Treating tank after death?

[jason longboard]

Have you tested your water?

Yes

If yes, what is your ammonia?

Unrelated

If yes, what is your nitrite?

Unrelated

If yes, what is your nitrate?

Unrelated

If I did not test my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.

Do you do water changes?

Yes

What percentage of water do you change?

41-50%

How frequently do you change your water?

Every week

If I do not change my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.

My betta unfortunately died of dropsy.
He was in a 6 gallon cube with driftwood, Christmas tree moss, a mini heater and sponge filter.
Some assassin snails, and 3 little tetras.

all have been great for two years, then betta got sick.

I’m a long time keeper of larger aquariums but with this little cube, do I need to tear it down bare and clean before I get another betta?

I had been treating the tank with imagitarium bacterial infection remedy.

Would just a basic cleaning be fine or do I need to start over?

other fish are fine

not looking for dropsy info.

thanks

 

[twentyleagues]

Unfortunately you are not really able to ask this question without getting or needing dropsy info in the answer.
Dropsy is caused by unusually high levels of gram negative bacteria, stress, water quality.
Herbal "remedies" such as the one you used and the others melafix and such don't really work. You need an antibiotic that will treat gram negative bacteria. If you are going to o use something.
The bacteria that causes dropsy is active in all aquariums. How much of the bacteria and the overall wellness of the fish is the answer. Keeping stress low, keep nitrate down, and keeping the water overall clean will help protect your animals from getting sick.
If you add another Betta to the tank without treatment will it get dropsy? Not necessarily. But getting a new fish is stressful to the fish and any current inhabitants so it may.
None of that may apply to you specifically. Your betta may have had a compromised immune system do to something else completely, age, some other issue, we don't know your specifics.
If it were me I'd treat the aquarium and keep an eye on parameters. After I was sure the water quality was good and the medication had done its job I'd look for a new betta.

 

[jason longboard]

Yeah it was late when I typed that, super tired sorry.

you researched that stuff quite a bit, I was mostly wondering if just my weekly cleanings and such and the natural med I used was enough for now, but I see what your saying about the med.

It’s such a small tank, I was cleaning it once a week. The betta has been gone for about a month now.

it was such a great environment for him, and I kept it up regularly………

so anyways…………….you think I need to dose the tank with a real med? Is that what you meant?

or do you think after a month with regular cleanings it may be fine?

how do I know if that bacteria isn’t just bored through all my awesome drift wood?

mybe dose the tank I guess

edit, oh sorry I reread your last part.

what would you dose it with, without hurting the snails and plants?

 

[twentyleagues]

Yeah it was late when I typed that, super tired sorry.

you researched that stuff quite a bit, I was mostly wondering if just my weekly cleanings and such and the natural med I used was enough for now, but I see what your saying about the med.

It’s such a small tank, I was cleaning it once a week. The betta has been gone for about a month now.

it was such a great environment for him, and I kept it up regularly………

so anyways…………….you think I need to dose the tank with a real med? Is that what you meant?

or do you think after a month with regular cleanings it may be fine?

how do I know if that bacteria isn’t just bored through all my awesome drift wood?

mybe dose the tank I guess

edit, oh sorry I reread your last part.

what would you dose it with, without hurting the snails and plants?

Check your parameters, keep up on water changes and the bacteria count should go down. I'm not saying your tank is dirty but that is usually why the bacteria gets out of hand and starts affecting fish. Like I said above though the fish may have been in a compromised immunity situation for a number of reasons. Any antibiotic that will treat gram negative bacteria will work. I used maracyn2. That will effect your other bacterias and probably snails as well.

I've been keeping fish my entire life so yeah I've researched and dealt with a lot of situations. I'm still learning though. I'm definitely not a pro.....lol