NTD got to my tank. What to do?

[x2p]

I am still "new" to the fish world, only starting off a few months ago.:hang:

The newest of my tanks is an 8 gallon 1 ft x 1ft x 1.3 ft (L x W x H) tank.

A few weeks ago I started the tank. I used filter media from an established tank as well as bacteria booster (I use it on all my tanks and has yet to fail me). I stocked it with about 40 stems (plants) and 5 rummy nose tetras and 3 corydoras.

I know its a bit high of a stocking but far lower than recommended here in Japan. Due to limited space etc people follow 1 fish per 1 L (0.25 Gal), I try and keep around the 1 inch per gallon.

Within days my rummies showed signs of NTD (neon tetra disease) and I was forced to euthanize. The cories have been doing fine but the tank has "un-cycled" and one passed away.

Today I ripped out a ton of the plants as they had brown algae suffacating the plants and leaves were dropping everywhere.

I only have two cories in there but they cannot contract NTD from various sources that I read online.

Do I have to sterilize the tank to fully get rid of NTD so I can add guppies?

I believe the spores can live without a host so is there any way to keep the tank going and get rid of the possibility of NTD being passed on?

:help2::help:

Thanks!

[Cerianthus]

No, I would not sterilze any tank as most would probably know that tank can/will be bioactive as soon as one fish are added. Even without fish, tank water will be bioactive with time.

I would be more concerned with water condition as of now to ensure safety of remaining corys. Test and perform tasks according to the results.

Because those booster work for you before, it does not necessarily mean it will work all the time. I personally dont believe in bottle and shelved products. Only bacteria I believe in is live ones shipped overnight in 2 sequences. Even then, temp and duration of shipping may have some role in its effectiveness.

It couldve been the problem from lfs but again you can always go back and check with your lfs to see how the rest Rummys did.

If lfs did not shared the same loss/symptoms, I would guess that it couldve been your deteriorating water which contributed to this losses.

Like I said, testing shoulve been done from the beginning when cycling with fish which would/could have told you what have gone wrong.

Hope remaing fish are ok and tank establishes soon.

[x2p]

Thanks for the response Ceriantus!

I have been doing water changes to keep the water quality up and the other two cories seem to be doing ok.

The problem did originate at the LFS as when I returned I noticed a the few rummies left in the batch were suffering from NTD.

[x2p]

Well I tested the water and the tank should be cycled.

Unfortunately, one of the two remaining corys is unable to swim now and I expect it may not make it though the night.

It may be best for me to return the other cory to the LFS where I bought it.

How is the best way to go about sterilizing the tank after the NTD outbreak and possibly other diseases? This includes the light which is not 100% water proof.

I want to be sure that it is 100% safe for any future fish or other creatures.

Best regards

[Cerianthus]

Do you have UV sterilizer?

[x2p]

unfortunately no, at this point I am willing to tear down the tank if must be.

[Cerianthus]

If tank is cycled or cycling, I would not tear down the tank. As I stated previously, no tank is pathogen free. If tank is not bioactive, it can not support life.
SO if tank is allowed to establish beneficial bacteria, you may also have pathogenic bacteria. It is matter of controlling them by keeping the fish healthy with proper diet and providing ideal water condition for fish being kept..

Is it possible to post the reading of tests?
You should do the test at least every two to three days to compare the results in order to determine wether tank is cycled or not..

It is not good idea to take the fish back to lfs unless they have room to house/isolate corys. Before you do inform them of the situation thus they take precaution as not to spread whatever it maybe, if any, to other livestocks.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.