Help treating dual fish diseases at the same time?

Question

hi hopefully I can get some views on how to go about this one as has never had a problem like this before.

In my 55 gal (220lts) community tank I have been stuck down with dual fish diseases at the same time 1st being white spot (aka ich) and the second being a FUNGUS disease in the form of Columnaris (aka MOUTH FUNGUS) and possible Saprolegnia in the mix.

There nothing wrong with the water as I tested that and got the following readings with an API test kit AMMONIA - 0
NITRITE - 0
NITRATE - 20
kH - 7
GH - OFF THE SCALE due to the tap water but has not been a problem in 2 years.
PH - 7.8

Normal tank temp sits at - 26c (78)
The tank is running dual filters that been a Fluval 304 Canister Filters and a 800 l/h power head on a under gravel filter.
The tank is also planted with live plants... With NO CO2 system in use.

Fish in the tank.
6 corys NO signs yet
1 Male fighter SHOWING FUNGUS and white spot
1 female fighter SHOWING FUNGUS
2 bottlenose no sign of anything at this time
10 neon tetra SHOWING WHITE SPOT and fungus
2 male swordtails showing sign of both
3 female swordtails showing signs of white spot only
1 female molly showing nothing at this time
1 male molly showing nothing at this time
4 male guppies showing nothing at this time
4 female guppies showing nothing at this time

THE NEONS are only new to the tank and stupid me did not put them into a holding tank like I normally would and am guessing they were the root of the problem here.....as I run a few tanks which are all on different filters etc

Now the question I have what would be the best way to attack treating the white spot and FUNGUS disease at the same time as my normal method would be to lift the heat on the tank and add salt to attack the white spot due to the catfish. But in this case has the added problem of the fungus and by lifting the heat speeds that up as that loves heat...

Any ideas on how to attack this??? Is thinking down of the lines of lifting the heat and doing the salt thing BUT also hitting with MEDS for fungus if it safe for the catfish... Will also be treating NETS and gravel Vac with super strong salt baths after each use in that tank

Answer 1

With that variety (some of them being fairly frail when it comes to toxic meds) I would Definitely suggest a temperature and salinity boost first and foremost. Take your temp up to 82 and if you have not already had aquarium salt in your tank before, start with the recommended 1 tbsp per 10 gal rule. They slowly add a few tsps more every few days over the course of the next week to increase the salinity. A gradual and slight salinity increase will not kill your fish but it will kill the ich. Ich moves in lifecycles, the white dots you see are cysts waiting to pop and release baby ich. If there is a high salt level, the newly born ich dies and cant create more cysts and within a couple weeks you should be ok. I would have to guess the tetras did it for you - they are notoriously frail and easily succumb to water borne illnesses. The salt Should help with the fungus as well. If it does not, the next step up would be Pima-Fix which is safe for the plecos but I wouldn't overuse it or use it too much unless absolutely necessary. If there is prominent ulcers or wounds as a result of the fungus, it can be used in conjunction with Mela-Fix which is like fish neosporin. But start with temp and salt, that often works. Hope it does for you - best of luck.

Answer 2

White spot , or 'ick' is caused by sudden temperature changes, such as putting fish into a tank from another area without getting the temperature the same first. If your water temperature does not stay stable, for example not having a heater in the tank, and cold air ,or hot air , moves around the tank,it causes temperature changes, and the fish will keep on getting white spot. The secret to getting rid of white spot is to raise the temperature to let the eggs drop off the fish, and kill the eggs as well. Get the medicine(Marltons Anti Ick for example ) at the pet shop and follow the instructions carefully. Stress , such as not treating the fish carefully when moving fish, also causes white spot.

Answer 3

If you have Columnaris and turn the heat up its going to get worse you need to treat both diseases but Ich i would of recommend Heat only no salt but if you turn the Heat up the Columnaris is going to get worse as it thrives in high Temperatures Over 80f.

My Advice is get a medication called Protozin if you can get it as i don't know what country your in .That is safe to use with loaches corys and any scale less fish so your bristlenose pleco will be fine with that .

It treats Ich and Fungus but once Columnaris hits a tank its very hard to get rid of .