Dropsy killed fish, what should I do with main and hospital tanks?

[E.Otter]

One of my goldfish died from dropsy within 18 hours of being moved to a
hospital tank. Hindsight is 20/20 and I should have recognized the symptoms
weeks earlier... damn.

Should I do anything to the hospital tank and the items in it (including the
filter), like disinfect them? The tank is currently empty and I can do just
about anything to it.

More importantly should I do anything for the main tank which still has two
healthy (as far as I can tell...) fish in it (other than a large water
change)?

Before anyone asks: 5-10 Nitrates, 0 Nitrites, 0 Ammonia, ph 7.4 (a very
consistent 7.4), 0.16% salt, akalinity 80KH, total hardness 75GH, temp
fluctuates between 78 and 85 each day (a heater but no central air in the
house, so I can't make that any better), 29g tank with a penguin 330 and
170, two air stones, and 1 bubble wand on it. I have had all 3 fish from
1.5 to 3 years in this setup without problems.

Thanks,
E.Otter

[Elaine T]

E.Otter wrote:
> One of my goldfish died from dropsy within 18 hours of being moved to a
> hospital tank. Hindsight is 20/20 and I should have recognized the symptoms
> weeks earlier... damn.
>
> Should I do anything to the hospital tank and the items in it (including the
> filter), like disinfect them? The tank is currently empty and I can do just
> about anything to it.
>
> More importantly should I do anything for the main tank which still has two
> healthy (as far as I can tell...) fish in it (other than a large water
> change)?
>
> Before anyone asks: 5-10 Nitrates, 0 Nitrites, 0 Ammonia, ph 7.4 (a very
> consistent 7.4), 0.16% salt, akalinity 80KH, total hardness 75GH, temp
> fluctuates between 78 and 85 each day (a heater but no central air in the
> house, so I can't make that any better), 29g tank with a penguin 330 and
> 170, two air stones, and 1 bubble wand on it. I have had all 3 fish from
> 1.5 to 3 years in this setup without problems.
>
> Thanks,
> E.Otter
>
>
Are your alkalinity and hardness in ppm rather than GH and KH? You
might add some seashells to the main tank if the water is really that
soft, since your GH is below your KH?!?

I'd disinfect the hospital. The hardest to clean up but most effective
is 5% bleach for 30 minutes. I use permanganate overnight on my own
hospital tank. The third choice is 1 cup/gallon (or more) of pickling
salt overnight. Not quite as good as bleach but much easier to clean up
afterwards.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Dick]

On Wed, 13 Jul 2005 23:12:43 GMT, "E.Otter" >
wrote:

>One of my goldfish died from dropsy within 18 hours of being moved to a
>hospital tank. Hindsight is 20/20 and I should have recognized the symptoms
>weeks earlier... damn.
>
>Should I do anything to the hospital tank and the items in it (including the
>filter), like disinfect them? The tank is currently empty and I can do just
>about anything to it.
>
>More importantly should I do anything for the main tank which still has two
>healthy (as far as I can tell...) fish in it (other than a large water
>change)?
>
>Before anyone asks: 5-10 Nitrates, 0 Nitrites, 0 Ammonia, ph 7.4 (a very
>consistent 7.4), 0.16% salt, akalinity 80KH, total hardness 75GH, temp
>fluctuates between 78 and 85 each day (a heater but no central air in the
>house, so I can't make that any better), 29g tank with a penguin 330 and
>170, two air stones, and 1 bubble wand on it. I have had all 3 fish from
>1.5 to 3 years in this setup without problems.
>
>Thanks,
>E.Otter
>

I have had 3 or 4 fish with dropsy in the last 3 years. I have never
seen any indication of contagion or any other clue of cause and
effect. I didn't take any steps to treat the tanks (including the
hospital tanks) and I haven't had any additional cases in at least 6
months.

dick

[Lilly]

Dropsy is really a symptom of disease. It could have been something as
simple as kidney failure, or as sinister as a bacterial or viral
infection. Take no prisoners, toss the filter media and bleach the
hospital tank and another other hard goods that were in it (filter,
heater etc) with a heavy dose (1 to 5 or 1 to 10 solution). If you used
the same net, bleach that too. Dechlorinate and let it air dry for a
few days in the sun if you can.

Watch the other two fish closely for a while. Personally, I wouldn't
add any fish to the main tank. A 29G is just about right for two
goldfish.

Lilly

[Elaine T]

Lilly wrote:
> Dropsy is really a symptom of disease. It could have been something as
> simple as kidney failure, or as sinister as a bacterial or viral
> infection. Take no prisoners, toss the filter media and bleach the
> hospital tank and another other hard goods that were in it (filter,
> heater etc) with a heavy dose (1 to 5 or 1 to 10 solution). If you used
> the same net, bleach that too. Dechlorinate and let it air dry for a
> few days in the sun if you can.
>
> Watch the other two fish closely for a while. Personally, I wouldn't
> add any fish to the main tank. A 29G is just about right for two
> goldfish.
>
> Lilly
>
Actually, a soak in a 1:20 (5%) solution of bleach for 15-30 minutes is
approved as a disinfectant for equipment exposed to blood borne
pathogens in biomedical laboratories. It is not necessary to use
anything stronger, and you will find that stronger bleach eats fishnets,
silk plants, filter sponges, and anything else made of fabric or fiber.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Geezer From The Freezer]

Elaine T wrote:
> >
> Actually, a soak in a 1:20 (5%) solution of bleach for 15-30 minutes is
> approved as a disinfectant for equipment exposed to blood borne
> pathogens in biomedical laboratories. It is not necessary to use
> anything stronger, and you will find that stronger bleach eats fishnets,
> silk plants, filter sponges, and anything else made of fabric or fiber.

I wouldn't soak filter sponges in bleach - chuck em out if you are worried
and get new ones.

[E.Otter]

Thanks for the recommendations on what to do with the hospital tank.

What I really, really need to know is what to do with the main tank and the
fish in it. I can't bleach that or soak it potassium permagenate.

Please, what should I do with the main tank?

Many Thanks,
E.Otter

[Lilly]

Leave it alone. For now. In an odd sort of way the main tank is now a
"hospital" tank if you don't add any more fish to it. If it was a
pathogen the fish are already exposed. That is why I suggested leaving
them alone for a very long time. It's a wait and see game.

Lilly

[Lilly]

I have, on occasion, soaked nets in very strong solutions for extended
periods of time, overnight even. I still have them and they aren't
showing wear. I toss the sponges for they are cheap.

As far as silk plants, I only use them to decorate the house with.
There are live plants in my fish tanks. Those get a 1:20 for 60
seconds, except tougher plants like anubias that can withstand 3 to 4
minutes.

[Elaine T]

Lilly wrote:
> I have, on occasion, soaked nets in very strong solutions for extended
> periods of time, overnight even. I still have them and they aren't
> showing wear. I toss the sponges for they are cheap.
>
> As far as silk plants, I only use them to decorate the house with.
> There are live plants in my fish tanks. Those get a 1:20 for 60
> seconds, except tougher plants like anubias that can withstand 3 to 4
> minutes.
>
I don't use silk either, unless I'm keeping plant-eating fish. Have you
tried permanganate for live plants? I love the stuff. It's milder than
bleach but still gets the job done. I soak them in a medium pink
solution for 10 minutes. Good to know that 5% bleach for a minute works
too. Thanks!

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Elaine T]

E.Otter wrote:
> Thanks for the recommendations on what to do with the hospital tank.
>
> What I really, really need to know is what to do with the main tank and the
> fish in it. I can't bleach that or soak it potassium permagenate.
>
> Please, what should I do with the main tank?
>
> Many Thanks,
> E.Otter
>
>
Actually you can dose a tank lightly with permanganate. It's a very
standard treatment in aquaculture for external parasitic diseases,
although it's expensive on that scale. I use Jungle's Clear Water and
follow the directions on the back. You may trigger a mini-cycle, but
filter bacteria usually make it through.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Derek Benson]

On Fri, 15 Jul 2005 11:53:59 GMT, "E.Otter" >
wrote:

>Thanks for the recommendations on what to do with the hospital tank.
>
>What I really, really need to know is what to do with the main tank and the
>fish in it. I can't bleach that or soak it potassium permagenate.
>
>Please, what should I do with the main tank?
>
>Many Thanks,
>E.Otter
>
Dropsy is usually caused by bacterial infection. If you get too many
of these bacteria, they can cause disease like fin and tail rot,
popeye, dropsy etc. You prevent this by keeping the aquarium generally
cleaner. Vacuum the gravel and change water, diluting out the numbers
of these buggers. So what you should do for your main tank, IMO is to
look at your vacuuming and water changing, and determine if it's good
enough.

I was a bit puzzled by the temp you mentioned in this tank. Goldfish
are cold water or room temperature fish, yes? I really don't know, as
I haven't kept goldfish since I was a kid, but this is what I've
always thought. Bacteria multiply more and faster in warmer temps.

-Derek