Yet another outbreak

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
SCM_2123 said:
If I knew what it was wouldn't be asking questions on this site. Columnaris seems like a possibility culprit. Does it make sense to see no symptoms for a week and then show up again?
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Like Duane and I have expressed, sounds like columnaris if their mouths are stuck open and it came on suddenly. However, we can only make an educated guess based on your pics and explanation. You’ll have to read up on columnaris and see if it matches.

If so, do tons of water changes to get the bacterial load down, drop temps to slow proliferation of bacteria, add some salt and see if that helps. If not, you may need to source Seachem Kanaplex and nitrofurazone and treat with both concurrently
 
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phreeflow said:
Like Duane and I have expressed, sounds like columnaris if their mouths are stuck open and it came on suddenly. However, we can only make an educated guess based on your pics and explanation. You’ll have to read up on columnaris and see if it matches.

If so, do tons of water changes to get the bacterial load down, drop temps to slow proliferation of bacteria, add some salt and see if that helps. If not, you may need to source Seachem Kanaplex and nitrofurazone and treat with both concurrently
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I have just administered a dose of Kanaplex. I will go to the store tomorrow to see if they have nitrofurazone. Otherwise I will need to order some.
duanes said:
I know to some this may seem pedestrian, but
To get a fix on your situation. Some questions need to be answered.
How long has your tank been set up?
How was it cycled?
Do you understand the concept of a cycle, as a build up of a large population of beneficial bacteria that convert ammonia and nitrites to less toxic nitrate?
If so, Was it .....
Was it using a Fiishless cycle by adding pure ammonia to feed ammonia consumers?
Or fish in?
How long did the tank sit with the filter running before you added fish?
Did you detoxify chlorine/chloramine before adding fish, if on a municipal water system, or are you on a well?

Are there any live plants on the tank?
How many gallons is the tank?
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I have had this tank over a year. I bought it in May of 2024. I used QuickStart when I first set it up and didn't add fish for about a week. I did not add any sort of ammonia. Everything was fine until April of this year when I had an outbreak of what I thought may have been ich (but now I'm not so sure). I treated the tank after every fish died within about 72 hours. I did not add any more fish for about a month. I added some red eye tetras and lost all but one. I tested the waters at the pet store about a week or so later and then began adding fish again. Everything was fine until there was a bacterial bloom in about mid June. The first part of July I started seeing symptoms similar to what was pictured in that I had fish have their mouths rot as well as one that lost its tail. I did a round of Kanaplex and everyone seemed okay for about a week and then symptoms showed up again. I have not added any new fish for a few weeks. The tank is a 55 gallon and I currently have two live plants; a bamboo and a small anubias.
phreeflow said:
The ingredients in Super Ick Cure is benzaldehyde green, a form of malachite green. Brand names Hikari Ich X and RidIch Plus have a gentler formulation.

Seachem Kanaplex is the antibiotic kanamycin.

API Furan 2 is nitrofurazone.

Seachem Metroplex is metrondazinole.
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Is there something else besides API Furan 2 you recommend? It has been discontinued in the USA.
 
SCM_2123 said:
Is there something else besides API Furan 2 you recommend? It has been discontinued in the USA.
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Kanaplex alone isn’t strong enough. Get your fish meds from this guy

www.americanaquariumproducts.com

AAP Yellow Powder- Premium Nitrofurazone

American Aquarium of Oregon. Experience and researched Information about aquariums and ponds. Premium technology aquarium and pond products. Founded in 1978 from aquarium keeping guru Carl Strohmeyer. Legacy carried on by Devon Trigg.
www.americanaquariumproducts.com
 
phreeflow said:
Kanaplex alone isn’t strong enough. Get your fish meds from this guy

www.americanaquariumproducts.com

AAP Yellow Powder- Premium Nitrofurazone

American Aquarium of Oregon. Experience and researched Information about aquariums and ponds. Premium technology aquarium and pond products. Founded in 1978 from aquarium keeping guru Carl Strohmeyer. Legacy carried on by Devon Trigg.
www.americanaquariumproducts.com
Click to expand...
Thanks, I'll place an order. Is it okay to use concurrently with Kanaplex?
 
SCM_2123 said:
Thanks, I'll place an order. Is it okay to use concurrently with Kanaplex?
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Yes but follow his schedule. Here’s the instructions from his website:

“ USE: Add 1 packet to each 125 NET Gallons. Very concentrated and strong, so often one treatment is needed. Can be safely doubled, especially with coldwater fish.

Treat again in 3 days if needed (after 20%+ water change)

If combined with AAP Kanamycin, still treat only once while treating with Kanamycin every other day and re-treat with AAP Yellow Powder after 3 days if needed.

Can be combined with the superior AAP Yellow Powder (premium nitrofurazone) (or the lower quality Furan 2) & Metronidazole for parasitic, fungal, & bacterial infections.

IN FACT, for Columnaris or difficult cases of Aeromonas, this combinations is often a MUST as combined these two medications form a symbiotic bond that is not completely understood, but what is known is used alone, these two are often ineffective for Columnaris.”
 
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phreeflow said:
Yes but follow his schedule. Here’s the instructions from his website:

“ USE: Add 1 packet to each 125 NET Gallons. Very concentrated and strong, so often one treatment is needed. Can be safely doubled, especially with coldwater fish.

Treat again in 3 days if needed (after 20%+ water change)

If combined with AAP Kanamycin, still treat only once while treating with Kanamycin every other day and re-treat with AAP Yellow Powder after 3 days if needed.

Can be combined with the superior AAP Yellow Powder (premium nitrofurazone) (or the lower quality Furan 2) & Metronidazole for parasitic, fungal, & bacterial infections.

IN FACT, for Columnaris or difficult cases of Aeromonas, this combinations is often a MUST as combined these two medications form a symbiotic bond that is not completely understood, but what is known is used alone, these two are often ineffective for Columnaris.”
Click to expand...
I'll report back after the treatment. Should I also disinfect the pump I use for water changes, the net, and algae brush? If so how?
 
SCM_2123 said:
I'll report back after the treatment. Should I also disinfect the pump I use for water changes, the net, and algae brush? If so how?
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You can throw those in a bucket with some water and potassium permanganate or bleach or hydrogen peroxide….one or another but none at once
 
Knowing your experience level is important,

This disease looks nothing like Ich,or epistilis, both look similar
below is a bad case of Ich.

One of the reasons I was so paranoid about Columnaris, is at the time, I had 20 tanks, and hundreds of fish on the line,
and I didn't wat it to infect any others.
If I had just one tank, I "might" have tried to cure it.....but
even today....
because Columnaris is so insidious, I would not hesitate to bleach it, all and start over
 
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