonia issues and bacterial?

I have already done two 50% water changes, so the majority of the original meds should be gone. Should I do more water changes before adding these different types of meds?

[Lots of fish loss in quarantine]

Thanks for the help. That gave a little more insight. If anyone has experience with the med trio I would love to hear from them too, since that’s the path I’m on.

[Lots of fish loss in quarantine]

On 5/18/2023 at 9:08 AM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said:

You have a lot of variables going on with 3 meds, and it will be difficult to pinpoint what is causing the losses, and more losses may occur if you stay the course

Using the 3 together seems to have a very good track record and is what is recommended. Have you used or tried using them together? 

[Lots of fish loss in quarantine]

Thanks for the reply. I have been dosing prime with the water changes, would you recommend dosing extra during quarantine?

The tank is a 30 gallon and has been set up since April 15th. I have two sponge filters in the tank that came from an established tanks, so they should be seeded well with bacteria.

I chose to preventatively treat since these are going in a large display tank. Is salt ok to use alongside the med trio, or is it best to let the meds run the course and reevaluate.

[Lots of fish loss in quarantine]

I have been losing a surprising number of cardinal tetras in my quarantine process. I started with 65 and have lost 18 so far, with a few more that are withering away. The fish had quarantined at the store for two weeks and were treated with metronidazole. There were no loses at the store and the fish were eating well at the store.

When I brought them home I did have an ammonia spike (I am assuming due to the dead fish), but I am looking for any other potential issues. The fish that die appear to just slowly wither away. They will lose their color, have tattered/disintegrated fins, then sink or float upside down until they are finally dead. I am not seeing any external sores or parasites, and I have not seen any aggression.

Timeline:
5/6: Fish added
5/11: Quarantine Medication Trio added
5/15: 6 dead cardinals
5/16: 7 dead cardinals, one dead otto, ammonia reading almost 1ppm, 50% water change
5/17: 5 dead cardinals, one dead otto, ammonia reading 0.5 ppm, 50% water change

The pH has dropped from 8.4 to about 8 since the fish were added, but the other parameters have been stable at:

• pH: 8
• Nitrates: <20ppm
• Hardness: 300ppm
• Nitrite: 0ppm
• Ammonia: <0.5ppm
• KH/Buffer: 300ppm
• Water Temperature: 73 deg F

Any suggestions are welcome. It feels like I am missing something, but maybe this is just part of the process.

[Water Lily ID]

On 9/21/2021 at 10:51 PM, Keeg said:

Ive seen chubby grow all round from a slight pink, to an off white, and to white dandelion yellow. It think it might have something to do with environmental factors. 

Because of this, I am going off of pollen stem shape and pedal shape, not exactly colors per say, but if it were purples I would change the answer. 

Ok. Thank you for the clarification and specification!

[Water Lily ID]

Chubby looks like it’s a white flower. This seems much more yellow.

[Water Lily ID]

I am trying to ID my water lily. I bought it as Nymphaea attraction and it does not appear to be that at all. See pictured for the yellow flower.

I am not sure where to begin to ID this.

Thank you!

[Plant ID]

Picked this plant up from someone locally and they were unsure on what it was. They thought it was glossostigma. My best guess is glossostigma elatinoides, but the leaves look too pointed and I didn’t think it could grow tall.

I am just curious if anyone has any thoughts or pictures of glossostigma in their own aquarium to compare.

Thanks!