Begininer - Columnaris wiped out my first planted tank - advice on restarting

I’ve had my first planted nanotank going for a little over a month now. It’s 6.5G, and had 3 neon tetras, 3 chili rasboras, a koi betta, nerite, and amano shrimp. 2 of the chili rasboras and 2 of the neon tetras died over the last 2 days with bug eye, and gasping for air. Now my betta has columnaris eating away his mouth and red gills. I’ve removed all of the fish from the tank and put them in separate jars to medicate (kanaplex and furan-2 arriving tonight), but given how quickly they’ve degraded I don’t have much hope and I think euthanization is more likely

If they die, I will have to start the tank over. I would like to maintain my cycle and a home for the amano and nerite snail. Can I do a couple of 50% water changes and leave the tank free of fish for a month or so before reintroducing? Or will the columnaris live without a host and reinfect my new fish? Can the inverts carry it as a host? Will it get them sick? Obviously I’d rather be safe than sorry given how devastating and fast this ran through my tank, but starting from scratch sounds like a really tall order right now, since I’d need a new tank to house the inverts, new gravel / substrate and I have no idea how to deal with my plants either.

While you’re here I’m also starting to think about what my stocking options are for the next go around, because I think overstocking too quickly may have lead to this outcome. Since the tank is so small, I’m thinking 6 chili rasboras and 5 cherry shrimp, but I would love suggestions for another main display fish instead of the cherries. I could try another koi betta as he was not bothering the neons or rasboras, but I have read a lot of people saying that even if it goes well for a while they eventually get fed up and snap.

Also, I’m currently filtering the tank with a water pump shoved inside some sponge filter material, as well as a small submerged sponge filter. I don’t like how the sponge filter looks - is there another out of tank (glass lily pipe) filter solution that will look cleaner and keep the tank clean?

As I said I’m new to the game so I appreciate any help and all of your patience. I want to make sure I get it right the next time around!

 

Did you get these fish from the same place? Also did you quarantine them?as for the qt jar I would just get another tank a jar would stress the fish out even more also a qt tank must have a filter
For filters ,if you have a big budget a canister filter will work or just get a hang on back which is wayyy cheaper
I treat columnaris using Indian almond have you tried it?
Sorry might overwhelm you ,if you have any questions do run them by me I will happily help out

 

Did you get these fish from the same place? Also did you quarantine them?as for the qt jar I would just get another tank a jar would stress the fish out even more also a qt tank must have a filter
For filters ,if you have a big budget a canister filter will work or just get a hang on back which is wayyy cheaper
I treat columnaris using Indian almond have you tried it?
Sorry might overwhelm you ,if you have any questions do run them by me I will happily help out

I didn’t quarantine them, lesson learned on that. I definitely introduced the columnaris via the tetras bc one of them died almost immediately and it had a lesion on its back. At the time i thought the betta got him but he never bothered the other fish and now the rest of the tank are sick. hindsight is 20/20. They also did all come from the same place, so I’m going to avoid them from now on.

I’m going to get another 3G quarantine tank with an over the back filter for them tomorrow after work if they make it that long. I know the jars aren’t great but i don’t want to dose the main tank because I’m leaving town this weekend for a funeral and if it resets my cycle i won’t be here to save the inverts.

I’ll look into the Indian almond - do local pet stores carry it?

Did you get these fish from the same place? Also did you quarantine them?as for the qt jar I would just get another tank a jar would stress the fish out even more also a qt tank must have a filter
For filters ,if you have a big budget a canister filter will work or just get a hang on back which is wayyy cheaper
I treat columnaris using Indian almond have you tried it?
Sorry might overwhelm you ,if you have any questions do run them by me I will happily help out

Can I use the sponge filter from the sick tank in the quarantine tank, or will that bring the columnaris with it? All I could get today was a 1G bowl but it’s better than nothing.

 

It's not columnaris that you have to worry about, it's the water quality. Stocking less and feeding less as well as more water changes will prevent the next outbreak. Good luck

 

You can get Indian almond leaves at some more fish store not chains but you might also be able to just pick it up for free from the ground depending on where you live
For a hospital tank I would get a 5 gallon tank with just a sponge filter no substrate,five gallons are easier to dose just divide the recommended dosage by half!
My corydoras had a small patch of columnaris once and Indian almond leaves killed it off within. a week or so

 

Columnaris lives in every tank, there’s really nothing you can actually do to remove it. What we can do is maintain good water quality. Good water = fish with good immune systems.

 

I don’t know what kind of tank you maintain but no tank should have columnaris
Also there are tons of anti fungal medications which help with columnaris
Columnaris is no joke

 

Unfortunately, I'm euthanizing my betta tonight
The Kanaplex + Furan-2 did stop the spread, but it's already made a hole in his mouth and shot his gills - he's only breathing air now, and he's suffering so much I don't think he'll recover. I appreciate all of the input and help on this. I'll be much better prepared if I ever have to deal with this again.

 

I don’t know what kind of tank you maintain but no tank should have columnaris
Also there are tons of anti fungal medications which help with columnaris
Columnaris is no joke

Columnaris bacteria Flavobacterium columnare exists in every tank, it's just a matter of keeping fish healthy and not stressed, so that they aren't infected by it. IAL and good water quality with low ammonia, nitrite and nitrate can keep columnaris at bay.