Whitespot Problems

[Saint]

Hello,

First post, wish I could come on with something a little more positive.

Have got a Biube tank. Started with three neon tetra and then after 4 weeks added two guppy's, one Platy and a Swordtail. They were all quite happy for 2 weeks and then the Swordtail developed Whitespot. All this is pretty new to me so I didn't pick up on this until it was too late. The Swordtail died last Sunday together with two Tetra. Monday, a Guppy and the last Tetra died. The final Guppy and Platy also now have Whitespot and Fin Rot.

I'm desperate to try and save them. I have changed the filter to a first aid filter. Have carried out water changes, added Protozin - but the whitespot just appears to be getting worse.

I've become so attached to these two now so would welcome any help as to what I can do to try and save them.

They have now started to sit on the bottom of the tank but it appears to be resting. They will then often start up and fly around the tank together. They are both still eating fine too so I hope there is still a chance to save them.

Thank you.

 

[Jabba]

I guess a welcome is in order but not the best of circumstances ... Welcome ... now to business

Not sure what you mean by first aid filter, carbon removal is all that is required, sorry bt I know little about Biubes .

You have left it a bit late, in ich terms 4 days is a lifetime, you have had it longer than that clearly. The problem with ich is that the bad part isn't even visible - the fish's gills.

I have no experience with Protozin but it seems to be pretty broad spectrum, I have no experience with it so I can't condemn it and can't advise it either although waterlife products seem to be very good and well thought out. My med of choice for whitespot though is King British WS3, I would get yourself a broad bacterial remedy like eSHa 2000 too to prevent secondary infections. It is OK to be gentle with somethings but ich needs to be hit and hit hard the minute it is spotted or it will wipe out a tank in a very short time.

If you have been treating since Sunday tomorrow is your last treatment day with Protozin but it is only a 'preventative', Id; do a 50% water change and clean the gravel as thoroughly as possible - do NOT return ANY water from the gravel cleaning to the tank (i.e. by using a power gravel cleaner, get a 25 litre (or larger) brewers bucket and use a siphon tube on your gravel cleaner. Get an airstone of significant size in the tank, run it flat out, get the temperature up by 1 degree a day to at least 28 even 29 degrees but be warned, high temperatures naturally means low O2, the fishes gills will be badly affected already, this is a double whammy for the fish - it's like putting you on top of Everest with a massive chest infection - so it could already be too late.

Alas don't give up, go take a look at the treating ich FAQ that is pinned at the top of this forum. If you still have questions post them and somebody will get back to you ASAP.