HELP !! Disaster while Out of Town - Parasites maybe ??

[kidslikefish]

Left for some R&R on December 27th and returned yesterday to a disaster. Something struck my 20gal planted tank and took out almost everything in it. Tank had a trio of Ameca Splenda, a trio of Red Wag Platties, two O-Cats, about 4-5 mature Endlers, two Amano Shrimp, one RCS (hitched a ride on some plants on original set-up and has survived), and maybe a dozen or so Endler fry and 4-5 plattie fry.    Amano and RCS are still doing fine, but of the others, only 1 Ameca female and the Trio of Red Wags are alive (and they aren't doing well).  Don't think it's ich, but they are covered in a white fuzzy looking "something".  I've had ich in a tank before and don't remember it looking like this.

Nothing new introduced into the tank in about a month.  Left an automatic feeder running while I was gone, it runs even when I'm home.  

Tried to take some pics last night, but couldn't get close enough with the camera I have for anything to show up.  If I can make it to the HLA mini-auction on Saturday I'll bring any survivors (if there are still any) to see if anyone can help out with a diagnosis.

But, bigger question, is anything living in a tank after something like this salvageable ?   I can clean the tank and start over with new substrate, but I have a really nice Anubius growing into driftwood (and a 2nd one started) that I'd like to keep.  Can I rinse and/or dip them into something and use them ??  Or will it all depend on finding out what caused the fish die-off to begin with ?

[fishlady]

Re: HELP !! Disaster while Out of Town

what are the water parimeters in the tank?...

[CichlidFan]

Re: HELP !! Disaster while Out of Town

I'd take a drastic step here, and do a 50% water change, raise the temp to the mid eighties, and add some melafix or similar tonic. Maybe add two tablespoons of salt as well.

Sorry to hear about your losses.

CF

[dblondfemme]

Re: HELP !! Disaster while Out of Town

was the tempertature controlled in the environment?
Mike had some fungus growing prior to his installation of heaters and temp/humidity controllers.  He said it was because of the major changes in temp.  While you were gone there were many days that flucutated severely.  He did tank cleanings, major water changes, installed lines so he could run thermometers in the tanks, and some tanks were "pimafixed".  I would agree with major water change... I would even consider Binox...it kills/cures just about everything.  You have a yellow tank for a few months, but saves lives.  
I  had a recent avoided disaster.  I came home from Maryland and the well pump was out.  Gladly a neighbor lent us the use of his well (sharing).  My fish tanks looked horrible.  I hooked up the hose, cleaned tanks and then filled them back up.  I lost a few in a grow out tank..but attributed it to major growth in a few of the tank members.  THEN... I decided to put my 55 on a stand I was given.  In order to do that, I drained the tank (cleaning as I went) and put the tank on bricks a foot in front of where it would be placed on the stand.  THis tank contained : 8 of one variety of seatocranus and 3 of another, 2 balas, 2 red devil babies, 4 pink convict babies, 1 snail, 1 5" pleco, and 1 9/10" pleco.  As I refilled, I noticed a difference in the behavior.  The temperature was the same, I wasn't spraying them directly...I failed to test the water first.   I had already put stress coat in the tank.  They began floating just as the water reached the top.  Decorations in place, all rocks arranged..... and all fish dying
I spent 20 minutes transferring all of the inhhabitants into the baby net and into another tank....
I binoxed the tank and have put them back in and they are all doing very well.  BInox works wonders but I am not sure how it affects inverts....

[Zulaab]

Re: HELP !! Disaster while Out of Town

I am with CichlidFan here...  50% water change NOW...  I would add a double dose of Binox (as its a major bacterial and Parasite killer) and after 3 days do a 20% change, add Melafix, and then every other day replace 20% water and add the same amount of melafix back into the water.  Melafix I find is good for Bacterial problems but if you are not sure if its baterical (most likely) or a parasite I would use Binox.
In about 2 weeks from now after or after the about 5th 20% water change, do two weekly 50% water changes with Carbon added back into the filtration to remove the Melafix / Binox in the tank.

[kidslikefish]

Re: HELP !! Disaster while Out of Town

Fishlady, too late last night when we got home to check water parameters.  Will do that when I get home today, but I'm sure the nitrites/nitrates are messed up now with all the dead fish in the water.  

My main concern right now making the sure the plants don't carry any of the disease over to the tank when I redo it.  I've never liked the look of the Flourite since I set the tank up, so this will give me the chance to switch over to Aquasoil.   I'll follow suggestions above to see if I can cure the few fish that survived to this point, but the way they look, I'm thinking it'll take a small miracle at this point.

[dblondfemme]

Re: HELP !! Disaster while Out of Town

I really think if you put binox into the water (4.99 at mike's) after doing a massive water change, those fish will perk up...Mike...some help please?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: HELP !! Disaster while Out of Town

Can you post pictures of the fish?

Could be fungus or could be the slime coat peeling away...

[MikeWhoTruong]

Re: HELP !! Disaster while Out of Town

You guys pretty much got it. You guys said everything I would do. 50% water change, binox, 3 days later 20% + melefix, 2 days later 20% + melafix. Man.. how do you guys know me so well.....GLuck

[Brownsnoutuk]

Re: HELP !! Disaster while Out of Town

First id do an ammonia/nitrite test.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: HELP !! Disaster while Out of Town

I agree water parameters need to be tested first.

[kidslikefish]

Re: HELP !! Disaster while Out of Town

PH is 7.8
Nitrite, Nitrate and Ammonia all 0 ppm
Filter is running fine, temp is constant 78

Forgot to mention I did a 30% water change two days before I left, so water was clean when I left town.

2 of 3 platties and the Ameca have died.  One plattie left and that's just a matter of time from what I see.  I can't get to Mike's until tomorrow to get Binox (tried Petco and Petsmart by the house after work but they didn't have it).

[eklikewhoa]

Re: HELP !! Disaster while Out of Town

Sounds like a cycle is what is happening....there should be some sort of reading of Nitrates to show there is a Nitrogen cycle.

[AK-71]

Re: HELP !! Disaster while Out of Town

With planted tank it could read 0 (below kit's precision) on Nitrates.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: HELP !! Disaster while Out of Town

With planted tank it could read 0 (below kit's precision) on Nitrates.

From the thread it sounds like there is just anubias in there......even in my tanks...blasting with light, high co2 and ferts dosed regularly I don't get 0 nitrates with just anubias.