White Spot

[Neon Squid]

I was just looking for some advice at my current stage of trying to treat my tank.

Basically the tank has been white spot free since December until introducing some platys and gold dust mollys on tuesday. The yellow molly broke out in white spot first, it may even have had very small spots when I got it but it wasn't until it was under the strong artificial light that I was able to see the beginning of the spots forming. The following morning (Wednesday) the spots were much more visible. I rushed out and bought some King British Orginal Formula WS3 which I added the appropriate dosage right away. I've also been doing water changes to keep the water as fresh a possible. All new water going in is treated with tetra AquaSafe.

Some questions I'd like to know the answers to would be:

Should I be re-treating the water I'm replacing into the tank with the WS3 Formula each time I change the water or should I wait 5-7 days and just administer another full dose to the tank?

Is it worth separating the molly which is covered in the spots? (Some other fish are already swimming up against plants appearing to itch and scratch, as well as some very small spots I've seen on other mollys.) I'd of separated them sooner but the heater for my second tank only came today so it's not been an option.

Is my tank now infected? Is there a standard procedure I should be taking now or when the fish have healed or died?

Any other advice or help would be great! I want to do my best to save my fish and that I'm educated how to take the matter on if it should happen again. As of now with all my efforts in the treatment of the gold dust molly doesn't seem to be helping as each morning it looks more tatty with white spot.

Many thanks,

Craig

 

[anon02]

Here`s what I`d do
A large water change to reduce disolved solids
Treat with first dose of meds
Raise temperature to 80-82 if it wouldn`t stress the fish
Reduce feeding to once every other day
Follow treatment instructions for further doses to complete the course

I wouldn`t do any further water changes unless there were a lot of suspended solids
Your tank is infected so no use moving fish, you`ll only infect the second tank
I like to do a big water change 48 hours after the first course has been completed and watch the tank for further signs, if I even suspect that a single course wasn`t enough I follow up with another course repeating all the above
It only takes a single parasite to cause a whole new infestation
Good luck

 

[julsifer]

i'd do the same as anon02 say 50% water change dose with meds raise temperature most importantly be patient

good luck treatment should be at least 4-5 days

 

[Neon Squid]

Thanks to you both for this info, I'll get started right away. As I'm fairly new to fish keeping wonder if you could also answer this question also?

When I do say a 50% water change as I'll be doing this afternoon, should the water going into the tank be left to raise to room temperature before adding to the aquarium with fish? I live in a large apartment block and the water out our taps is freezing and I don't know if hot water would contain impurities from the boiler tank.

 

[anon02]

Thanks to you both for this info, I'll get started right away. As I'm fairly new to fish keeping wonder if you could also answer this question also?

When I do say a 50% water change as I'll be doing this afternoon, should the water going into the tank be left to raise to room temperature before adding to the aquarium with fish? I live in a large apartment block and the water out our taps is freezing and I don't know if hot water would contain impurities from the boiler tank.

You could just put some boiled water in your bucket to take the chill off, some fishkeepers dont bother

 

[Neon Squid]

OK then I'll do that, I won't go too crazy with the boiled water, don't want to end up with tropical soup

Yes I'd rather make an effort with getting a normal water temp than risk stressing any of them out. Some are sick enough as it is.

Again thanks for the advice!

 

[julsifer]

a mixture of hot water from the tap and cold water is fine you can use a thermometer to make sure the temp is the same as what you have in the tank already but i just just tell by touch, it doesn't have to be exact