Disinfection

I have been battling some sort of bacterial infection in a goldfish
tank. Every time I add a new Goldfish, it seems fine for 2-3 days,
then becomes lethargic, resting on the bottom and moving only
occasionally. By day 4, a white mass develops (usually on one side
below the dorsal fin and white blemishes appear on its tail. By the
time this appears, it worsens rapidly with sheets of "skin" coming off
and the fish dies within a couple of days. A guy at the local fish
store said it is a bacterial/fungal infection and sold me erthromycin
)EM) tablets. I removed the carbon filtration and treated as directed
for 4 days, but the disease progressed. I am now treating with a
parasite medication (malachite green and formalin) to see if it is
parasitic in nature. Should this fish die, I plan to break the tank
down and disinfect it and its sponge filter in a solution of bleach and
water before starting over, discarding the gravel and replacing it with
new stuff. My question is: What is the best way to disinfect the
external power filter? It is new, so I hate to discard it but don't
want to reintroduce the infection when I set it up again. Should I hang
it on the tank when it is soaking with bleach/water and let it run for
a few hours, then rinse it thoroughly, or is there a better solution to
all of this? Any advice is appreciated. I have several other tanks
with livebearers in one, tetras in another, and assorted tropiicals in
yet another and all are doing very well, so I don't think there's any
issue with my water quality.

wrote in message
ups.com...
I have been battling some sort of bacterial infection in a goldfish
tank. Every time I add a new Goldfish, it seems fine for 2-3 days,
then becomes lethargic, resting on the bottom and moving only
occasionally. By day 4, a white mass develops (usually on one side
below the dorsal fin and white blemishes appear on its tail. By the
time this appears, it worsens rapidly with sheets of "skin" coming off
and the fish dies within a couple of days. A guy at the local fish
store said it is a bacterial/fungal infection and sold me erthromycin
)EM) tablets.

Like tetracycline I doubt this antibiotic is doing much bacteria killing.
Furicin is my drug of choice. As you know bacteria are becoming more and
more resistant the antibiotics.

I removed the carbon filtration and treated as directed
for 4 days, but the disease progressed. I am now treating with a
parasite medication (malachite green and formalin) to see if it is
parasitic in nature. Should this fish die, I plan to break the tank
down and disinfect it and its sponge filter in a solution of bleach and
water before starting over, discarding the gravel and replacing it with
new stuff.

Why diss the gravel? Rinse it well and boil it for 30 mins or bake it in
the oven for 20 to 30 mins at 300F or so. Spread it out to better let the
heat penetrate it.

My question is: What is the best way to disinfect the
external power filter?

I bleach mine!

It is new, so I hate to discard it but don't
want to reintroduce the infection when I set it up again. Should I hang
it on the tank when it is soaking with bleach/water and let it run for
a few hours, then rinse it thoroughly,

Or hang it on a pail and let it run bleach water through itself for awhile.

or is there a better solution to
all of this? Any advice is appreciated.

You should kill off most harmful bacteria with bleach and/or heat. Be very
careful when you buy new fish not to introduce more infection.

I have several other tanks
with livebearers in one, tetras in another, and assorted tropiicals in
yet another and all are doing very well, so I don't think there's any
issue with my water quality.
--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

davew0 wrote,
I have been battling some sort of bacterial infection in a goldfish
tank.Every time I add a new Goldfish, it seems fine for 2-3 days,
then becomes lethargic, resting on the bottom and moving only
occasionally. By day 4, a white mass develops (usually on one side
below the dorsal fin and white blemishes appear on its tail. By the
time this appears, it worsens rapidly with sheets of "skin" coming off
and the fish dies within a couple of days. ....

Doesn't sound bacterial to me - I suspect Saprolegnia - a parasitic
fungus which invades the gil;ls causing suffocation. Treat with a
fungus medication AND an anti-parasite medication at the same time.

Should this fish die, I plan to break the tank
down and disinfect it and its sponge filter in a solution of bleach and
water before starting over, discarding the gravel and replacing it with
new stuff...... What is the best way to disinfect the
external power filter? ...........

Depending on the size of the tank, just add a cup or two of bleach to
the tank and let the filter run for an hour. The bleach will kill and
disinfect gravel, filter, and all. Empty the tank, rinse thoroughly,
replace filter media, and your ready to go again........... Frank