Member

Posts: 158
From:Marysville, CA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 02-24-2004 01:21 PM         

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Hi everybody! Here I am 1 week after I got rid of the last batch of fungus in my tank and it is back again. This time it has left my harlequins alone and is one a black male guppy. Here is what I am wondering: Could the fungus be living on the bio-wheel? When I medicate the instructions always say to remove the filter cartridge and I've always been taking out the bio-wheel too. Could the bacteria causing the fungus be living on the bio-wheel and I am reintroducing it every time I put the filter cartridge and wheel back in? If so, do you guys suggest me forking over the dough for a new bio-wheel or can my tank do without one? Thanks!

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Member

Posts: 266
From:Canada
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 02-24-2004 01:31 PM         

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That is definitely possible. What you should be removing is chemical filtration, such as activated carbon, that will adsorb the medication.

Do you use aquarium salt in your tanks? How big is your tank and how many/what size fish are in it? What are your amm.,nitrite,and nitrate readings?

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Member

Posts: 158
From:Marysville, CA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 02-24-2004 01:50 PM         

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I do use some aquarium salt in my tank. It is a 20 gallon with probably what is too many fish but here they are: 6 guppies, 1 pictus cat, 3 harlequin rasboras, 2 clown loaches, 3 chinese algae eaters, 4 lemon tetras, 2 pristella tetras, and 1 betta.

I do not have any readings for the tank. The tank has been set up for quite some time and the people at the fish store told me that if it had been set up for a long time that test kits were really just a waste of money. Not sure how true that is...

I generally vacuum the gravel and do 25% water changes every two weeks. But I don't know that my gravel vacuuming does a whole lot because I have tons of live plants and I don't want to hurt them while I'm vacuuming. Thanks for the reply, I think I'll probably have to get a new bio-wheel and filter cartridge and maybe that will kill of the fungus once and for all.

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Member

Posts: 104
From:Austin, TX
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 02-24-2004 02:20 PM         

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Remove ONLY the activated carbon element and treat your tank again with the bio-wheel in place. The treatment shouldn't harm the bacteria on the bio-wheel, but check the instructions on the medication just to be sure. You could replace the bio-wheel with a new one but you run the risk of the tank cycling again and with the stocking level you have, you would almost surely lose some fish. Bio-wheel elements are supposed to be good for the lifetime of the tank and shouldn't need replacement. Once the fungus has cleared, replace the carbon element with a new carbon element to avoid reintroducing fungus to your tank. Fungus among us can be persistent so be patient.

bon chance

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Member

Posts: 158
From:Marysville, CA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 02-24-2004 04:07 PM         

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Thanks so much, my fish thank the both of you as well!

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