Rich wrote:
I'm going to keep them on the bloodworms for now. They are picky eaters and
dont like the flake food much, they was eating the pellets until they
started to get sick. They do still eat the bloodworms.
Here is my progress so far......
I havent moved them to the hospital tank yet because after the last two fish
i had in there i took the tank down and rinsed it out with tap water because
all the meds i had used in there with the prior fish. I also added an
undergravel filter to it for more aeration and a little more filteration. I
also added an air stone. I will be moving them though, i'm just afraid of
getting an ammonia spike and causing them more harm and stress. It will be
stressfull enough taking out all the lace rock and netting them to move over
to the hospital tank. But i started the medicated bloodworms and after day
two one of them seems to be a little more active. Yesterday he was just
floating about 2 inchs from the top with his head down and only moved if
someone approached the tank. Today he his level and moving more around the
tank and is following me when i come up to the tank. One other one now
comes out to swim but still runs into a hidding hole if i come up to the
tank. This could all be false hope/wishfull thinking.

As far as a dechlorinator, will using increased dosage of Prime work?


That's great news that your fish might be doing a bit better. Sounds
like bloodworms are a good choice. Do keep us posted. I'm sure
everyone in the NG is pulling for your fish!

When I suggested disinfecting the tank, I didn't realize you had taken
the whole thing down and rinsed it out. If there are still the patches
of Columnaris on the glass, then I would still disinfect. If everything
seems clean and the only bacteria are on the fish, just keep the water
very clean and don't stress the fish by moving them.

Are you sure you don't want to mail order potassium permanganate? I
appreciate the convenience and price of bleach, but it's SO much easier
to use permanganate because it's not as toxic. A fish-compatible dose
would probably be enough disinfection since you've already broken the
tank down and cleaned it. That way you don't have to move them fish.

To prevent ammonia spikes, I can't stress how effective AmQuel is!
Zeolites in a box filter are my second choice. Change out the zeolite
as soon as there is meaurable ammonia. Also, add 1 tsp/gallon salt to
help the fish heal their skin and fins. It will also help if any
nitrites appear.

As for Prime, I've only ever used cheap sodium thiosulfate
dechlorinators for bleach. It's the main ingredient in most cheap
dechlorinators but Prime has another sulfate. I think any dechlorinator
works for bleach, but anyone know for sure??? NetMax? (my new guru ;-)

My cheap dechlorinator of choice is Genesis, which takes a drop per
gallon. After the 1:20 bleach soak and scrub for an hour and lots of
rinsing, I put a generous squirt - probably a couple ml - in my fish
bucket and soak everything in that for 15 or 20 minutes. Another quick
rinse to remove excess dechlorinator and it goes into the well-rinsed
tank. Then fill the tank and use a double dose of Prime. One for the
tapwater, plus one for safety. Aerate overnight and sniff for bleach
before you put the fish back and watch them closely for any signs of
distress.

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__ Elaine T __
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