Should I worry or a fluke?

[courtneem]

My 55gl had 2 clown loaches that started signs of ich, because of previous issues with clown loaches I moved them into a 10gl tank (they are like 2in) and treated them and my 55gl tank. With heat only at this point.

My heat is to 85F having problems getting it up there with two heaters. Trying more today.

I had a glass tetra die yesterday, he had a growth on his side so it wasnt a shocker to me.

However, one of my serpae tetra started to look like crap today. He was skinny, darker, dryer looking skin almost and his tail fin was ratty wtf? I pulled him out and have him in a large bowl for now because he looks so sick.

Is this a fluke or a larger problem then ich? My huge tank crash I had a few months ago some of my fish looked like this as they died. I dont understand!

My ammonia was moving up, never got above a 1 and now it is back to 0, I changed 2 of 4 filter pads and that has been it besides a PWC when I noticed the ammonia. NitrIte is 0, nitrate 20 and ph 7

 

[santoury]

Hey
There's no such thing as a "fluke" when it comes to maintaining good water quality. Either you're keeping on top of things, or you aren't (As a result of you, OR the fish themselves - overstocking/overfeeding, etc) That, plus your recent tank crash undoubtedly are causing a lot of stress on the fish.
I would retrace your steps, and start from the beginning - a good old fashioned water change/gravel cleaning, and take the normal steps from there, and things should improve.

2 heaters having trouble getting it up to 85???? A single heater can heat a 55 gallon quite easily.

My best advice is to, proceed as though you are setting up a new tank, and things should start looking up.

 

[courtneem]

I do 50% PWC once a week and gravel vac (two plecos pooping all the time). I never fall behind or slack off in that. I test my water with liquid test kits. I run two HOBs on my 55gl so I feel I have damn good water. I brought back a very ill vampire pleco in my tank with just having him in a good tank of water. I know it is not my water quality.

I did filter changes the other day and I do not do all at once to prevent a mini cycle. I did 2 of 4 and still had a slight jump in ammonia that with a 50% pwc corrected itself right away, I noticed the ammonia jump right away it never got over 1 and it wasnt there more then a few hours before I caught it and fixed it. Ammonia is gone again. I didn't feed at this time either and let the tank settle back in where it should be.

Hence the good readings again.

Also my tank crash recently (a few months ago) I dont see where the stress comes in from that with my fish? Several of them where not even in the tank at that time. The ones that were in the tank never showed any sign of illness during that tank crash, they never even got a speck of ich where as the ones that died were very sick. I removed my pims to a 10gl well into the tank crash and never treated them and they never showed a sign of illness. They are still healthy happy little pigs.

I also do not believe I am close to overstocking. My fish at this time are small and the 55gl is a grow out. By the end of the summer (if it doesnt crash) I will have a 75gl for the plecos and bullhead.

I have

6" common pleco - with tail
5" vampire pleco - with tail
6" rainbow shark
6" white pim - with out tail
7" spotted pim - with out tail
10 various small tetra
2 apple snails that are not large yet
1" bullhead that was just added he has been in a 10gl
2" (2) Clown Loaches that have been removed to the 10gl

I always have good readings. No ammonia (except recently from filter change) and 0 nitrIte, my nitrAtes I have never seen go over 40 My ph stays at 7-7.2

I think one heater is going out and that is why it is not going up the way it should (the one I have been raising) I am going to try the other.

Sure one heater should do the trick, but in the last year it has taken me two heaters. I had just one that worked fine, furnace went out this past winter and my tank got down to 60F with one heater. I cant risk that again. I didnt lose anyone thank god! My apartment was 40F. A heater cant keep up. I live in SD where it gets below zero and my tank is against a wall, I use two heaters and have one as a back up if it gets to cold. Nothing wrong with that. Better having a backup then to allow a tank to get way to cold.

So yeah, I guess I dont see where I am not keeping on top of things.

 

[Cohazard]

The symptoms of the sick fish sound like either internal parasites or bacterial infections, possibly both.

I would treat with a broad spectrum parasite med such as jungles 'parasite clear', and follow up with a treatment of mardel's 'coppersafe' if the issues persist.

After that, I would treat with Maracyn 2.

You do not want to treat with all of these meds at the same time. I would treat with one at a time, with huuuge water changes in between each type of treatment, 75% min.

Heat and salt don't won't cure everything. I hope something works for you.

 

[courtneem]

coppersafe the copper free type or is it copper?

I cant use copper meds with my snails

 

[Cohazard]

coppersafe the copper free type or is it copper?

I cant use copper meds with my snails

yeah, inverts complicate things. You can't use the jungle labs med either.

 

[courtneem]

I moved the sick serpae to the 10gl tank with the two clown loaches. Got home from work this morning the serpae was dead, clown loaches are spunky as ever and the ich is clearing.

Everyone in the 55gl appears healthy and normal.

*shrug* fish are so complicated at times. Crossing my fingers I nailed it fast enough and no more issues. Only time will tell. I hate to treat if the rest are healthy.

 

[bmxer4ever]

Sure one heater should do the trick, but in the last year it has taken me two heaters. I had just one that worked fine, furnace went out this past winter and my tank got down to 60F with one heater. I cant risk that again. I didnt lose anyone thank god! My apartment was 40F. A heater cant keep up. I live in SD where it gets below zero and my tank is against a wall, I use two heaters and have one as a back up if it gets to cold. Nothing wrong with that. Better having a backup then to allow a tank to get way to cold.

Just read your thread, hope things work out.... On a side note, do you have any insulation between the tank and the wall?
If not, then I would get a sheet of polystyrene, 1" thick if you can, cut to the size of your rear glass and sandwich it between the tank and the wall. You'll be surprised at what a difference that'll make to the temperature retention...