Kristen

Recently, my 20 gallon tank underwent a major clean. It was over-run with algae so my plants were bleached, my tank glass was totally scrapped and my mosses swirled out. However, when I put my fish back in, a few days later one of my female guppies's eyes suddenly swelled up in the night. She was dead the next day. Now, two days later another female guppy has an eye swollen up.

I'm really worried there's some kind of outbreak in my tank and I don't want it to attack my tetras, corys or angelfish. How can I ensure there's no bacteria outbreak in my tank? How do I deal with it? Is it curable and infectious or is this a female guppy only kind of thing?

COBettaCouple

Use Maracyn Two to treat popeye.

fishgirl

The only time I had a fish with popeye I used Maracyn Two,I treated for 4 days but he did not make it.

COBettaCouple

One of our Bettas had popeye break out the night before last and maracyn-two has him feeling and acting almost 100% already. If it's gone untreated longer, then triple sulfa would be better.

susitna-flower

Have you been testing your water since the tank cleaning? What are the results?

Usually popeye is a result of poor water conditions. IF you do water changes and treat with the Maracyn-two it should take care of any problems.

IF you had a huge algae problem, this is an indication that nitrates might be high, which is why I suggest the water changes also. HIGH nitrates = stress = lower immune = bacterial infections like popeye and fin rot. Even though you cleaned the tank if you haven't lowered the waste production the potential is still there to need lots of water changes......

Also such a thorough tank cleaning has likely caused a mini-cycle. I hope you can get this worked out. Good Luck

Kristen

I think I solved the mystery. My CO2 was at 3bps thanks to a helpful family member who thought that it was too slow. Thus, pH was at 5.0. I was shocked. I made two water changes and added pH up. It's now at 6.0, which was much better. If it doesn't restore to neutral soon, I'll add more pH up and see how it goes.

They call the guppy the millionfish... mine didn't exactly make it to one month

susitna-flower

Which tank are you having the problems with?

Neither tank listed have the fish you say are in the affected tank.

Just an opinion, but even though ph does stress fish, it doesn't "cause a bacterial condition like pop eye". and does not cause run away algae. Both of these conditions does suggest high nitrates, and possibly an overcrowded tank.

Low PH needs to be resolved, but please don't use chemicals. CO2 adjustment as well as lots of small water changes will be a lot less stressful on your fish, and will also help the pop eye.

Good Luck.

Kristen

It's my 2 footer tank. Nitrates are at 2 ppm o.o