Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Sorry... but you have a disease problem, and possible water quality problem... Which has become progressively worse... with inter-connected tanks and other fish stock...

If you wish to attempt to save any of the Jades, you need to isolate them and treat them immediately.... frankly I think they are beyond the effort...

Not doing "anything more"... until you've identified the disease... is just not an option IMO...

Bin them, if you can't isolate them... if you can isolate the tank, empty it... other wise drain it, and refill from the other tanks... to limit the amount of (infected) water transferance... salt all tanks to at least 2ppt... giving a total => 6ppt... aerate and pump continually...

Yeah, I didn't mean to discount isolating the system and using the salt treatment on both the jades and anything else that has been in contact with them - I had thought that would have been done as a first priority.
But using any further antibiotic or fungal treatments is pointless until the disease has been identified. the wrong treatment will only result in further stress and you can't afford to wait and see if something works.
If Jades are suseptible to a disease it needs to be identified so that it is in the knowledge base for the future.
Isolating the tank, not feeding, lots of air and doing water changes if ammonia or nitrites dictate them will maybe preserve them until you find out if the condition is treatable in a food fish.
John

Rupe and Johnh, Thanks for the replies............Have already isolated the quarantine tank, heavily salted (10ppt) and lowed Ph to 6.8. Water quality........?????????????? have always done water tests each day and have had no problems. Only problem was when I had coco peat on as a mulch and made the water like cocoa cola. That was about 2 months ago and have done water changes, just about getting to the clear stage now.

Dont want fish to suffer, so am going to bite the bullet tomorrow and clean and disinfect the quarantine tank just in case. Easy enough to separate the other 2 FTs, just have to fit the spare pump I have and rearrange some of the supply water to the GBs. Each set of GBs has separate 90mm drains back to each tank.

Thanks everyone for your support.

Have just read your thread. There is a mobile fish vet who consults Australia wide. For a fee he might be able to diagnose your problem via photos (maybe). His name is Dr Richmond Loh (The Fish Vet) and his email is thefishvet@gmail.com - I also have a phone number for him if that address is a deadend. Let me know if you need it (aquarium@westnet.com.au).

Thanks for that Candyman,

I think I'll be able to diagnose the problem with my tank.


What a great little sucker, used it to vac crap off bottom of tank. Didn't realise not one drop of water from the connected hose enters the tank.


Thinking back to cause of original problem, do you think these metal grills on top of FTs would have contributed?

Other 2 tanks are still connected, have to get some parts. No deaths, no feed, but got the water tests.



Things are still growing.............not sure if I want to eat it????????



WOW over 100 posts

dont want to eat it because of the ulcers? or just cos it looks pretty? either way, just eat it, it wont hurt much

hey chainsaw...

what happened with the jades and their ulcers????

Hi ALH, (and all)

Have the tank back in operation (stand alone) and all has been going well for the last 3 weeks (touch wood)

Have come to the conclusion was caused by use of HCL, Even though it was diluted and had to go through the GBs before returning to the FTs. (will only be using lemons if needed in the future) So have about 20 Jade left, dont know how many silvers as dont get to see them (have to pump the tank down one day)

Something has been eating my tomatoes (think its a bird) set a rat trap but its too smart for that.

KP.
The watermelon doubled in size, and the end started splitting open, so time for tast test. Lovely and juicy and sweet. Still here now so must be alright.

in regardss to HCl, How much did you add? I've added high concentrate HCl direct to the FT (not much of course) and not had any issues. Of course I only had silvers at the time, and no Jades, but I doubt that would make a difference.
I'm still going with bacteria or disease.
The Acid would be all around, and would attack cells evenly, not in focal points that appear as ulcers.

I agree with Kuda.... very doubtful it was the HCl acid... but some care needs to be taken when using it.... which it seems you did...

Please give a complete run down & timeline as to...

What prompted you to use HCl...

How much did you use... and what difference in pH did it result in...

What were your water parameters at the time...

When did the Jades first show signs of disease...

I used it to try and drop a heavily buffered pH, which it did, for an hour.
trying to bring the pH down that way, must be done slowly, and therefore results in hour long pH swings, that the fish simply couldn't be appreciating. I gave up and let nature look after it.

Used about half cup diluted in plastic bucket and then added to 3000 litres, had dropped from 7.8 down to 7-4 overnight. have just left the ph to stabilize by itself, have not done anything for 3 weeks and ph is down under 7.0 (bit hard to read at times). Mind you we have had about 5-6 inches of rain over last couple of weeks and have had to drain off excess water. IMO leave the system alone and let it sort itself out, thats what I have done now and seems to be working. Those that can remember my original post with the fountain and a couple of gold fish (OK piccie to refresh old farts memories)

Well this thrives on neglect, only feed the 2 goldfish occasionly. Put the fountain on every couple of days for about an hour. Apart from that Even the algea is ok, have to put some more chickweed back in. Did in fact do water tests this am and 0-0-40.