I'm having this issue too.
I just got my tank cycled. I had to order my fish online because nothing local had what I wanted. I wait a week, keeping my tank perfect. The night before they showed up, I did a 90% wc, tested, everything fine.
Fish show up and I acclimate them. I even took my time, spent over an hour with one drip line and the other adding tank water. My rainbow fish were fine (the non drip line ones). They were prefectly healthy and went right to exploring the tank. But when I went to add the diamond tetras, 2 were dead, one even looked as if his lips were eaten away. I didn't notice this fact until they were already in the tank. The next morning, another was dead and one had what looked like a small lump of cotton on his head.
Well, I'm new to fish. I figured I inadvertently killed the other three, but now, I'm pretty dang sure that store sent me diseased fish and the stress of shipping killed them. I went to isolate them yesterday after research and noticed that the rainbows now have that small white crap on their mouths. The tetras won't eat, but the rainbows have been little pigs
. They still are pigs, but I'm very worried now. I see no point in isolation at this point. And as usual hindsight is a big ole bitty.
I had some melafix so I used that yesterday, and I know it's not real medication and just tea tree oil really. (Which btw, tea tree oil has been used for centuries as an anti fungal and antiseptic). The tetras seem a bit better this morning. But in a panic, I ordered some API fungus stuff, some Maracyn 1 and 2, some kanaplex, and some furan 2. I've read that a combination of Maracyn 1 and 2, or a combination of furan and kanaplex works very well for columnaris. I paid overnight shipping so I'd have a plan of attack today and....... stupid weather delay. Nothing but the API fungus cure will show up today.
And it turns your water green.
What do I do? I have live plants and I'm afraid that going all out war on this will kill them and they are doing so well. I don't want my fish to die. I feel horrid about the three that have. Should I use what I have until the rest shows up tomorrow and just deal with the green water? I feel like the diamond tetras are a lost cause, but I think I can save the rainbows. Since columnaris is a bacteria issue, will the fungus cure even do anything???
Sorry for hijacking the thread too...... But I'm really not sure how to deal with this. So far, everything is still alive. Provided that's the case tomorrow, which would be better? The maracyn attack or the furan/kanaplex one? Should I just dose with melafix again today after a water change and wait for the antibiotics?
I'm so frustrated and angry that if they all die, I think I'll just grow plants.
