Treating blue/green algea

Tommy Gun

Tommy Gun

Fish Fanatic
Aug 1, 2006
302
0
0
49
Wisconsin, USA
Hey everyone. A couple of days ago I took a sample of some 'sludge' that I have been having a problem with into a LFS and they told me it was blue/green algea. I have read about this and it makes sense, so I treated it with an antibiotic used for things like dropsy and bloat, among others (fungus and bacteria). Anyways, I asked if it would be ok for me to treat this tank since it has clown loaches in it and was told it was all good and no harm would come of it.

Two days later, my clown loaches seem to have what looks like Ich all over their bodies, however I do not think Ich could have attacked them this quickly and this severly. They also do not seem to be hurting at all or in any distress, other than they 'flash' more alot or otherwise scratch themselves on rocks.

So, I am wondering if #1, this could be Ich (I have seen it before and it was more 'lumpy' than the loaches have right now) or is this an adverse reaction from the meds I put in the tank? Without a picture it is hard to explain or guess what it is I am sure. It looks much more like a white 'velvety' coating on their skin. No other fish in the tank has any signs like this. I did move this tank about a week ago (just bought a house) and had no problems until today really. Any guesses or info for me on this one?

Thanks for any help you can give me and my loach friends!
 
Could be a disease called velvet - try looking up pictures and seeing if it matches. Velvet can look somewhat ich-like and fish do flash with it as it attacks the gills.

What is the product name that you treated the tank with?
 
dont use any meds with copper... it will kill your loaches. just a warning.

i always use salt and raise the temp 2-4* for a week. 1 Tbsp per 5 gallons
 
This definetaly looks like a velvet coat on the loaches, however I do not know the exact brand name of the product that I used. It has worked wonders on the algea though.

I have also already raised the temp in the tank to about 82 to 85 degrees (F) and have added salt. I am leery about the salt though since I have heard such conflicting reports on its positives and negatives. I will see how it goes and let you know.

Any tips on treating this 'velvet' or web sites to find info on it? I search and get mostly sites about velvet, the fabric.
 
search oodinium, that is the name of the parasite that is commonly called velvet. one of the first things you'll find is that velvet does not fit your description at all.

You description sounds more like fingus or bacterial infections, the stress of the meds may have allowed fungus to infect your fish. anti bacterials do not typically fight fungus well and vice versa. Salt won't help either much if at all and won't kill velvet either.

Fungus can usually be cleared up by providing good clean water via water changes and maintenance. there are antifungal meds available as well, but I've hionestly never needed to use them so can't make a reccomendation.

Either way BGA should be removed as much as possible before during and after treatment via vaccuming and water changes, and if you use anti bacterials, you need to test very dilligently for a tleast a week to make sure the bio-filter wasn't killed off or reduced greatly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom