Help - Having problems with Fungus

[Dede]

Hello, I have a 55 litre tank set up for approx 2 1/2 months. I noticed a month ago one of my harlequins had a light spot on it's side then it got a white fluff around the spot and small dots on its lower fins. I rang the local aquarium who advised to use API fungus cure in the tank and a salt bath for the harlequin. Unfortunately my fish died. I didn't treat the tank again as advised on the API bottle as one of my Corys died after adding the first treatment. Then two weeks ago the tank water went all cloudy but after getting further advice was told just to leave it and it did clear up. Unfortunately this weekend the fungus struck again and I lost my siamese fighter. I again treated the water and repeated the treatment after 48 hours the changed 48 hours after that. I have today lost another harlequin due to the fungus. What am I doing wrong? Checked the nitrite 4/5 days ago and it was almost purfect. PH level as always is 7.6. Temp 76f. I have 2 x Corys, 2 x Gourami's, 6 x Tetra, 4 x plats and 5 guppys. I have a internal filter. Any help would be greatly received. Thankyou

[maura]

Hi, Dede, and to badmans!

Sorry you're having such a rough time, let's see if we can get you sorted out.

First of all, it would be really helpful to have the actual numerical values for nitrate, nitrite and ammonia.  Either get a test kit with liquid reagents or get your pet store to test it, and post the actual numbers here.  "Almost perfect" just isn't specific enough.  You didn't mention how you cycled the tank, do you understand the nitrogen cycle?

Second, what's your usual water change routine?  How often and how much?  Fungus almost always is related to poor water quality.

Third, you are very, very overstocked and that's undoubtedly contributing to your other problems.  Is it possible for you to set up another tank or return some fish to the store?  A 55 litre or 15 gallon is really too small for gouramis, period, finding them a larger home would be a start.  To give you an idea, appropriate stocking for your tank would be 6 - 7 small species of tetras and 6 - 7 small cories - that's it!

[Dede]

Hello again and many thanks for your reply,

My nitrite is between 0.0mg/I and 0.1mg/I. pH level is always 7.6. I will get the nitrite and ammonia tested at nearest pet store and let you know.
My tank was second hand and I cleaned all the stones, filters etc with tap water then kept it running for a week before I added my first fish. Then each week added more fish. The books I brought advised to do a 10% weekly water change, change the top poly pad each week and the carbon filter once a month. The pet shop then told me to do water changes at only 8 weeks. Since the begginning of the fungus problem I cleaned the filter and rocks etc with tap water and not with tank water which I now know was a bad idea as I lost the good bacteria. I am hoping now my tank will cycle better. Have I got this right or am right off the mark?
You say I am overstocked, which has upset me because I have advised both pet shops of the size of my tank and what fish I had before buying anymore every time!! I really don't want to get rid of my gouramis but if I have to I will. Could you please check that I have calculated the volume correctly. Size of tank is 60cms by 30cms, height is 40cms. Oh and yesterday I have noticed I have 2 baby platy's which is great but has now added to the stress!!
Thank you so much for your help. It's reasuring I am now talking to someone who actually knows what there talking about and cares about my lovely fish.   

[maura]

Dede, using those measurements and the conversion table above I get 20 US gallons.  Using 55 litres I get 15 US gallons.

Let's assume that it's a 20 gallon.  To give you an idea of appropriate stocking; in one of my 20s I kept 7 skirt tetras and 6 peppered cories.  That's it, and I consider it very fully stocked.  It works because it's very heavily planted.  In another 20 I kept 8 red eye tetras and 6 julii cories. 

I'm assuming your gouramis are dwarf gouramis?  One in a 20 gallon is okay, 2 is asking for trouble, they're territorial and will squabble.  They're also good size fish.  1 dwarf gourami equals 6 small tetras in terms of bioload on your tank.  Also, the cories are schooling fish and would prefer some buddies.  So, yes, you are overstocked.  Once you get your water quality and fungus problems under control, we can address that.

Your tank probably isn't cycled if you have a nitrite reading.  Please do get the other test results, and get the actual numerical readings.

I'm including a link for you to a great article about cycling and setting up your first tank.  Please read it and post back with any questions.

http://www.badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article34.html

The advice you've been getting may have been well intended, but it's certainly outdated and frankly, wrong.  The usual recommendation on this site is to change 50% of the tank volume weekly, more if you're having illness or water quality problems.  The idea that you shouldn't change too much water when the tank is first set up comes from the false belief that changing water interferes with the cycling process.  It doesn't.  The beneficial bacteria that are the goal of cycling mostly reside in your filter; only small amounts exist in the water.  Changing water doesn't stop or slow the cycle, but it does dilute and export toxins building up in your water that are contributing to the fungus problem.  Since you haven't been on a regular water change schedule, change 10% a day for 5 days, then go to 20 - 25 % every other day, then to 50% weekly.

Also, rereading your original post - could this be ich?  Do your fish look like they have grains of salt stuck to their bodies?

Good luck, and keep posting back with questions.





If you have

[Dede]

Thank you so much for you advice. Going to start on the water changes right away.
Could you just advise on whats best:-
Water from the tap treated with decholrinator.
Water from the tap left for 24/48 hours then treated.
Or boiled water, then treated.

[Dede]

Have just read your connection and found it very helpful.
Oh and definately don't think it's ich. Now have one Tetra with a top fin completely covered in what looks like cotton wall. Also another Harlaquin has a raised lump on it's side with redness and white fluff. Poor things.
Thanks

[maura]

Water from the tap treated with dechlorinator is fine.

Lots and lots of it.

Freshwater fish love fresh water.

Your are welcome!

[Dede]

Hello again,
I am on my forth day of water change and feeling much better.  :happy:Since we last spoke I have returned 1 gouramis to my local fish store and I purchased some more test kits. Readings this morning are as follows:-
Ammonia - 0.1mg/I
Nitrate - between 25mg/I and 50mg/I
Nitrite - between 0.0mg/I and 0.1mg/I
I was wondering, should I add some Tonic Salts to the tank to help my two poorly fish?
As advised before Tetra has white fluff on top fin and Harlequin has raised boil on its side.
Thanks again.

[maura]

Don't bother with the salt, the idea that it's sort of a general tonic for the fish is a myth. 

Based on those tests results, your tank is cycling.  Cleaning the filter in tap water probably did kill off the good bacteria. 

Go ahead and up the amount of water you change each time to 20 - 25%.

Clean water is the best thing you can do for the fish right now. 

[Dom]

Having the bacteria killed off sucks! I know coz i've killed mine aswell LOL.  Only mine was coz the filter didn't run for two days while I was away. 


I took the advice these guys give about the water changes and it really does make for some healthy fish. The guy at the fish shop says I go through water ager like no tomrow!