Sick Convict Help Fast!!!

[mostlycichlids]

As you may already know Ive had 2 firemouths die in the last month and now one of my convicts is sick. This is an established tank ph is 7.4 temp is 77 and weekly 50% water changes are done.

Now the fish is breathing fast with gill movements of 70 plus times a minute and no appitite. It has white stringy poop this is day two of this behavior. I was hoping to get a diognositc of what it could be. I dont want to put any unnecessary meds or chemicals in and risk destroying my good bacteria.

I posted this thread on AC a couple days ago and she seemed ok then.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91374

What actions should I take My qt tank broke before the summer so I dont have one should I remove it and treat it whatshould I do I need help fast so please let me know what you think. Oh I put a flash light on her while the room and tank was dark and did not notice anything else wrong. I plan to do a scheduled water change today and a complete teardown and clean everything.

 

[mostlycichlids]

heres the rest of the scoop....I added a firemouth a month ago that died it turned dark and was breathing hard stopped eating and was swimming into things. I did a complete clean after it died then two weeks later the same thing happened to my adult firemouth, I did another 75% water change and a full clean now two week again my convict is sick. I am very concerned with the breathing is that a symptom of parasites?

 

[skinless]

not certain about the rapid breathing but no appetite and white stringy feces is likely an internal parasite.

i had a cichlid go without food for over two weeks while i tried to figure out best treatment and initial cause with similar symptoms. metronidazole seems the unanimous choice for treatment, with a multitude of 'deliveries' lol.

i sucked out and got the fish to eat 'geltek' the day before i was to start treating the entire tank. hope you sort it out, get more help.

 

[mostlycichlids]

not certain about the rapid breathing but no appetite and white stringy feces is likely an internal parasite.

i had a cichlid go without food for over two weeks while i tried to figure out best treatment and initial cause with similar symptoms. metronidazole seems the unanimous choice for treatment, with a multitude of 'deliveries' lol.

i sucked out and got the fish to eat 'geltek' the day before i was to start treating the entire tank. hope you sort it out, get more help.

can I pick any of the meds you mentioned up at Petsmart?