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This is really a two part problem I think-

In the beginning of September I get a new 20 gal tank. (Just new to me, the tank has been set up for over 3 years, but I just moved it in September) A couple weeks ago some of a fish started dying. Over these last 2 weeks 3 have died. At first I thought that it was just because the tank was ending its cycle from when I set it up. I started doing small water changes every couple days, but another one died last night (the third one). I took a water sample in to have it tested and they said every thing looked fine with the water and the guy had no idea what was happening.

I also noticed some growths on another fish, a molly. From what I've read online, I think it is a fungus because it is a bit fuzzy. Its a white fish, and when in the right light you can see through him and there are several more growths inside of him. Does that happen with fungus?

What should I do? I don't want to come home to dead fish any more. Should I take out the molly and put him in a seperate tank until it clears up? Or should I treat the whole tank to keep the other guys from getting something. Right now in the tank I have the molly, a pleco, a rainbow shark, 2 tetras, and 2 others, but I don't know what they are- like I said, it wasn't my tank to begin with.

Thanks for your help.

Well what i would do is add melafix as directed, and turn your heater up to 81 degrees...jungle labs also makes something called fungus cure or something like that that works well. Also after you rid your tank of the problem, you may want to add a tbsp of salt for every five gallons of water, i know it sounds old fashioned but i do it and i never loose any fish to disease.

Thanks. I'll try that. What about the other fish that are dying? Anything I should do to figure out what's going on? I moved the tank, but I kept all the same gravel and its the same water that was in it before so nothing really changed there. And if the water is ok I don't know what else to check.

Well i would start by doing at least a 30 % water change before you add any of the medication.

Dont bother with the melafix till after you've added real meds. Melafix is more of an aid rather than a real medication when it comes to something as signifigent as fungal issues. If you've already got the jungle labs fungus clear tank buddies go with them, if not pick some up, I've had great sucess with them in dealing with a bacteiral fin rot. They handle both positive and negitive bacterias and dosed per 10 gallons so are easy and effective (IME).
I'd refrain from increasing temps till after you've added meds. Personally I dislike altering temps except in the case of ich. Fungus loves warm water, and you're not speeding up the lifecycle in the same way that you would be for ich. For ich it helps catch it at the one point in it's life where it can be killed, for fungus it jsut helps make it happy.

Get the medications added. Keep lights off as some meds are photosensitive, and less light lets the fish rest while being treated rather than more active. Keep an eye on your water quality doing water changes as necessary and adding the appropriate ammount of meds back in for each water change.

Once you've finished treating with the medications, then you may wish to treat with melafix as an aid in regrowth.

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