Mako
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
OK, I'm having an epidemic in one of my tanks. I just found the source of the problem (chloramine/ammonia), but can't diagnose the secondary infection that results.
I've had well water (good well water) for all my life, and I moved across the state to an apartment in a more suburb area, with city water. I wasn't accustomed to treating the water-- just plug and play. I use the chlorine/chloramine remover, but what they DON'T tell you is that IF you have chloramine, you get ammonia. Since my heavily planted, heavily lighted tanks never have an iota of ammonia, I didn't suspect it.
So, I get a wild hair and check the ammonia, and it's high (.25 mg/l) and the nitrite is also spiking. I did just do a 30% water change and added some newly collected wild fish (mollies and killies). Ie, ammonia from two directions.
This disease:
It starts like tail rot, rarely on the other fins. A white necrosis (not a filmy patch, just dead skin/flesh) begins taking over the tail fin, spreading up the peduncle, and eventually reaching the body cavity. The fish seems to lose movement in the affected areas. Death is certain. I know ammonia is instigating this, but what the heck is doing it? The only meds I had at the house was malachite green/formaline formula, and some methelene blue. Both of which I am using per instructions to ward off any parasites. But this looks like a bacteria. Whaddya think?
Matt
I've had well water (good well water) for all my life, and I moved across the state to an apartment in a more suburb area, with city water. I wasn't accustomed to treating the water-- just plug and play. I use the chlorine/chloramine remover, but what they DON'T tell you is that IF you have chloramine, you get ammonia. Since my heavily planted, heavily lighted tanks never have an iota of ammonia, I didn't suspect it.
So, I get a wild hair and check the ammonia, and it's high (.25 mg/l) and the nitrite is also spiking. I did just do a 30% water change and added some newly collected wild fish (mollies and killies). Ie, ammonia from two directions.
This disease:
It starts like tail rot, rarely on the other fins. A white necrosis (not a filmy patch, just dead skin/flesh) begins taking over the tail fin, spreading up the peduncle, and eventually reaching the body cavity. The fish seems to lose movement in the affected areas. Death is certain. I know ammonia is instigating this, but what the heck is doing it? The only meds I had at the house was malachite green/formaline formula, and some methelene blue. Both of which I am using per instructions to ward off any parasites. But this looks like a bacteria. Whaddya think?
Matt