Man It Had To Get Worse Didn't It?

[shaddai]

See this thread for the background info:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=131180

The one who was bloating and had the sore on his lower fin died....which is also the one that was showing the most improvement on his sores. Got up this morning, he was stuck in the top of a little plastic cave. Pulled the cave out, and he tried to swim around, but life escaped him somewhere in the middle of the attempt. RIP little fishy.

Now, to aggravate matters, #3 in the 40 gallon tank now has small open sores as well, and #4 has no sores, but is lookin a little bit pudgy. I'm thinking this sickness has taken up residence in my big tank as well..

I'm not sure if it's related, but my betta did the weirdest thing I've ever seen last night. He slithered through the gravel like a snake real slow, played dead for at least a minute, and when another fish came over to check him out, he swam off like nothing was wrong. Was he scratching himself or something?

Also, the goldfish that lost his home...seemed to be having moments of drunkeness last night. He swam into the glass at full speed, which surprised him enough to where he swaim directly into the rock that was next to him, then bounced off the gravel at the bottom of the tank. Later on, he broadsided one of the swordtails that was resting. Today, he's back to being his normal fat wobbly chit machine self. Dropped a little flake on the top & he got all exited like normal & went straight to the top to eat.

And the big tank immediately started a nice big bacteria bloom with the last water change...and the tank water is irritating my hands a little bit, which is definitely not normal.

Tank params match each other:
Ammonia=0
Nitrite=0
Nitrate between 5 and 10.
pH 7.8...and stubborn about it.
10gal= 80 degrees (meds & salt)
40gal= 77ish (no meds, just dechlor)

Does anyone have any clue as to what's going on? What's the flippin bacteria bloom about? I'm thinking my fish tank is becoming a better place to raise aeromonas bacteria than fish...

GRRR!!

Todd

 

[WILDER]

Definately have a bacterial infection in there, has any chemicals got into the tank, also how many fish are in the tank, and what filter are you using, plus how often do you maintain the tank.

 

[shaddai]

Definately have a bacterial infection in there, has any chemicals got into the tank, also how many fish are in the tank, and what filter are you using, plus how often do you maintain the tank.

No unusual chemicals have gotten into the tank...no cleaners, coffee, cement, paint thinner, glass cleaner or anything weird. I wash my hands before and after messing with the tank. Got kids & definitely don't want to get them sick, they are banned from, and to short to touch the top of the tank. Wife feeds the fish from time to time. Now I'm glad I kept a journal..

Typical chemicals used in the water are:
-Stress Coat for dechlorinator at water changes. Ran out of the other stuff..had a big bottle of stress coat.

Have been used before:
-Tetra water clarifier..can't remember the real name. Used it once when I didn't know what a bacteria bloom looked like. Thought it was fine particulates.
-Aquarium salt when tank was established.
-Stress Zyme when tank was established.

Typical maintenance:
-25% Water changes, every 3-4 days. Water tests every 2-3 days.

Filter:
Wal-Mart clone of the Penguin 330. Also have an 18" bubble bar in the back.

Fish in the 40 gallon tank right now:
1 fat dumpster goldfish
1 betta
6 gold barbs
2 blue dwarf gouramis
4 yellow banded tetras
1 chinese algae eater
2 marigold colored swordtails

Of course this all might turn into a moot point. I tested the tap & came up with 0 Cl2 in the water. Called the city water department, they freaked and had a guy at my house within 15 minutes. Their test showed that there was chlorine, but even they called it a trace amount, and they also don't know why my pH is 7.8 when the water enters the system at 6.9-7.0. They took a large sample out of my sink & are sending it off to the lab for a metal content & bacterial analysis.

Needless to say, we're not drinking our water anymore.

Todd

 

[shaddai]

Anyone?

 

[WILDER]

Sores are bacterial, but can't help out with your water chemistry.