[twocents]

I think I just had a bout with columnaris.
I would upload a pic, but all the fish died in 2 days.
Looked like ich, then like a fungus, fuzzy patches, but then the caudal fins started to rot, and they were trailing white string from them.
I have some equipment that I need to sterilize. Any ideas?

also, any idea on how to proceed?
all that is left is a pleco which I think is dying. If I catch him, I'm going to euthanize him.
the plan I have is to sock the tank with meds, some water changes, and then sock it again.
anti bacterials, whatever I can get my hands one.
any input would be appreciated. so far it has not spread to the other tanks.

Thanks.

 

[jaysee]

I've honestly never sanitized anything - I just let it dry, and clean with hot water. Not saying you should do the same - just saying what I do, which has worked out fine for me and the close to 30 tanks I've had over the years.

As for the pleco - I cull a fish when it fails the net test. If a fish is easily netted, then it is in deep trouble. If its able to avoid being netted, then it's still got some life in it and so there's hope.

 

[MoneyMitch]

u can always add some bleach, its safe to use to clean a tank with with no live stock in there. itll sanitize and still be safe for fish use after. I would use a good conditioner before restocking after use of bleach though.

 

[twocents]

thanks mitch, the tank is heavily planted, so not sure the bleach would be good for that.
for hot water, I would heat it close to boiling, many bacteria can form cysts, spores or other protection to survive desiccation.

 

[MoneyMitch]

plants would copunt as love stock ive had success with the bleach method after nuking a tank after a similar problem. to each their own =D

 

[twocents]

yeah, I agree, bleach would fix the problem. would probably also nuke my aquariapure. I just hope that filter does not harbor the columnaris as well.

 

[MoneyMitch]

ahh yea no experience with the aquariapure thingy, maybe post in their section see what they think?

 

[mcompagno]

All this happened in two days? Normally ich or fungus takes much longer to develop and to start killing fish.

 

[twocents]

mcompagno, I think it is columnaris, so i was using all the wrong treatment. and the speed with which it murdered everything also points to it. I wish it weren't so, highly contagious and damned hard to get rid of.

 

[mcompagno]

Oh man...I just did some research on that disease...nasty stuff! How is it avoidable?

 

[twocents]

maybe. do not overcrowd a tank, although I do not know if that will help if the bug gets in anyway.

right now, the other tanks are clear of it, but I'm going to have to be very careful and follow strict quarantine rules on it.

 

[MoneyMitch]

maybe. do not overcrowd a tank, although I do not know if that will help if the bug gets in anyway.

right now, the other tanks are clear of it, but I'm going to have to be very careful and follow strict quarantine rules on it.

+1 but still not a sure fire way to keep it out

 

[twocents]

From what I've read it is a nasty vicious b*s*d. It does not like warm water so I'm going to shut the heater off as well. However, now that the weather is getting warmer, that may not do too much anyway. Columnaris does not like water under 64 degrees.

 

[fish monger]

Frankly, I'd start over. Start getting a seeded filter ready, clean everything with hot aquarium salt water and let it dry. I'd get new substrate also. Some of the "dips" suggested for new plants might allow you to save them. Perhaps some of our plant experts have advice for that. In my opinion, this would be easier, faster, and safer than trying to correct the situation using chemicals and then trying to counteract their impact. Best of luck.

 

[ColoradoUtah]

I'm very new, but I remember reading someone, maybe Byron(?), talking about diping plants in a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water then rinsing it off as a way to disinfect plants.

 

[Boredomb]

Be careful on the ratio of water and H202. Too strong and it will kill your plants. I have done that myself. Nothing more frustrating turn knowing you are the one that caused the plants to die.

 

[twocents]

wish i knew how to avoid it. I think avoid as many of the stress producing situations as possible. my 20 gallon was over stocked. I did weekly water changes of 1/4 -1/3 but apparently it wasn't enough. and again, it may have had nothing to do with it.

 

[twocents]

i've left the heater on. I'm not worried about trying to counteract the chemical warfare going on. there's nothing left alive except ramshorn snails

 

[twocents]

update, 9:30 pm friday may 3. the tank has a lot of baby rainbow fish in it..
oh well. as I said before, out of death, life.

 

[ColoradoUtah]

Wonderful!