Help me make sense of this

[yelloguy]

I had two platies for more than a year. Then about two weeks back I did a complete water change and lost one fish who jumped out while I was cleaning the tank. So for the lone survivor, I got two more platies and that is where things turned ugly. I _think_ the fish store sold me sick fish. I noticed long stringy "poop" hanging from the new fish almost every day. At least I thought that was poop, but in retrospect, that could have been worms.

Anyway, one of the new fish died in a couple of days and I thought that was because of the shock of relocation. Other two fish were doing great, running around (in retrospect, too aggressive, sometimes) and eating well.

Then yesterday, the remaining new fish was covered in what looked like water bubbles stuck to its whole body. And the old fish was way too lazy (near dead). They both had no interest in eating. I tried to take pictures but they didn't show the disease. I googled for a bit and found out that it could be "Ich" or fungus and I should get some medication. However, this morning, both the fish are dead.

I am not sure what to make of it. Maybe someone with more experience can help me understand the situation. Let me know if you have any questions. As for the water, I had it checked at the store two weeks back and the guy said it was good. I have some ammonia testing strips and they come out good too.

 

[bettabrat]

Um sounds like ich to me. I am fighting with it myself and have lost 2 fish, but the remaining fish seem to be responding well to salt & heat treatment. My outbreak was caused by stress though I think. I am sorry but my advice is quarantine any new fish. You can also toss a pinch of salt in when adding fish to your tank.

 

[ct-death]

Then about two weeks back I did a complete water change...

What is your maintenance (water change/vac/filter) routine? Why a "complete water change" and what does this mean?

The test strips (espcially if old) are simply not accurate. Although in a 2 year-old tank I would not suspect this, but I am curious about the water change you mentioned... Also, the fish store will only say if the water is 'okay', and generally will not tell you what the readings are or even use a liquid test kit.

Lastly, it sounds like you introduced ich into your tank. Are there any other fish in there now? If so how are they doing?

 

[yelloguy]

My wc routine is 25% every other week. Upto 75% every couple of months. Since the tank was more than a year old, I moved the fish into a plastic mug and emptied out the tank. Cleaned the insides and the outsides of the tank. Cleaned the decorations and washed the gravel. Then I put the tank together again and put the remaining one fish inside.

You are correct in that the tank was old and the fish was fine so I was probably doing something right.

Right now, there are no more fish in the tank but I am not sure what I need to do to get rid of the disease before introducing any new fish.

 

[andyjh]

My wc routine is 25% every other week. Upto 75% every couple of months. Since the tank was more than a year old, I moved the fish into a plastic mug and emptied out the tank. Cleaned the insides and the outsides of the tank. Cleaned the decorations and washed the gravel. Then I put the tank together again and put the remaining one fish inside.

You are correct in that the tank was old and the fish was fine so I was probably doing something right.

Right now, there are no more fish in the tank but I am not sure what I need to do to get rid of the disease before introducing any new fish.

Not sure if this is what caused the problem, but your complete emptying of the tank, washing the gravel and cleaning the decorations couldn't have helped. You got rid of the beneficial bacteria. Just because the tank was over a year old is no reason for a teardown. Not sure there's ever a reason for a teardown. Once your tank gets reestablished, I'd just continue with your regular water changes and gravel vacs, and if decorations need cleaning, do them one at a time (over a period of time). All at once is never a good idea. HTH.
Andy

 

[yelloguy]

I agree (for the future). But at the time, I was thinking the bacteria would be everywhere including the filter (which I did not change intentionally) and was proven right since the lone surviving fish was fine for about a week in the newly refreshed tank. Then I introduced the new fish and all hell broke lose.

Also the tank was getting yellow goo stuck to the inside walls. I would clean it with a paper towel but it would come right back in a day or two. That's why I thought a complete tear down was called for.

 

[andyjh]

Agreed that bacteria will reside in the filter, but the gravel bed has to hold plenty also. As for the yellow goo?.... algae of some sort? what was the consistency?
Andy

 

[yelloguy]

I guess it was algae. It was watery and visible only up close.

 

[yelloguy]

So, what do I do about the tank now? Can I do the empty, wash, refill again and get more fish?

 

[ct-death]

Unfortunately, without any fish in there presently (for a how long?), any nitrificating bacterias will already be dieing off w/out any bioloads to support them.

1st, you need a good liquid test kit, and 2nd, I would put some fish flakes in the tank to keep the bacterias fed. Test 2x daily (morning/evening) for ammonia/nitrItes

Lastly, if you had ich the parasites can easily live in dormacy in the substrate and other areas of the tank for ~10 days-2 weeks IME. Any reintroduction of fish before this risks a posisble infection.

It sounds like by breaking down your tank you caused an inbalace in your tank's cycle and the bacterias could not keep up with the bioload of the fish you did have. Remember, in older tanks the vast majority of the bacterias are in the substrate, tanks surfaces and decorations. ...and any spike in the ammonia/nitrIte levels would have been 5-7 days and again the fish typically can survive for another 2-3 days, which sounds like what happened.