guppy with white stuff... new tank

[fishwatcher]

My newly set-up 10-gal (it's about 2 weeks old) has 1 pr guppies and 1 neon tetra left (the other cardinals have died). The male guppy just started hanging out on the side of the tank this morning, where the filter water comes in at so the current is strong there. He has 2 white things on his side. this has happened just this morning. I wonder what it is and if my putting my betta bowl next to it last night would have caused it. What do I do? Is he a goner?
Oh yeah, my test readings are: pH 7.0, Alkalinity 40, hardness level 75, Nitrite 4.0, Nitrate 20, ammonia 4.0 (but I used Ammolock last week, so it still reads it the same even though it's not so harmful right now).
Are these levels ok? What do I do, what do I do???

 

[WILDER]

The reason why you have lost them as they are sensitive fish, as neons and cardinals need a mature tank of 6 months and guppys are fragile these days, the white patches on the side of the fish do they look fluffy, you could lose them all due to the cyling of the tank.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I would do a 50% water change now, your ammonia is very high and at lethal levels.
Avoid using any ammonia, nitrate or nitrite removal products as these just mess up the bacterial cycle and will cause alot of complications to your cycle.
I agree with wilder, you lost the other fish because they are very fragile and sensitive fish and not suitable for cycling at all and i suggest you take the remaining neon back to the lfs as it will not survive in your tank.

 

[fishwatcher]

Do the lfs really take fish back??
Should I expect the guppies to be lost, too?
I didn't know about cycling a tank, until I found this site a few days after I had set it up and put fish in it. The lfs didn't bother asking me anything about my tank... he just rang up the sale and said have a nice day. Kind of irritating.
Thanks for the advice though. I'll do the water change now, and call about taking the fish back.

 

[WILDER]

He never let you take some fish with the tank, the white patches on the fish, the lfs won't take them back if it's columnaris.

 

[fishwatcher]

Should I treat it with anything, then, if they won't take any of the fish back? I mean, other than the water change?

 

[WILDER]

Do the white patches on the side look abit fluffy in appearance then i will no if it's columnaris.

 

[WILDER]

http/article.dphnet.com/cat-02/columnaries.shtml
http/www.flippersandfins.net/flexibacter.htm

 

[fishwatcher]

yes, it looks fluffy... kind of soft looking, like mold only white

 

[fishwatcher]

just did a 50% water change... new readings are:
7 ph, 40 alk, 2.0 nitrite, 20 nitrate, 5 ammonia
I don't think it changed much, except the nitrites came down to 2.0 from 4.0. Should I do it again?

 

[WILDER]

Try some salt baths on the affected fish.
http/www.kenliz.plus.com/Salt_use.html

 

[fishwatcher]

I added some aquarium salt... how long will it be before I'll know if it's working?

 

[WILDER]

How much aquarium salt neons can tolerate it if it's not to much, he might not get better if i'm honest, as columnaris is tricky you really need a med as well, it can wipe a tank out if it's bad, you are mean't to give them salt baths every three to four hours, but i find that stresses the fish to much, maybe try and do four aday, and also it's not helping with the fish being stressed with the cycle.

 

[fishwatcher]

oh, ok. Well, I'll gues I'll go buy some meds and see if that'll help. By the way, is that oranda goldfish in the picture yours? I'd love to have a couple of them, but I've heard you need a large 30-40 gal. tank for them.
thanks for all the help!!

 

[WILDER]

No it's not mine pulled if off a site as i thought it was cute, good luck,