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This is a continuation of my previous thread on the puzzled cory disease in my 30G tank:
http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/thread.aspx?id=31784&rp=3

It is getting worse!!
One of the cory got fin rot two days ago. I moved him to a 10G hospital tank and treated him with Melfix. He died yesterday

The other 3 corys has no physical sign of sickness but remain listless, skittish, and refuse to eat any food when I'm watching them..

I also noticed that even my very hardy CAE has completely changed lately. He stopped eating algae. He digged his own hiding place underneath a flat piece of rock. I saw him lying at the back corner with the corys most of the time. But when I get closer to the tank, the corys would dash off, the CAE would retreat to his cave in lightning speed.

Water parameter remains the same:
Water parameters:
No Ammonia, No Nitrite, No Nitrate.
PH 7.6 - 7.8
Temp 78F
Even the salt is not there anymore after frequent water changes and gravel cleaning.

Other fishes - 2 Molly with some frys, and three cherry barbs, are all doing fine.

What is haunting my bottom feeders???

That salt was only three days ago and I think the damage would have all ready been done. I would do at least a 40% water change every second/third day. Even add more airation and water movement.
Melafix is for "Stress" try that as well.
Also add some Bio starter at every water change as well as clean the filter and several good deep gravel cleanings.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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Thanks Keith, I'll add Melafix to my 30G to release the stress of the remaining corys. But I'm still puzzled with teh behaviour of of CAE. He used to be so energetic and hard working..
Something must be wrong with my gravels. Does anyone know a kind of disease or parasite that would affect the bottom feeders more?

I changed 30% of the water yesterday, applied Melafix according to the instruction. This morning, I noticed that another cory (the same species as the one that died a few days ago) started to develop fin rot..

Now I have a theory of this mystery:
The problem comes from the water changes!!!
A couple of months ago, I started to refill my tanks with python by mix the hot water / cold water (of course water conditioner is added in the process). I suspect that something's wrong with my hot water supply, which perhaps not bothering most of the fish - but the most sensitive ones. Corys and CAE (scaleless) are the usual suspects.
Does this make sense?

I'll change the way I do the water changes anyway.

If you have a hot water service that has copper in it that could easly be the problem. I heat my water up in the laundry trough and never a problem.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

My hot water tank is made of fiberglass but the pipings are copper. I'll stop using the hot water directly from the tap to be on the safe side. My weekly water changing routine will involve a lot of water boiling from a "kettle"..

Unless I am vbery wrong that is also very bad I think it will cause more problems.

I store my water in 15Lt water containers and heat the container up if that is to heave for you get smaller water containers. I pour the water from the containers into a bucket to make it easer for the Betta tank I use a watering can without the spray head.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Ricky,

Do you have a water softener in your residence? The unit may subtly increase the salt level in your tanks although the mollies will love it.

Do connect a hose to the drain on your hot water tank and drain three to five gallons from the unit. Lime, rust, salts and minerals settle in a hot water heater. The routine draining of three to five gallons will clean out the mix that may or may not be causing your problems.



__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Hi Bob,

No I don't have a water softener.

Thanks for your advice to drain the hot water tank. I drained some water out and it looks pretty unhealthy.. I think you've completely resolved this puzzle!

I feel so bad for my fish..

There's some serious cleaning to do this weekend. Thanks again.

i was looking around and i noticed this post. as of now i live in an old house and i dont know how long since the water heater was flushed or replaced... so ill try to remember this if i notice a problem with my cories

*click *flash *click "whered he go???"

Unfortunately, I did not manage to save the 2nd cory. Fin rot killed him a few days ago.

My weekend water changing was painful. It lasted almost 3 hours with a lot of water boiling . Must find a better solution..

The remaining 2 corys look stable. The CAE is becoming more active and restarted his algae cleaning in my 30G.

Many water conditioners come with effective copper-binding agents to help stop exactly this sort of problem. Try sourcing some , and adding it to the water intended for changes well in advance of adding the water to the tank. A lot of folks underestimate the time it takes for metal binding agents to work. It can sometimes take many hours.

In addition salt may be dissolved in the water generally , but you will probably also find that a lot of the remaining salt may be in higher concentration at the bottom of the tank unless the flow at gravel level is exceptionally good. Hence the high exposure the cories might be getting. Therefore i would give the gravel a seriously good clean, and possibly any ornaments could do with a good scrub under a tap with a brush. Shifting algae ( that inevitable bed for trapping toxins) and ditching it from the tank is also a good idea.