A quiet tank...

Unfortunately my struggles with fish ich (white spot) took a nasty turn and I've lost all 4 of my rainbows.

I started treating the tank for Ich when I started noticing fungus on them too. Add to that a little fin rot and things just got worse and worse. I took the rainbows out of the tank and quarantined them - I started using Interpet anti-fungus and fin rot, but I think the conditions of higher temp (which helps fungus) and the stress of a new location took their toll. One of them looked like he was recovering until I saw last night he had developed almost out of nowhere a huge fungus growth.

This morning the last of them was gone. I guess on the upside the tank is now Ich free - everyone else in the there seems happy - the Siamese Algae Eaters are particularly active, jockeying for position. Still, it's a sad day *sigh*

I will head out probably next weekend to get some more fish once I'm sure Ich/Fungus aren't returning to the main tank. I have my eye on some Neon Dwarf Gouramis as well as a couple more Pearl Gouramis. I think once they're settled in I'll try out some baby Rainbowfish I noticed in another store down there.

The whole episode has been a real learning exercise - I'll add it to the "What I've Learned" section on Aquascaping. Treat ich with higher temps but treat fungus with lower ones. Treating both at the same time... that's tricky (as I found out). Also important, when adding fish I'm going to take more time and NEVER allow fish store water into the tank - always the last step will be to "net" the fish in.

Here's to a more successful future...

Mr D