Columnaris Treatment/post Treatment

Hello.

Here is what I'm treating.
Columnaris
20 gallon long
6 Harlequin Rasboras
3 Panda Cories

Dates of Deaths
7-5-2017: One cory in a holding tank while changing substrate
7-6-2017: Another cory and our betta
7-7-2017: Another cory

Today is 7-9-2017, and the remaining fish are seeming to behave more normally. Find it odd that 3 cories died only a week roughly after adding 3 new ones. I'm wanting to start a quarantine practice after this.

Some may find this thread familiar. It may be. We were treating for ick because that's what the "wonderful PetSmart employee" told us. Then we figured it out to be columnaris with some help. Then out of desperation started a new, more natural treatment. Less than 10 hours in I was not comfortable with it. I had also heard about the Kanaplex/Nitrofurazone combo.

So today, I did a 75% water change to remove the 19 teaspoons of salt. I also finally found Jungle Fungus Clear Fizz Tabs at Walmart of all places. After the water change I dissolved 2 tablets in a container with some aquarium water, and poured it in. As some of you can probably guess, my water looks like a bog now. Greenish yellow and not very pretty. It's hard to see this in the picture. From my understanding the nitrofurazone in this med should help stop the spread and reproductive rate of the infectious bacteria.

I also have Kanaplex on the way from Amazon. This is where I start asking questions. Being that I have not had a death in two days, and the fish are starting to eat again and act normally, do I really need to dose this antibiotic?
From my understanding, this is what actually kills the columnaris bacteria. However, you're not supposed to dose unless needed because it can cause kidney damage otherwise. So should I use it with the second round of nitrofurazone in 4 days or not?

Additionally, what all exactly do I have to do after treatment? Do I have to disinfect the whole tank? If so how? Or can I do 2-3 50% water changes and put the carbon back in the filter?

Am I missing anything? Just can't wait to actually get this over with, move my inverts back in, set up a quarantine, and get some new fish going.

 

Oh yeah, water temp has also been reduced to 71 degrees F. Wanted 68-70, but can't get it to cool off that last degree. Apparently the columnaris bacteria doesn't like cool temp, and it also helps stop the spread.

Other advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Bumping.

At this point, all I really need to know is how to get rid of the meds and which post treatment practices would be best. The rest I have gotten at least one answer from someone I think.

 

Got the Kanaplex in the mail today. Was surprised to find such a small scoop inside the tube. Anyways, I dosed 4 level scoops per the directions (1 scoop per 5 gallons). In two days I'm due for a 25% water change and another round of nitrofurazone. I'll dose the second dose of Kanaplex then.

Still no additional deaths since the third cory. Unless you count one missing ghost shrimp that was really really white.

Still wondering what all to do once all meds are complete.

 

Once your done with treatment, all you need to do is a large water change of at least 50% and add carbon back into your filter. Just use a media bag or a nylon stocking, fill it with about 1/2 a cup of carbon, and put into your filter. It should cycle out the rest of your medications and colorings with in a few days.

 

Once your done with treatment, all you need to do is a large water change of at least 50% and add carbon back into your filter. Just use a media bag or a nylon stocking, fill it with about 1/2 a cup of carbon, and put into your filter. It should cycle out the rest of your medications and colorings with in a few days.

How will I know when it's safe to put my inverts back?

 

Kanaplex does not hurt inverts as far as I know. I've used it many times in my tanks that have snails and shrimp.

 

Kanaplex does not hurt inverts as far as I know. I've used it many times in my tanks that have snails and shrimp.

I've also been using Jungle Fungus Clear Fizz Tabs for nitrofurazone.

 

Safe as well. It's the parasitic medications you need to worry about. Metronidazole and Praziquantel.

 

Safe as well. It's the parasitic medications you need to worry about. Metronidazole and Praziquantel.

Oh. Well I guess I took them out for no reason.

 

Basically. It never hurts to be cautious though. I rather error on the safe side myself.

 

Basically. It never hurts to be cautious though. I rather error on the safe side myself.

Yeah. I'll probably go ahead and leave them separate until treatment end day at least. The mystery snail was looking a little weak before removing them. Of course initially we thought our problem was ick and a couple doses of treatment were added while the inverts were still in there.

 

Inverts normally do not get the bacterial infections fish get, but they can carry it on them. Before you do your last dose, maybe you should put them back so they don't bring it back in. They can also carry parasites like Ick and Flukes. They do get their own problems though, like leaches which normally do not go after the fish unless the shrimp and snails are gone.

So when treating a tank for bacterial and fungal problems, it's better to leave them in, so you don't reintroduce the problem later.

 

Inverts normally do not get the bacterial infections fish get, but they can carry it on them. Before you do your last dose, maybe you should put them back so they don't bring it back in. They can also carry parasites like Ick and Flukes. They do get their own problems though, like leaches which normally do not go after the fish unless the shrimp and snails are gone.

So when treating a tank for bacterial and fungal problems, it's better to leave them in, so you don't reintroduce the problem later.

Okay. Might just put them back tomorrow then when I dose again. Because after that will only be one more dose of Kanaplex. I've been missing them in the main tank. It's three snails (1 mystery and 2 nerites) and 7 ghost shrimp.