1+ Cycles Of Same Disease. Keeps Coming Back

[emilythestrange]

Seems I only make posts about problems. -sigh- but I just can't get rid of the problems im having.
Ive re done my api liquid tests and alls well on the ammonia front and nitrite, nitrate is 40ppm.

But for around 12-18 months, from when my first post was on whitespot, i have always had troubles with even the most hardy of fish... platies. the tank seems to go through cycles of bad weeks, where i am losing fish from them going lethargic, colourless in some cases, and flicking dashing and rubbing on things.
Ive tried gill flukes treatment, whitespot treatment by waterlife.
Ive tried interpet whitespot
and many more..

and im currently trying king british ws3, as i have shrimps and a corydora in the tank. ( as i have seen spots before in the tank months ago.)


Im totally fed up and questioning whether to bother with getting another tank, as if i cant sort this out, then what chance do i stand?

 

[ShinySideUp]

What temperature do you keep your water at? Do you use carbon to get rid of used medications after they have done their job? Are your water changes, lights on/off, temperature all regular. When you change water do you match temperatures? Basically, could you be stressing your fish in some way and so make them susceptible to disease?

 

[emilythestrange]

the tank in question...

Its 26F and i do always match the temp of the water going in, (just did a w/c)

 

[emilythestrange]

bump. added the 3rd dose of king british ws3 last night

 

[emilythestrange]

could anyone help me to diagnose this disease?

 

[ShinySideUp]

could anyone help me to diagnose this disease?

Although you have treated for white spot you haven't actually said that you have seen white spots on your fish, have you? Whitespot is quite distinctive, you are looking for sugar-grain sized white bits, they could be anywhere on your fishes body.

Edit: Just reread the post and you do mention white spots but that was months ago.

Apart from lethargic fish and colour changes can you say that there actually is disease in the tank or just too many chemical treatments. Don't take anything personally, I'm just trying to pin down the problem.

 

[emilythestrange]

dont worry i wont! the only treatment is ws3. i gave up on meds a while ago, because this has gone on for a year. i struggle keeping guppies... so im staying with platies, always buy the hardiest. but usually within weeks they deteriorate.

Im so confused with it all because i have a cory that has been in the tank pretty much since set up. so I can't be killing everything as soon as it hits the water?!?

theres now 2 male platies out of the 6 that look abit ill, clamped fins flicking, skittish. they still eat though.
I dont think i have had any of the platies for 6 months.

I squeeze the filter out in tank water, i match temps, i gravel vac and waterchange. I have 2 live plants.

I just cant get my head around why this cycle of ill fish wont go away, when platies are beginner fish, and ive been fishkeeping for 3+ years.

 

[Baccus]

I am guessing that the reason the guppys and platties go down hill is that they have been kept and bred in hard water and by the sounds of it (since you say the cory is fine) you may have soft water (or at least a lot softer than the guppies and platties where used to), maybe try getting your dH tested and compare it to at leaast the shops water where you are getting the fish from. My local pet shop always advises people to add salts to the tank for guppies/ platties/ mollies and goldfish, but I breed alll my fish in our straight twon water so when I sell fish to my local pet shop I make sure the guppies go into a "soft water" tank and not with the other guppies that have got used to the salts.

 

[ShinySideUp]

You seem to have done everything correctly and personally I'm at a bit of a loss. I hope someone else can help.

The only other thing I can think of is is there something mechanical; are there any vibrations from your filter motor as I notice you have an internal filter? Is the tank near the TV? Could someone else inadvertently be doing something untoward to your tank?

 

[emilythestrange]

My water qualoity report form severn trent water is as follows:
Hardness Level Hard No Standard Applies
Hardness Clark 15.00 No Standard Applies Degrees Clark
Hardness French 22.00 No Standard Applies French Degrees
Hardness German 12.00 No Standard Applies German Degrees
Aluminium 5.63 200 μgAl/l
Chloride 250 mgCl/l
Chlorine 0.14 No Standard Applies mg/l
Coliform bacteria 0.00 0 no./100ml
Colour 0.44 20 mg/l Pt/Co
Conductivity 490.58 2500 μS/cm at 20°C
E.coli bacteria 0.00 0 no./100ml
Fluoride 0.03 1.5 mgF/l
Iron 10.00 200 μgFe/l
Manganese 1.80 50 μgMn/l
Nitrate 31.65 50 mgNO3/l
Odour 0.00 Acceptable to customers and no abnormal change Dilution Number
Pesticides 0.00 0.5 μg/l
pH 7.36 6.5 - 9.5 pH Value
Sodium 15.75 200 mgNa/l
Taste 0.00 Acceptable to customers and no abnormal change Dilution Number
Plumbing Metals
Copper 0.06 2.0 mgCu/l
Lead 0.64 25 μgPb/l
Nickel 0.93 20 μgNi/l

You seem to have done everything correctly and personally I'm at a bit of a loss. I hope someone else can help.

The only other thing I can think of is is there something mechanical; are there any vibrations from your filter motor as I notice you have an internal filter? Is the tank near the TV? Could someone else inadvertently be doing something untoward to your tank?

The tank isnt in sunlight of by the tv. I hope things will change when i get a tank with a lid on!
maybe some cleaner/air freshener etc or something is getting in the water. im not sure.
It just makes me feel stupid because this is the closest thing i have to a hobby and i cant even keep simple livebearers! whereas people keep them for years on here and they are the most beautiful guppies ever. also ive always wanted endlers and whenever i do find them and have a lid on the tank, would it ever be worth forking out alot of money when i know they probably wont last their whole expected lifespan?

 

[ShinySideUp]

I hope things will change when i get a tank with a lid on!
maybe some cleaner/air freshener etc or something is getting in the water. im not sure.

If you think could have happened then it may be the cause of your problem. Many cleaners have an element of ammonia in them and it really doesn't take a lot of ammonia to kill fish. Two or three parts per MILLION is toxic! Can you put a bit of MDF or plywood over the top, it doesn't have to look good it just has to stop stuff getting in?

 

[FishLover66]

Boy, do I feel your pain! I've been dealing with one illness or another since I've started back in December.

 

[emilythestrange]

I hope things will change when i get a tank with a lid on!
maybe some cleaner/air freshener etc or something is getting in the water. im not sure.

If you think could have happened then it may be the cause of your problem. Many cleaners have an element of ammonia in them and it really doesn't take a lot of ammonia to kill fish. Two or three parts per MILLION is toxic! Can you put a bit of MDF or plywood over the top, it doesn't have to look good it just has to stop stuff getting in?

im 99% sure no toxins have been near the tank,could it be a bacteria infection? the fish in question is a mickey mouse platy, he seems to be a paler colour when he swims in a different direction, almost like a "coating"