HELP & WARNING MAJOR PLECO DEATH!

[ccole]

hey ev31 one

I hope this message finds you well but i really need your help and to all warn you!
:cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry:
I treated my tank with pets at home 'love fish' fungus and bacteria treatment it has the same ingrdiants in it as my usal brand but was a pound cheaper so i though whats the harm.....

it has killed half my fish including my prisec rusty and worm line pleco.....

DONT USE IT
I have spoke to pets at home and they are paying for all damages and fish loss but they will never bring back the same fish will they!

but now i need your help


I have some flurval bio balls and people have told me they will cycle a tank in 48hours... is that true?

I have got some filter gunk from my lfs and was going to put that in a clean filter to cycle it quicker

Should i use the ball, the gunk or both together?

I really need to get the survivors them back into the tank as they are cramped into a hospital tank that is way to small for them!

 

[macvsog23]

Sadly you cant beat time for cycling a tank
Sure they do bung ho that will speed it up but nature has a habit of biting back so i would never use it
Regards Bob

 

[D-MAC]

I am just wondering whether the med that you used stripped the oxygen from the water...I would be inclined to do a 100% waterchange on the tank, then keep a close eye on your levels...Bio balls will not cycle a tank in 48 hours unless the have come from a mature filter system

 

[ccole]

cheers dereck- i have totally striped the tank putting new sand with tiny gravel on the bottom under the sand, striped thefilter- i am boiling the word and stones and all other things... i think you are right about the oxygen being stripped bcause the ones that did survive were just laying around as if totally stunned....

I thought it was a bit bonkers to think they would cycle a tank! If i used the bacteria /gunk from a mature filter with the balls what do you think is a safe time to leave it to cycle for? I ws thinking two weeks.....

i dont want to rush it, just want to make them all happier as soon as possible(must be like sharing a bedroom with 6 othe rpeople and having the door locked at the same time!)

 

[D-MAC]

I just want to be clear as to what you are planning to do.
Are you starting the filter again?
Is this due to you boiling everything including your filter media?
How many fish do you have to go back in?...If you are using mature media you will be able to add your stock back in fairly quickly but you would need to keep a close eye for ammonia and nitrite spikes...If on the other hand you are planning a fishless cycle you will have to feed the bacteria to simulate fish waste, this can take some time and it concerns me that the fish are in a sml tank while this is going on.

 

[ccole]

i can see why you are not sure what i am planning to do as neither am i!!

I think i am planning to wash the external filter with boiling water and re-start the filter with new media EXCEPT for the bag of fish waste/wool and bio balls i got from my lfs..... in the hope this would speed up the process....

As i am unsure why the medicien killed my fish i didnt want to keep the filter media i have just incase it kills the rest of the fish!!

Does that make any more sence?
cheers

 

[ccole]

p.s i have 6 pleco all small
1 medium pleco 5 inch
1 whiptail
1 gold gourami
to go back in......

 

[D-MAC]

I am not sure that washing the filter is the right thing to do as it can cause more problems...I am 100% sure that by doing a 100% water change you will not have any more problems with the meds...The med that you used must have used all the oxygen and in turn took out most of your fish or it was an overdose of meds for the type of fish...I am inclined to go with lack of oxygen...This is why it is very important to add extra aeration during treatments...I found the same thing with Interpet anti fungus, I knocked a whole tank of fish out with a treatment, but fortunately caught it and done a massive water change and they all recovered.

 

[ccole]

dereck you are the man! thank you so much for your input- have been pressing the re-fresh button in the hope you posted back soon!!

Ok so i need to calm down.... i have empytied the tank now and cleaned it down- will add the new substrate and water and get the pump running again.....

should i leave the remaining fish in the hospital tank for a while to let them calm down so the transfer dosent stress them out?

thanks once again

 

[Brengun]

I would use Stability and prime daily and keep an eye on the cycle. Regular water changes if they look to be stressing. Sorry to hear of your loss.

 

[D-MAC]

dereck you are the man! thank you so much for your input- have been pressing the re-fresh button in the hope you posted back soon!!

Ok so i need to calm down.... i have empytied the tank now and cleaned it down- will add the new substrate and water and get the pump running again.....

should i leave the remaining fish in the hospital tank for a while to let them calm down so the transfer dosent stress them out?

thanks once again

I would give the tank a day or two to settle after adding the new sand, but if you find that you are happy with things (temp and clarity of water) tomorrow you can always try and house them back into the main tank...Just keep a close eye on them, which I'm sure you will...Any signs of distress and you can always put them back into the smaller tank.:thumbup:

 

[rpp1973]

sorry to hear of your loss.
what filter is on the small tank ?ans is this filter mature?
could you use this on the main tank to speed things up?:dk:


are pets at home compensating for all your fish without question?

 

[ccole]

OOOOOooo that is a good idea..... i did it when i changed from an internal to an external!!!

They are giving me the money with the backup of my lfs vouching that i have bought all these fish from them....

 

[bigbird]

I am sorry for your loss. I know you have already done a lot. i would have set up the Q tank, just cleaned one of your external filters( not boiled), then used this for the Q tank and then set up brand new the present tank by new sand, new everything and letting it cycle for 2weeks before reintroducing the fish. Maybe I read it wrong, but the LFS was going to give you used filter material to start your culture, I would not do that you have no idea what diseases or things you might introduce in your tank. good luck cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[ccole]

hey jk
My filter is to big for my q tank..... it would cycle the contents like every mintue....lol the fish would be in a wirl wind!!!

What if i emptied the 60ltr q tank i have into my 180ltr tank would that help.... i am worried about the q tank being to smalll for them..... but i totallly get what you are saying..... shock to the system with the h2o so super clean.......

the lfs gave my some filter stuff from a stand alone tank used only for pleco's...never seen a dogy one in their but agree you never know what is hiding...... i havent added it yet...

I am still filling the tank it's not easy when you cant use your legs propally.....getting very frustrated! lol

 

[bigbird]

i would come over and help you but i am just a wee little bit far away :lol: ,
anyway I am about to redo my 5ft set up and will place all into a 100liter 2ft Q tank for 2 weeks. I just add plenty of caves etc for all and for this period they should be fine. If your q tank water is cycled I would use that, then add seachem prime and some added live bacteria and your should be fine. I know its hard in the chair, my dad is also in one and makes everything we do so hard for him. good luck and take your time, dont want you to injure yourself. Also when you cycle the fish, take a good 1 or 2 with the drip system. cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[D-MAC]

i can see why you are not sure what i am planning to do as neither am i!!

I think i am planning to wash the external filter with boiling water and re-start the filter with new media EXCEPT for the bag of fish waste/wool and bio balls i got from my lfs..... in the hope this would speed up the process....

As i am unsure why the medicien killed my fish i didnt want to keep the filter media i have just incase it kills the rest of the fish!!

Does that make any more sence?
cheers

Did you boil the filter media on just give it a clean in aquarium water to keep it alive? if you have saved the filter bacteria I would get the big tank up and running as soon as possible as this will be better for the fish than crammed into a sml q tank...Boiling everything would be ok if it was a disease that killed the fish but in this case it was meds and by water changing you will dilute this down to safe levels...You could also add carbon to remove any remaining meds.

 

[ccole]

i have just washed the filter media-no boiling, i took your advice....
i have the tank 3/4 full now thank god!!!!
I have used the matured sand mixed with some new stuff
The water looks crystal...i'll give it a wee while and see how it all looks
fingers crossed.....

thanks for your support and JK for your empathy

 

[D-MAC]

I know its a lot of work but hopefully it will all work out for you...:thumbup:

 

[bigbird]

yipie you are on the way. nearly there. cheers jk
ps also send us a photo of your new set up :thumbup: