fish died

I've just lost all 3 of my goldfish in a 20 gal tank due to a bacterial
infection. Now I want to use that tank for guppies. The question is, how can
I prevent the new fish from getting infected? Is there such thing as a
quarantine for an fishless tank? It still has some live plants and ivory
snails in it.

I suggest you get a bigger tank. If not, get a lot of filtration and
aeration.

Jan wrote:
I've just lost all 3 of my goldfish in a 20 gal tank due to a bacterial
infection. Now I want to use that tank for guppies. The question is, how can
I prevent the new fish from getting infected? Is there such thing as a
quarantine for an fishless tank? It still has some live plants and ivory
snails in it.


Hard to tell what to do without more information. What happened to the
goldfish and did you test the water? Where there things that could have
stressed the fish? How are you sure the problem was bacterial?

You may not need a quarantine or to disinfect the tank but rather to
correct things that may have stressed the fish in it.

--
__ Elaine T __
__' http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__

I did not test the water. The goldfish lived in the tank for 4 years.
Everything looked normal, then the fish suddenly developed red streaks and
patches on the fins, stopped eating, and they died within 3-4 days. I was
told this is an internal bacterial infection. I gave them antibiotics, but
it didn't help. The most probable cause of stress was overcrowding - the
fish grew quite large (4-5 in). The tank currently has a 300 gph power
filter, and no gravel. I'd like to add gravel and a lot of live plants, this
time without overcrowding the tank.

Jan wrote:
I did not test the water. The goldfish lived in the tank for 4 years.
Everything looked normal, then the fish suddenly developed red streaks and
patches on the fins, stopped eating, and they died within 3-4 days. I was
told this is an internal bacterial infection. I gave them antibiotics, but
it didn't help. The most probable cause of stress was overcrowding - the
fish grew quite large (4-5 in). The tank currently has a 300 gph power
filter, and no gravel. I'd like to add gravel and a lot of live plants, this
time without overcrowding the tank.


I'm so sorry for your loss. It is always upsetting to lose fish you've
had for that long.

Hmm...What to do... Bacteria that infect stressed fish are usually
normal tank bacteria. It actually could have been due to poor water
quality alone since toxic levels of ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate can
also cause red streaks in the fins and all of the fish died at once.
Either way, I think you need to clean everything well but not worry
about a total quarantine.

I'd set plants and snails aside in some tankwater and scrub down the
tank glass, any decorations, and the filter with an algae pad and rinse
them really well. Rinse your bio filter but treat it kindly because
there may still be some living colonies of nitrifying bacteria in it.
Refill the tank with clean, treated tap water as close to the
temperature the plants and snails are used to as you can. Acclimate the
snails to their new water like you would a fish and then put them back
with the plants.

Once you've warmed the tank up to guppy temps (76 is good), I'd start
with a trio of guppies - either 1 male and 2 females or 3 males. Buy
lots of plants with the fish because if you don't have many nitrifying
bacteria left since your tank has been fishless, the plants will help
absorb any ammonia and keep fish and snails healthy. I don't think
you'll have too much trouble reestablishing your good bacteria. Test
for ammonia and if you don't see any in a month, you can add a few more
guppies. Keep either all males, or 2 females for each male if you want
babies, since males tend to harass females.

There may be other folks here who say to disinfect the tank and start
over completely. That is an option, but I think if the tank is clean
all will be fine.

--
__ Elaine T __
__' http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__