Sick Tank -- How can I make my fish feel better?

[starsplitter7]

My 8 tanks have been happy for a year, and I have been keeping up with at the least monthly cleanings and water changes -- I work on every two weeks. Unfortunately, I didn't notice the water quality in my 55 go down hill. I lost my gorgeous golden Dojo and realized there was a big problem. I started looking at my fish and they were missing barbels, fin extensions were gone, and a clown had bubble eye (mostly gone over the last week). I feel terrible.

How can I sooth them while they recover? Is there something I can put in the water that will ease the pain they must be in?

I have done three water changes over a week, I rinsed the filter and vacuumed half the tank.

Size: 55 gallons
Temp: 78-82
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5
PH: 7.0
TDS 317 -- the same as tap water.
Regular Water conditioner: Prime and added Stress Coat also
Filter Aquaclear for 70 gallons, two power head sponge filters and two bubblers
Decorations including wood and lots of Java moss
Inhabitants: Loaches, Bristlenoses, Cories, Killie, Black Neons, Skirted Tetra, Whiptail Catfish, 3 small eels (under 6 inches), . . .

These fish have been together for about 3 years, and they have shared this tank for about a year.

Should I move the Clowns to the 75 gallons? I have Plecos, a tiretrack eel, ropefish, bichir, a Gibby and Raphael catfish. I have four clowns under 5".

[chefkeith]

Sorry to hear about the problems. Melafix may help them recuperate. I know water changes can be alot of work when you have 8 tanks, but more frequent water changes is the best preventative. You might want to think about automating the water changes if you are short on time. Drip system water changers are becoming very popular, are very low maintenance, and once installed will save you many hours of time, work, and effort.

Here's a short plan for one- Connect some 1/4" tubing (the kind used for ice-makers), to a waterline, and put a flow valve on the other end, and slowly drip water into aquarium . For a 55 gallon tank, a 10% daily water change would be equivalent to a drip rate of about 5 gallons per day, or 13 ml's per minute.
You might need to install a carbon block filter ( again, the kind they use for ice makers) to remove chlorine and other contaminants from the tap water. If you have chloramines in your tap water, you'll need to put a little water conditioner, like Prime, in the tank about every other day.
To remove excess water from the aquarium, you could connect a small siphon tube from the aquarium to a simple pvc overflow located outside of the tank. Then run a hose from the overflow to a drain, to a water bucket, or to some plants, or to an outdoor garden. Your imagination is your only limit.

Here's some links about Drip Systems-
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... p?t=291809
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... hp?t=19920
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... p?t=322499
http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/man ... nging.html

[starsplitter7]

Thanks so much for responding.

I am afraid to use Melafix, because I have lost fish after using it. I am such a chicken. I feel like I have already damaged them so badly. You are the second persom to suggest melafix. This tank has loaches. Do they do okay with Melafix? Catfish too?

I am usually good about water changes. My time got away from me and I had company, and I did two water changes (for all eight tanks) with company. Most of my tanks are small and I can do four tanks in an hour. But the big tanks take time. I also try to remove the decorations once a month and clean underneath to make sure nothing is caught. I also rinse plants.

I would love to put in the drip systems. That sounds amazing. Unfortunately, my home isn't mine and money is very tight. I will keep this email though, because those sound like the would be within reason of my mechanical skills. I would also like to string my tanks and make bridges for tanks with compatible fish.

[chefkeith]

Personally, I've only used Melafix in quarantine tanks with clown loaches and rainbowfish. So I'm not sure how it would react wtih the biodiversity of a main tank and other fish species. Can you move the most infected fish to a quarantine tank and treat them there?

I've heard good things about Almond Leaves also.

[Diana]

I think you are already doing great with increased water changes and a bit of stress coat.
Live plants can help a lot. Of course they come with a price. They need the proper light and some fertilizers that are in short supply in most fish food.

I have 5" Clown Loaches with Senegal Bichers. Bichers are predators and will eat smaller fish. Mine ate some 2" Cory relatives. (SPINES! but gone )

[starsplitter7]

I think I have things under control and hope everyone's barbels will regenerate. I feel terrible. All my fault. I have Java moss. Seems to be the only plant that grows in there and the eels love it. Perfect for lounging. Everything else eventually ends up in the filter.

So far I have everyone doing okay. No more loses. I am watching the clowns, because they are badly affected. My smallest clown is 3". The others are 4-5". My bichir is about 6-7". I have had friends lose cories to bichirs, so I never put cories in there. I have big, armored fish with decent dispositions. My predators are the bichir, ropefish and tiretrack, but they are not aggressive. just picsivores and shrimp eaters. I have a gibby with a bad attitude and two S. euruptus and the male is a butt, but none of the fish have any marks on them. They are all in beautiful shape and the S.E. have long perfect fins. I think the clowns would take up residence with the eel. She shares her lair with two other fish with no incidence.

Would my three inch clown be okay with a 7" bichir? The fish aren't fed live. I give them silversides and cocktail shrimp and they are all a bit chunky. I would add the two clown lairs when I add the clowns to the 75. And feed everyone in the 75 before adding the clowns.

[Diana]

I would not put a 3" fish (any species) with the predators you list. My Bichers range from 6" to 9" long and I do live feed them, culled Guppies. I tried adding some Marbled Crayfish to the tank, too, but the Bichers ate them, too. As you say, they are peaceful enough as long as the tank mate does not fit in their mouth. However, they have very large mouths.

[starsplitter7]

Okay. Thank you for letting me know. I would be devastated to lose a clown to predation. I don't worry about the ropefish at all and the eel is pretty complacent, but I don't trust the bichir. I will wait. I have had the clown for two years and he is slow growing, but growing (He was sickly as a youngster, but now the picture of health). I am amazed the bichir could move fast enough to catch food. Mine lounges in the tank, but I guess that's the way for a nice ambush predator. I don't want to move the clowns until everyone can go. I don't want him lonely. I know the other three are too big. They are hefty clowns. But the small one is small and slim, even though he is not skinny.

I will wait.