"Duane" wrote in message
...
Hi folks,
I'm new to the aquarium thing, I've been reading all I could find on
the net before I started my tank. Here is what I have done. I got a
55G tank along with a Penguin bio wheel filter and all the other
things
you set up a tank with. I cycled the tank for 6 weeks with 3 Pink
Gouramis. Once all the chemistry readings came out like they should I
added a few fish and all the sudden my Gouramis got vicious with the
new fish. I gave them to a friend with an established tank and they
are doing fine there. Now in my tank are 2 Blue dwarf gouramis, 2
Angelfish, 2 plecos, 2 bala sharks, 3 green corys and 1 black
knifefish. all was good for about 2 weeks after they were all in, then
I noticed one of the corys not acting well. He died last night without
any visible signs of anything on his body. Now I notice that my black
Angelfish has some white stuff on its body, it is irregular shaped and
looks kind of fuzzy. This has me worried. Any ideas on what I should
do or look for? I do regular water changes and have add a small amount
of salt to the tank. Aside from that I don't know where to go with it.
If it matters the fish all came from Petsmart. I hope you all can help
me and thanks for your time reading this.

Duane Wible
Duane Wible



Sounds like a fungus, and fungus is typically only a problem in thick water
(high in DOCs) or when the fish have had their slime-coat stripped off (any
various forms of stress). I would check to see that you're not having a
mini-cycle (measure the NH3/4, NO2 and NO3 again), that the water is stable
(pH and kH) and not to any extreme (gH). If everything checks out, then an
anti-fungal would be in order, though normally, fungus can be controlled
with quality water and healthy fish (varied diet and proper environment).
Melafix and Pimafix might be another alternative, though these are better as
preventatives than cures (I recommend them with more fragile fish). Check
if the anti-fungal has any effect on your bacterial culture (my experience
with anti-fungals is limited, and there is variation by brand and what would
be locally available to you).

All this advice is circumstantial. Fish bring all sorts of diseases with
them, either dormant or even just as carriers. I usually hold my breath (in
a manner of speaking) for about 3 months. In that time, most of what they
bring will manifest itself. The most experienced hobbyists can find
themselves in your situation.

Once you are past this 3 month threshold, and you have a good maintenance
plan in place, you begin wondering why you ever thought of fish as fragile
;~). hth
--
www.NetMax.tk