I'm Pretty Sure I Did Something Wrong

[nytorres723]

I have a 55 g tank with 3 discus, 1 bala shark a rather large pleco and 3 cardinal tetras.  I have had the tank for about 4 years and moved a year ago.  My husband and I do fairly frequent water changes but our nitrates were also high so we added some bio balls to the filter.  I purchased 9 cardinal tetras and a discus a few months back and cardinals began disappearing.  I blamed it on an angel fish I have since rehomed because he would also attack my other angel fish (whom I also re-homed).  Since removing the angel fish my blood pigeon discus began to show what looked like calcification on his gills.  We did a fairly large water change and went on vacation.  I came back a week later to find that the discus still had the funky looking gills along with the second half of his body being completely emaciated and his back fin was clamped.  Thought it was flukes so I used Prazipro but the next day I saw bubbles on the lips of my turquoise discus.  I decided to treat for ick with parashield and within hours I had my bala shark swimming in circles, my pleco is acting funny, my blue discus had a black line appear on his face (from stress), the pigeon blood discus is still acting off and my newer discus is erratically swimming around the tank.  I also had two of my cardinal tetras straight out die.  I did a 50% water change and will be doing another one rather soon but I am at a loss at what else to do.  I didn't think the two medications would interact since I have heard of people using prazipro in conjunction with copper with no ill affects.   Any suggestions?  I am pretty sure that the pleco, bala shark and pigeon blood discus are done for but would like to try and save the other two discus.  If they do survive do I have to worry about what did the blood discus have and is it contagious.  Before all of this the water parameters were great and I have an in tank heater that keeps it at 82 degrees.  
 
Thanks

 

[Ninjouzata]

What are your water parameters? (pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) What test kit are you using? What is your water change schedule (how often & how much)?
 
It's not the best idea to throw medication at fish with knowing what's wrong, and mixing them usually isn't a good idea either. Is there any chance you can post some pictures of the affected fish?
You can upload pictures by going to 'More Reply Options' at the bottom and attaching files or upload them to a photo sharing website such as photobucket and link them here.
 
The discus could also eat your cardinal tetras, I believe. What type of pleco do you have by the way?
As mentioned on your other thread the bala shark needs friends and a much larger tank. I'd think you'd want a larger tank for that many discus as well. I'd look into that after all this has been sorted though.
 
Hopefully someone with more experience in fish illnesses comes along soon. I hope everyone pulls through!

 

[nytorres723]

My water parameters now are pretty consistent with what they have been before
Ammonia is 0ppm Nitrate 20ppm Nitrite 0ppm Chlorine is 0ppm alkalinity is 80ppm and ph is 7.  I ususally use API freshwater water tester (the chemistry set as I like to call it) but sometimes I use the dips just because I have extra ones.  I am currently trying to resize my pics as they are too large to add 

 

[nytorres723]

Here is my pigeon blood
 

 

[nytorres723]

It is Columnaris.  The pigeon blood has died 

 Now to figure out how to treat the rest of the fish since it was sick the whole week we were away and was in the tank with his other friends 

 

[TwoTankAmin]

If you are certain of what it is:

 
  Several types of antibiotics and medications can used to treat Columnaris:

• Penicillin: Penicillin at 10,000 units per liter is a very effective treatment. Treat with a second dose in two days.
• Chloromycetin: You can use chloromycetin, 10 to 20 mg per liter, with a second dose in two days.
• Kanacyn (kanamycin): Kanacyn will treat both bacteria at once.
• Maracyn (erythromycin): Maracyn is effective against Columnaris, and using Maracyn 2 (minocycline) in conjunction with it will treat the Aeromonas bacteria as well.
• Others: Copper sulphate, Furan, Tetracycline, and Potassium permanganate. Nifurpirinol, Acriflavine, Chloramphenicol and Malachite green are also said to be effective.
• Medicated Foods: Feeding food dosed with Terramycin (Oxytetracycline) will help to internally treat this disease.

from http/animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/information/Diseases.htm#MouthFungus
 
Marcyn Plus will also help.

 

[AshleyNZ]

Sorry to hear about your loss

 

[Ninjouzata]

Sorry for your loss
 
Are the other fish showing symptoms of any kind? I would not start throwing meds in the tank til you're sure of what it is. That didn't look like columnaris on the pigeon blood.

 

[nytorres723]

My bala shark had a swollen bottom lip and my turquoise discus had some discoloration on his body and scales. Along with what seemed like general fish disorientation.  Trouble staying upright and what not and all of the cardinal tetras were wiped out.  Once I put in the furan-2 they started to act normal.  It was like turning on a light bulb.  I just wish  I would have figured it out earlier but once the pigeon blood died I took him out and looked at him better.  I pulled out all of the fake plants and decor and submerged them in vinegar and water to disinfect.  I also ordered some kanamycin as I was supposed to use them both at the same time for columnaris but couldn't find it anywhere at all.