Help? Fungus Or Ick? Or?

[Malachite]

I had aquariums years ago and never had this sort of problem. I have been reading up on ick, white spot and fungus but not sure which I need to treat for.

I have a twenty gallon long tank, did a fishless cycle for 2 months until water conditions were 0 amm, 0 nitrates and around 4 nitrates. PH is around 7.5. I did the 80% water change and then added 3 black ruby barbs who were doing great and looking healthy for 3 weeks.

Tested water conditions every couple of days and did weekly water change of 10 percent. Still 0 amm, 0 nitrites and 8 nitrates. Water temp stays at 78 degrees.

My husband wanted some neons so I got three of those and a dwarf pleco.

After a couple of days, one of the neons stopped eating and was hiding. Noticed last night he had some white, fluffy areas behind the dorsal fin and hear the tale, He was also looking bad, not swimming well and looking miserable.

Water conditons are still good, I don't overfeed and I check conditions regularly, so I'm wondering what went wrong? I got the fish from a good shop, tried calling them but all they would tell me is to get rid of the sick one and see how it goes. And that stuff like that 'just happens'

The other two neons and the black rubys are doing great...eating and acting themselves, but I think I can see a couple of new white spots on one of the neons. But looking at pictures of ick it doen't look like white spots all over....maybe it's too early?

My question is this, what do I get to put in the tank? Something for ick or fungus? I love my fish and don't want to lose them....but never having dealt with this before I don't know what the best product to buy is - last thing I want to do is start just adding stuff for the wrong thing.

Hope someone can help. Thanks in advance. Sorry for the rambling, just very concerned for my fish.

PS...I'm in the US so brands here would be helpful!

Michelle

 

[pieman]

To prevent the spread of fungus on the infected fish, you can add aquarium salt at a ratio of 1 gram of salt per 1 litre of water. Before you do this check with other members about whether you are able to do this with your stock of fish, I know for certain that if you have any plecos or loaches you can't do this, there are other salt intolerant fish but you'll have to ask someone else about that.

To get rid of fungus on an infected fish you would need a treatment such as 'Interpet's Anti Fungus' or 'Bacteria No.8' if you add medicine make sure you remove any carbon from your filter, the carbon in you filter will remove the medicine, which needs to stay around for several days.

Ich is basically a parasite living in the white spot on the fish, when these burst the parasites fall to the bottom to form capsules, some days later these will pop releasing hundreds of free swimming parasites, it is at this stage when they are affected by treatment. The idea is you use a treatment such as 'Interpet's Anti White Spot No.6' and raise the temperature of your tank to 29°C this shortens the life cycle of Ich, and will speed upto the stage when the parasites are free swimming. If you have ich it is best to catch it early otherwise you will have a huge outbreak.

I would treat for Ich, as that will spread, the fungus is only a secondary infection of say skin/gill damage, so unless your fish are fighting, it is unlikely that the fungus will spread. As always with what I say, I'd prefer you to okay this with another forum member so that I don't get in trouble

Sorry but I don't know if these brands are available in the US