Please could you help identify the cause..

[parade2k]

Hi, I own a 50 Gallon tank that houses :

2 x Neons
1 x Wild Angel
1 x Pink Kisser

3 x Clownfish roach {died }

The tank has been setup for over 2 years and and the fish had been living in the tank for 2 years happily. A week ago the clown fish caught itch and I used half the dosage of interpet anti white spod remedy and took the heat up gradually to 84F as recommended and added 1tsp of aquarium salt for every gallon, 2 days later. The clown died yesterday after battling the itch even though the white spots started to go away. I am very sad losing them as I got them when they were very tiny (1/2 inch) and had grown to 4 Inches, and I loved them.

Today is the 5th day since I first introduced the ant white spot remedy and the Pink Kisser and Angel seeked to be cured from the Itch. However their eyes seems like they have spots/marks?? and the angel has simular marks on its fins. Please look at the pictures below

As you can see the angel has white marks in its eye. The pink kisser has the same marks in its eyes

The Angels back and top fin has a white mark

Is this itch or something else? could heat cause this? is it fin rot (I have melafix which I could use). I have started to gradualy take the heat back down to 80F.

Below are the results of the water test :

Sat, 4th June 2005
Nitrate 60
Nitrite 0.10
PH 6.8
Ammonia 0.25

Mon, 6th June 2005
Nitrate 50
Nitrite 0.0
PH 6.8
Ammonia 0.0

Mon, 8th June 2005 (25% water change yesterday)
Nitrate 50 (high)
Nitrite 0.0 (Perfect)
PH 7 (Perfect)
Ammonia 0.0 (Perfect)

I know I have a problem with Nitrate and going to continue doing a 25% water change every other day using water treatment solution. I have also ordered lots of live plants and a CO2 system.

Any help would be most grateful? I dont want the remaining fish to be distressed or in pain. Please Reply...

 

[fishwatcher]

Just so know, there are people reading this. I'm sure someone will have some suggestions for you soon. I however, am not that person. I'm just a newbie really, but I didn't want you to think no one is paying attention.
Good luck!

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Im not sure what a clown fish roach is, but if you mean a clown loach, these fish are intolerant of salt and so are neons- how much aquarium salt exactly did you use? It could be burns on the angels from the salt but it also looks a bit like secpticemia- did the red blotchs appear very suddenly or over a period of time?

 

[parade2k]

Sorry I meant Clown loach...

My LFS advised me to use salt as its what they used. the tank is 50 gallons and I was a little worried about using it so only used 5 tsps (total) even though the recommeded dosage was 1 tsp for every gallon. I also checked various sites that recomended using aqatic medic salt and read about it in TFH magazine.

The blotches apeared in the last 24 hours, the salt was added over 3 days ago. I have done 2 x 25% water changes since adding the salt without putting more salt in. should I stop using salt altogether? whats the recomended amount?

what else could I do to control the nitrates level?

 

[parade2k]

any help would be appreciatred...

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Yes salt can be used as a med but many fish are intolerant to it- this can either mean fatal for them or just burn their skin, salt intolerant fish include loachs, catfish, tetras and other "scaless" fish. It is most likely why your clown loachs died and i am suprised the neons are still alive.
The best way to bring down nitrate and salt levels together is simply water changes on a regular basis- adding more live plants to your tank will also help bring down nitrates.

Check this site also and see if your fish's condition matchs "haemorrhagic septicemia" too;

http/www.fishpalace.org/Disease.html#Popeye

 

[abstract]

well i'm not sure about the eye but the white on the angel's fins looks kind of like a fungus...water changes should help clear that up, if not there are many anti-fungal meds and preventatives