"Gill Passman" gillspamattaylorpassmanspam.co.uk wrote in message
.. .
Not experienced, even remotely, but just done some research....from what I
can see Potassium Permanganate is not the way to go - it can become more
toxic the higher the pH level. Have you considered using Melafix/Pimafix?
I
also read that something containing Phenoxyethanol can help (don't know if
it is contained in Melafix/Pimafix) - apparently it can be found in some
proprietary medicines...Also read that an antibiotic such as
oxytetracycline
might be needed

Apart from that it is water changes, gravel cleaning, trying to keep the
temp down and the water oxygenated as you say....

Flexibacter columnaris apparently is quite commonly present in aquarium
water, on dead organic matter and even on healthy fish skin....

Hi Gill,

I am off to the LFS today to ask their advice too. They probably have the
chemical resolutions but I know they don't carry medicated foods.

I read about MelaFix/PimaFix myself, on a few sites, but it seems it doesn't
really rid the tank of it. I went to AP's web site and checked out the FAQ
on these products and I like it that they are natural and don't affect
snail, plants or pH, and there is a small possibility I may be able to use
these two products, but there is some discussion around on the forum boards
(particularly Cichlid and Betta boards) that say it doesn't really fix the
problem.

I find this hard to believe personally, as I know what Melaluca (Tea Tree)
can do for human bacterial infections, and I have no reason to think it
won't do the same for fish.

Roy has stated that Flex is present always in everyone's tank, and
considering that fact, it makes sense that if a fish becomes stressed
through what-ever reason it's natural defense to it is going to break down.

I am shocked at how filthy my gravel was and I can't begin to stress how
important it is you get a really good gravel cleaner that suits your tank. I
was using a cleaner suitable for a small tank and when I bought the new 22"
one I'd say it sucked up 400% more junk on it's first use that the little
one just wasn't able to pull up out of the substrate.

Any way, I'll visit the LFS and I also am going to remove all of my plants
from their plastic pots full of clay kitty litter and replant them into the
substrate proper. I am suspicious that the clay in the litter is part of my
bacterial problem because I lifted a pot out a while ago and noticed at the
line where gravel and litter met there was a thin bright green band of what
looked like algae - I suspect now it isn't - it's probably bacterial.

I will wait a while to do this though unless it (Flex) gets so bad it gets
out of control. I don't think I should stress the fish if I can help it - I
need them to build up as much natural immunity/ability as possible right
now - there is war on!

Regards,

Oz

--
My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith