Introduction and help request possible SAPROLEGNIA (Fungus)

@Rbishop
Thanks for helping :)

Tank was set up mid March
subtrate is small white gravel
I have 2 airstines running in tank
filter is biowheel 350 with established bacteria on wheel from previous set up
Ammonia is between 0 to .25
Nitrates are 10
last nitrite test was "normal" and color in tube was a light powder blue color if that helps
PH is 7.6 or higher ( test only goes that high... I think I have to go get high PH test??)
Im sorry but I dont know what GH and KH are...
I will test tap water tomorrow after it sits overnight and post.

With WC use API Stress Coat Plus and also I add Aquarium salt when replacing water.
maintenance schedule has been 10% WC weekly.
Because of overcrowding and/or over feeding the Nitrates were high a few weeks ago so I did a couple of 50% WC 4 days apart
and also after using Quick Cure for entire tank with filters out for three days I did about 35% 5 days ago

I dont have a QT yet so I set up a clean 5 gal bucket with water movement and air stone for three fish that seem to have been stressed or not completly healthy even after the Quick cure tank treatment last weekend. I added some quick cure last night and will again tonight to the temp QT bucket. Any thoughts... is that ok?? also I have one more fish kinda hanging out at the bottom alot but she still eats and swims normally when she does move around. Dont know if I need to do anything for her or not.

I have to admit I think I was overfeeding... however I got the corys as my ground crew and they are doing a great job and also I think I have stopped over feeding. Water was cloudy before but has been getting better and better every day. Not sure if It was because of the feeding, the tank cycling, over crowding or prob all of the above.
 
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The solution to pollution is dilution. Make those weekly changes 50% and enjoy the results.
 
@SubRosa
I just got my python water changer delivered today, woohoo :) so the water changing issue will be no more. I hurt my back and cant carry the buckets right now so I was kind of stuck and unfortunately some fish paid the price. I have felt really bad that I couldnt do anything more with the water issue but I did get extra WC done with help as soon as I noticed something was wrong and I had the water tested.

I just dont understand how the fish survived with the previous owners keeping them so crowded. I have lost some and have been re-homing soo many fish and still have too many.

Is it ok to always do 50% WC every week, or should I only do it until this problem passes?

Should I do smaller water changes everyday until this passes??

Thanks for the polution rhyme... simple but true.
 
Keep them at 50% until you are consistently getting zero for ammonia and nitrites, even if that means 2 changes a day. I do 50% (or greater) on all my tanks at least once a week. Your stocking and feeding will determine how big and frequent your water changes need to be. Let your nitrate levels determine how large a weekly change needs to be once things have settled out.
 
OK, thanks to everyone for your advice. I will do lots of water changes and see how things turn out.

One question I have is if im cleaning the gravel alot with my water changes will I be removing the good bacteria I have? Or is that irrelevant with the way things have been going soo far...lol. Just wondering so I dont make things any worse.

Thanks again for your helpful advices!
 
Cleaning your gravel with the python will not disrupt your bacteria colony. It will just help you have a healthier tank. I whole heatedly agree with large water changes. In fact, if any of my fish seem "off", I start doing frequent water changes. You would be surprised how much better everybody will feel!

I use straight up white vinegar to clean my tanks. Clean it good, rinse it good a few times, then let it dry....good to go.
 
Since getting my python water changer I have been doing large water changes and will continue daily water changes... I love that water changer. I must have been crazy to think I could get away with having an aquarium and not getting a Python again. I think its less stressful on the fish as well :) I got mine online for $40+shipping (came w/copper faucet adapter). I highly recommend a python to anyone struggling with back problems and/or tank water quality issues. Now water changes are a breeze :) (and no more waiting for my boyfriend to help).

I noticed that after using the python i couldn't get some of the water drops out of the tubing. I will always try to dry it in the sun but sometimes there is no sun here and i checked to see if the tube is drying and it is not. Does anyone have any tricks to get the python tubing to dry quickly so that bacteria doesn't grow in the tubing?? Also, is there a cleaning routine that anyone uses to keep the Python tubing clean and safe? It is clean and new and I would like to keep it that way so any ideas would be very helpful.

@stephcps
Thanks, I will go get some white vinegar and get my 20gal back up and running... I feel alot more comfortable using the vinegar than using bleech.

Thanks to everyone for reading and your advices :)
 
I just wind mine up and stick it uner the cabinet. LOL If you have city water, the chlorine keeps it from getting all gunky.
 
If you can't get it to dry by hanging and draining, I fill mine with a bleach/hot water solution, let it soak and then flush free.
 
It sounds like the conditions weren't good and the fish became susceptible to disease. I think you are on the right track now and glad you got the python thing. I've got to check those out; I haul a lot of buckets of water!

I was hoping you had alkaline water since all but the corys and pleco like hard and alkaline water. Your local water company's website can probably give you an approximation of the hardness of the water. Mollies are more sensitive than the others I think.

Good luck and welcome back to the hobby!
 
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