Flashing begins again...

[Raeladar]

K, I'm getting really tired of this. I had a long battle with parasites in my tank for a few months. I kept treating and doing water changes but a few weeks later the flashing would start again. Eventually my plants died because he medicines would need the lights to be off so often. I finally stabilized my tank, my parameters have been good, and I replanted the whole tank with some great plants that are doing really well. Then I got some more fish from my LFS to repopulate my tank. I've been using para guard and everything seemed to be doing fine. I just noticed some flashing starting again and I'm not sure what the best course of action is. I don't want to keep using the harmful chemicals and run my lights off as my new plants are doing really well. It would only be for a few days, I know, but I'm really hoping I could get some advice to kick these guys once and for all. Any less harmful methods to rid myself of the parasite pestilence?

37g planted tank
Fermentation co2 canister
2 aqueon quiet power bio sponge filters
All parameters are good/at 0
PH 7.0

4 cherry barbs
2 Otos
6 cardinal tetras
3 gold dust mollies
1 very fat SAE
2 fancy guppies
8 regular small guppies
1 mystery snail

 

[Raeladar]

And for the record I do a 30% water change every 4-5 days and a 50% change once a month. it's been about 3 weeks since I got the new fish. I drip acclimated them and did not dump LFS water into the tank. Figured parasites would have shown themselves before now, but here they are again...

 

[KaylNeko]

Is it ich? Or another kind of parasite? If it's ich, just jack the temperature up to 86-88 for two weeks and you'll be fine. If it's another parasite, unfortunately I can't help with that one.

 

[Thegrumpyfish]

I have a question about ich (sorry to thread jack) i dont have it but i was wondering how long would ich take to kill damsels? Weeks, months? I have a 200 gallon tank with three damsels two yellow tails and one blue and one puffer fish tanks five months old no problems yet (knock on wood)

 

[KaylNeko]

I don't think marine fish get ich because of the salt.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

I have a question about ich (sorry to thread jack) i dont have it but i was wondering how long would ich take to kill damsels? Weeks, months? I have a 200 gallon tank with three damsels two yellow tails and one blue and one puffer fish tanks five months old no problems yet (knock on wood)

Try posting in the saltwater unhealthy fish section. Marine ich is different to FW ich.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

To the OP
What kind of parasites to you have?
Fish can flash for other reasons. The water conditions are off or they are just ichy.

 

[Raeladar]

I have no white spots, so I don't think it's ich. Nor have I had any in the past. I've been researching a bit, but still can't figure it out. No other signs, parameters are good and I did another 50% wc. I'm wondering based on some of what I've seen, could it bee too much iron added for the plants?

 

[Mumma.of.two]

I don't think that would cause it. Have you looked into velvet?

 

[Raeladar]

Yeah. No symptoms in common so far. The old problems never manifested anything. I think I'm going to crank up the heat and leave it elevated for awhile. I'm thinking of maybe adding some salt, continuing to do very frequent water changes, and keep a close eye on them.

 

[Raeladar]

Unless you have another suggestion, of course.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

If your waters clean, the fish are healthy and eating, I'd say just leave it. Did you look up velvet? That's the only thing I can think of that you'll need to be aware of.

 

[Raeladar]

Yep. Even did the flashlight thing. No other symptoms. I think I'm paranoid because my first massive problem and tank die off started with flashing and ended with fish carnage. Thanks for your advice

 

[Raeladar]

UPDATE! HELP! White streaks and discoloration on the back of my guppies. Any advice?!

 

[Mumma.of.two]

Can you post pictures? His long has it been there? How are they acting? Is it fuzzy? How are your parameters?

 

[Raeladar]

Not specs or spots. Covers dorsal area, side fins and looks a bit like a saddle shape sideways!

 

[Mumma.of.two]

Not specs or spots. Covers dorsal area, side fins and looks a bit like a saddle shape sideways!

Eek! Did it come on fast?
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/fish_palace/tropicalfish_disease_identification.html#ERM
Look up fungus/columnaris. Does it match?

 

[Raeladar]

Not fuzzy. Pictures don't match. Came on very fast. The one who has it bad is struggling to swim slightly. Will try to post.

 

[Raeladar]

Parameters still good

 

[Raeladar]

Here is a photo