Healthy Angelfish with stuff hanging from his fins - keeps going away and coming back

@Cerianthus: I'm weary of using water that has no conditioner as a result. If after adding Prime 2-3 gallons still affects the Ammonia level in the tank, I'm scared to add unconditioned tap water :(

@Jannika and Star_RiderOkay: I can smell the chlorine after my water runs through my Brita filter - they add that much! I will add 1ml of Prime for the 10 gallons of water replaced tomorrow. And see for results.

I'm starting to think that this could just be a Maracyn resistant infection. Bacteria do become resistant to antibiotics, quite easily. I've personally gotten sick and the first course of antibiotics didn't work and my doc had to switch. It comes when the fish get stressed, but the water conditions revert quickly enough and the fish is in good enough shape it bounces back...
 
If worried, Why dont you top-off more often than ususal thus less volume per top-off.

btw, how are you going to set up Q/T with what kind of filter?
 
UPDATE

In Brief:
I gave it a week to see what happens. Fish are all alive and happy, the angelfish's "mystery disease" came back Tuesday afternoon and was gone by Wednesday AM (Just a little bit left but going). I also found out that part of API Test kit (Ammonia) is not compatible with Seachem Prime. I'm going to set up my QT and hope the shock of moving the Angel wont kill it.

Water Conditions:
pH 7.0 (CO2 ran out Friday and I just got the canister today - it usually drops the pH in the water to 6.8).
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 10 (reduced feeding to once daily because I reduced my operative time for my lights to 4 hours (when CO2 ran out) to prevent algae from taking over. Plants seem okay)
Temp 79 degrees

What I found out:
  1. DC water may suck, but I did a little testing with Prime and DC water which lead to some online research - I found out API Test Kit's ammonia test raises the pH to 12 in the vial which breaks down Seachem Prime and it releases the ammonia that Prime has binded to - Thus providing a false ammonia reading. The test kit can't determine the difference between bound (safe) and unbound (unsafe) ammonia.
  2. Based on Seachem's website I just need to wait 48 hours before using API's ammonia test - by then Prime has evaporated and it will provide accurate test results. I will purchase a Prime compatible test kit (Probably Seachem's) so I can properly determine ammonia levels immediately in the future. You can Google and read all the fun on Seachem's site...

Hypothesis:
I think the "disease" is probably resistant to Maracyn Plus. This is not uncommon considering it's a popular drug used by aquarists (I had used it when the tank was a month old) - The more a drug is used the higher the chance of resistance... I will try Furan-2 in a 10 gallon QT using part of the filter media from the main in an HOB filter and 10 gallons of water from the main tank (taken a day or two after the scheduled water change on Saturday).

I would like to resolve this as I am purchasing a 57 gallon rimless tank to replace my 30 gallon x-high. The move will stress the fish and that can cause a breakout

Questions:
I don't really have any questions, I'm just tired of this...
I don't want the angel to die. I'm afraid if I just let this go on, It will eventually hit when the conditions are right. But part of me is afraid that the angel will have a poor time adjusting to the QT and get worse, maybe even die - currently it is the queen of the tank and acts quite healthy.
 
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The current top off is 1/2 of my 3 gallon bucket which is not a lot half way through the week. I change the water weekly so it becomes a pain to do this any more often...

Q/T will have an HOB filter with the sponge from my main. I will also use 10 gallons of water tranfered from the main a day or two after the water change... The temp will also be 79 degrees. I hope the Angel will find the water conditions almost identical to the water it was in and not be too shocked from the move. 4 days of treatment is what Furan-2 directions dictate, then I move it back.

Cerianthus said:
If worried, Why dont you top-off more often than ususal thus less volume per top-off.

btw, how are you going to set up Q/T with what kind of filter?
Click to expand...
 
1-1/2 G every 2-3 days, That's lot of evaporation. I only see such drop in open tank.

Good Luck with treatment and should leave the fish in q/t after final dosage and may need to repeat the treatment (Hope not).

What are the treatment schedule? Is it daily dosing with pwc b/n dsing??
 
Right on :) It's an open top tank - I like seeing water - In a few weeks (hopefully) I'll have the rimless up and running and it won't have a top either. It's more work, I know, but it looks so much better IMHO, plus I like the sound of water rushing.

Part of the reason I want to get her healthy is the transition from old to new tank will be stressful even if I do everything I can to make it smooth.

Thanks for all your help - the WC happens tomorrow and I'll wait a day or two for things to settle down and I'll drain 10 gallons out and start the Q/T.

Instructions: 1packet/10 gallons (Q/T is 10 gallons), repeat after 24 hours, wait 24 hours change 25% of water. Repeat same schedule for 4 doses total. I may repeat it for a total of 6 doses. I have enough medication for 10 doses.



Cerianthus said:
1-1/2 G every 2-3 days, That's lot of evaporation. I only see such drop in open tank.

Good Luck with treatment and should leave the fish in q/t after final dosage and may need to repeat the treatment (Hope not).

What are the treatment schedule? Is it daily dosing with pwc b/n dsing??
Click to expand...
 
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I also find the sound of water cascading down soothing SOMETIMES, not always. :)

Only hassle is that too much salt build up on my saltwater tank I am running now.

Congrats on new 57G Column tank and Hoping for the best for Koi!
 
So the QT is set up today
  1. I waited 2 full days after the water change to make sure the fish is less stressed from the water change.
  2. I'm also filling up the 10 gallon QT with 2/3 tank water, 1/3 fresh water so the fish doesn't get shocked by the water conditions.
  3. The filter sponge in the QT is from the filter in the main - again to transfer the water conditions not to stress the fish.
  4. I have been using aquarium salt in the main, so I maintained the ratio of salt to water for the QT to replicate the main tank conditions - again to reduce stress on the fish.

Water Conditions:
pH 7.0
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates: ~5
Temp 83 degrees (since we determined that this stuff comes on when the temp drops, and generally fish's immune systems do better in warmer water, I decided to raise it 4 degrees above the main tank temp of 79 degrees).

1 packet of Furan-2 in the water (per directions) and the angel was transfered a few minutes ago. Seems okay.

I wonder if the pecking order will switch around when I reintroduce her back to the main tank in a few days....


Please see Video below (I was trying to catch the bit of fuzzy stuff on his anal fin...)
[video=youtube;VDzSPPNXSWw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDzSPPNXSWw[/video]
Cerianthus said:
If administered treatment, prognosis?
Click to expand...
 
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Looking good ! Glad to see you reasoned as much as you can, taking all the possible implications to your best ability.

Again, we really dont know what it could be, at least I dont for sure, so hoping for positive outcome!

btw, not that you should change the temp as I wouldnt at this point and it seems you took other factors to determine the temp, something only you can adjust according to your observation/judgement, but do consider in the future that increased temp may affect the activity/longevity of antibiotics. Dont know what few degree will do in your case and am not gonna contact classmates/colleagues who are still in the pharmaceutical industry. I am afraid to hear the usual comments from them such as "Enpough is enough, Dr. Wellfish!:)

DOnt know where you got the notion that increased temp will improve their immune system but not always true as increased temp is associated with increase in metabilic rate. Generally, Unnecessary increase beyond their optimal range (not that it did in your case) in metabolic rates will weaken fish as more energy is used to keep up with such increase and more wrinkles will appear faster:joke:
 
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