Multiple Emergencies :(

[aaronnorth]

i have come back of hols after just 3 days and for some reason the fish tanks electric was switched off so i have lost a load of shrimp and fish and 1 of my otto's has a lump on its head which looks like a human blister (only way of describing it) i am not sure if it is an ulcer. been running 8 months.

60l tank
fluval 205 external
20 x endlers
4 x ottos
15 x RCS

ph 7
NO3 off the scale
NO2 3ppm
NH3 2

On my large tank, my astatotilapia lafitiscaita has got dropsy can you tell me what causes dropsy? Tank water is ok, been running 2 months.

180l tank
fluval 205 external & Eheim classic 2215
2 x astatotilapia lafitiscaita
3 x copadichromis borleyi
4 x jewel cichlids
2 x aulounocara jacobfriebiergi

ph 8
NO3 <20
NO2 0
NH3 0

It is the first time my neighbour has been away the same time as me

I did some maintenance on both tanks which took 3 hours, usually takes me 2, everything was going wrong, to many things to tell you!

Thanks, aaron

 

[WILDER]

Ullcers are a pink or red colour with a circling of dead white skin around the edges.
I would add a bacterial med to the tank.
This link describe dropsy very well.

http/www.fishjunkies.com/Diseases/dropsy.php
Once scale stick out organ failure, the fish never survive one scales stick out.
Epson salt baths help draw the fluids out.

 

[aaronnorth]

thanks wilder, i can always rely on you

it just has one scale sticking out like a sack, i cant believe how big it has got in 3 days!

 

[WILDER]

I would do some epson salt baths to help draw the fluids out.
All you can do is try a bacterial med in issolation.
Can you issolate him as if he dies in the tank and fish peck at his body it can pass onto other fish.

 

[aaronnorth]

i have a small 3g down the side of the house, i will have to clean it up tommorow, i have some salt. How much do you reccomend put in or shall i follow the instructions?

What do you think caused it? Shall i get internal or external medication? Which is btter, salt, meds or both? Thanks.

 

[WILDER]

Its a teaspoon to a gal for salt.
Anti internal bacteria med by interpet.
http/www.fishjunkies.com/Treatments/salt.php

 

[aaronnorth]

thanks again

 

[aaronnorth]

the fish is now in a 3g/ 11l quarantine. My little acrylic tank was cracked so i have used a poly box that some fish were shipped in, works a treat

dosed with interpet #9 and 1tbsp per gallon of salt (interpet aqualibrium). Hopefully he should survive, i lost a silver molly a few years back to dropsy, luckily this time i was prepared

I cant believe how quickly he has turned in 3 days from perfectly normal looking to this! According to the link he is in the begginning stages.

Does anyone know how Dropsy is caused?

 

[WILDER]

Do you have aeration in the small tank as meds reduce 02 in the water.
Good luck.

 

[aaronnorth]

i have a filter which has a spray bar and that is out of the water which is basically creating the same effect as an airstone

 

[WILDER]

Thats fine then.
Good luck.

 

[aaronnorth]

should i feed him and how often.

 

[WILDER]

Yes feed the fish.
Keep an eye on water stats, if you have to preform a water change just add the correct amount of med back
to the water removed.

 

[aaronnorth]

OK, should i put the tank water in or dechlorinated tap water?

water:

NH3 0.6
NO2 0.1

 

[WILDER]

I would just put declorinated tape water.
You can use other tank water if there no desease in the tank.