Disease epidemic, advice needed

[Blinky]

Hey Harlock
I just euthanized the angel, and from the looks of some of the others it's their time too. I'm trying to gear myself up for more, this is really hard. I haven't tried the MelaFix & salt yet (wanted to remove the angel first). I guess I'm going to remove the plants after all, to give the tank a good vaccum. I'll put the plants in the Rubbermaid container and once they're out I'll be able to take a good look at all the fish and see if any of them look well enough to save.
Several of the fish did pick at the Metro-soaked food, but no one's really eating any more. My understanding is that once a fish has stopped eating there's not much that can be done. I've never had an entire tank come down with something, and whatever it is is fast and nasty - I think I'm fighting a losing battle here.

 

[Rushdude]

If all of your fish are sick and have the same symptoms, it sounds like to me that it is a poisoning of some kind. If I were you I would remove the fish and do a 100% water change and change all the filter media. Than put the fish back in the tank and pray. If the tank has to recycle i would than keep an eye on the water parameters and do daily water changes to keep them down. Sorry about your loss.

 

[pl*co]

Blinky, Maracyn-Two treats fish that will not eat and is a broad spectrum gram-negative bacterial treatment.

 

[Blinky]

Hopeful

I'm reluctant to say things are looking up, but...
I had planned to remove the plants, vaccum thoroughly, and put down any fish that seemed beyond recovery. I started by cleaning the filter, but I had to put things on hold when we had a guest drop by this afternoon. By the time I got back to the tank, some of the fish had perked up, and the Metro-soaked pellet at the bottom (put in the tank earlier) had been consumed (!). The Epsom salts seem to have kicked in, most of the fish are pooping up a storm. I tried feeding them a little freeze-dried brine shrimp tonight, and some of them ate a little, so I'm hopeful that at least some of the fish will recover.
I know the angel was definitely beyond saving, and I think I'll probably lose the corys (they're greyish now and still not eating) and the bristlenose (hiding, not interested in eating his favourite algae wafers), but the neons, cardinals, sword and platys all had some dinner and have started swimming around rather than lying on the plants or staying at the surface.
I'll do a thorough vaccum and large water change tomorrow, but tonight I'm just leaving them alone and going to bed with my fingers crossed.
I'm very thankful for the AC community right now. I want to thank everyone for their advice, but more importantly for the moral support. I never in my life thought I would be so attached to a fish, but my angel was incredibly special to me. Knowing you guys care made things easier today.

 

[Swimfins]

Was wondering how it was going while I was at work this evening. I came home and checked all my tank people. We work so hard to keep things going... Its an incredible blow to have something like this happen, I can imagine. I wouldn't dare tell my non-fish friends how I feel when things don't go right... Lucky for this forum, yes. TC now Blinky.

 

[Aqualung]

Sorry to hear of your loss Blinky, I hope things turn around for you. You mentioned the gravel vacs, but I didn't see where you mentioned how much water you've been changing. Although I can't think of a cause of your problems, increasing water changes can do nothing but good. IMO more frequent water changes are better than medicating in many cases.

 

[pl*co]

Hang in there Blinky and be sure to keep us posted. Looking forward to an update. Sounds like things are moving in the right direction. Hopefully you have bought yourself some time to take things a little slower over the period of the day and keep the stress level down.. for you and your fish. My condolences on the loss of your Angel fish.

 

[Blinky]

You mentioned the gravel vacs, but I didn't see where you mentioned how much water you've been changing. Although I can't think of a cause of your problems, increasing water changes can do nothing but good. IMO more frequent water changes are better than medicating in many cases.

I completely agree, I'm a huge fan of water changes
I change 50% of the water at least once a week when I prune the plants (usually it ends up being every five days or so). If fish show any sign of illness, I step up water changes to every 48h or so to keep the tank as clean as possible.

UPDATE:
This morning while some of the fish still look off-colour, a small group of them is begging for breakfast... staple flakes soaked in Metronidazole, coming right up guys!

My husband asked me yesterday why I got an angelfish in the first place - they're interactive and so smart, for us losing a cichlid is like losing a dog or cat. After we fought a long battle with disease and lost our oscar, I vowed never again to own a 'pet' fish, which is why ever since we have had a zillion little platys and tetras. This fish came into our lives by chance - he was a runt, the last of a tankfull, and had been thrown into the platy tank. We couldn't leave him behind - he was the size of a dime and just about the cutest thing I'd ever seen. I don't think I regret the decision to bring him home, but it sure was hard losing him.

 

[Harlock]

Blinky, I am so glad things are perking up a bit. Also glad to ehar the Epsom Salts kicked in and that some of the fish are eating the metronidazole and swimming around. Keep us posted, please and hang in there.