Columnaris

[Pyriel]

About two years ago I got an electric yellow from a store that wasn't Seaview (wont' be doing that again) and I realized about 3wks later something wasn't right.  Took me 2wks to catch it (I have a number of rock caves) and the only thing that matched what I saw was TB.  I don't think it's that anymore.  Whatever it was it went through all my fish and only my Ram survived and is still going now HOWEVER it's always had little white tufts on him near his eyes.  He comes good and gets worse constantly.  I just put it down to something that I couldn't cure as it's survived this long.  A month back I got two bronzies to help clean up waste and I noticed two nights ago one has gone, all of a sudden, completely white, and the ram is now becoming emaciated.  I'm putting it down to Columnaris from the yellow and I believe I now have to strip the tank.

 

I've read several articles before but they are all over the place - just spotted one that says 50/50 water bleach.  I need something reliable.

 

Can anyone help?

[Pyriel]

I just managed to find this, any thoughts?

 

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/columnaris_disease.php

[jayc]

If indeed your tank has columnaris, then the salt bath and hydrogen peroxide would be good methods of treatment.

You could even remove the fish temporarily, and dose the whole tank with h2o2. Turn off the filter, so filter bacteria isn't killed off. Then do a big water change before reintroducing the fish and turning on the filter again.

Hopefully your diagnosis of columnaris is correct. But salt baths and h2o2 would treat a wide range of bacterial diseases.

Edited August 12, 2014 by jayc

[fishmosy]

So just to clarify, are you asking what you can use to sterilise the tank after its been stripped down?

If so, bleach is a good option but you don't need anywhere near 50/50 mix. A 20ppm mix of bleach which is equivalent to 2mL in 10L is more than enough to kill bacteria and what we use in our commercial aquaculture hatchery at work. Just make sure you really rinse your tank well afterwards.

A weak peroxide solution will also kill bacteria.

Finally, a salt slurry will also kill bacteria and act as a mild abrasive (i.e. It will clean the glass as its swished around). Add a cup or so of salt crystals, then just enough water to make a slurry. Then scrub the tank with it.

[Pyriel]

I've read 1/10 for bleach which sounds more like it.  Looks like PP has the same action as peroxide and you can keep your fish in the solution while treating then use peroxide to neutralise it.