Gourami Skin Lesions

[Becky Smith]

This will be a long post, with two separate issues. I'm hoping that knowledgeable people will read through, as both are important concerns. First, I have finally been given the go-ahead to care for the two tanks at work. They are a 30 gallon tropical tank, and a 10 gallon that is currently empty and cycled. Up to this point, the tanks have gotten NO maintenance, other than topping up with room temp tap water that has been left open to dechlorinate naturally. Not sure if this is really a thing... I tested the water today and while the ammonia and nitrites are zero, the nitrates are through the roof... as in 120 - 160. I did a small water change, about 20%, and vacuumed more poo than I could have imagined, and that was only from one corner. My goal is to get the tank clean, and the parameters healthy, but I know this has to be a gradual operation so as not to shock anyone. The nitrates have been at that level all along, and I'm surprised that the fish are surviving. So, with this issue, I would like advice on the best way to achieve this goal.
Second issue is this poor fellow. A gourami with skin growths and lesions. It has gotten significantly worse since I last saw him about a month ago. The previous fish care person was looking into it, but nothing came of it. I want to treat this poor guy. The 10 gallon also has high nitrates, which is why it is empty, after I adopted the two goldfish that had inhabited it. It got a good cleaning, and I am trying to bring nitrates under control with water changes. I would like to use the small tank to hospitalize him. Not sure what I'm dealing with here, but I have meds for fungal and bacterial infections at home. They are API General Cure and Furan 2. I want to start dosing right away. I've never hospitalized a fish before, and wondering if there's anything special I need to know. Also, after treatment, how do I make sure the small tank is safe for new fish? It is meant to be a guppy tank, after I finally convinced my fishkeeping predecessor that goldfish cannot live in a 10 gallon.

That's it. Please help if you can!

 

[LadyArtemis]

HI and welcome. Good for you for trying to stabilize these tanks. You are gonna have your work cut out for you. Is the gourami in the 30 gallon tank? Where are the goldfish? You said the 10 gallon was currently empty so I’m trying to figure out who is where. Goldfish and gouramis should definitely not be in the same tank.

Gourami needs to be treated with Furan or something that will treat gram negative bacterial infection, possibly more than once as that looks pretty bad. Go ahead and do a 50% water change sucking out as much gunk as you can, and repeat that daily and keep checking your numbers to see if those nitrates come down. Are you using canister filters on these tanks, or the kind that hangs on? I’d consider getting some Purigen filter media to help clean things up as you filter, and sea chem prime to use as your main water conditioner.

Do tell us more about which fish are where. Hope this helps!

 

[Becky Smith]

Thank you for your response. The 2 goldfish live at home with me in a 75 gallon with two others. We won't be taking more goldfish at work. I was concerned that doing too frequent or large WCs in the tropical tank would shock the fish, who are accustomed to their literally crappy conditions. The gourami and all the tropicals are in the 30 gallon, and the 10 is empty. It used to house the goldfish who now live with me. It's hard to see people get fish for their enjoyment, and not think about the fish's wellbeing. I studied and learned a lot when I got my first fish, and I am a conscientious fish keeper. I feel so bad for these guys.

 

[Becky Smith]

Also, the only filter is a HOB type. It is an Aqueon 75. I can get some Purigen for it.
I use Prime at home. As mentioned, they've never used a conditioner here. I've been bringing my supplies in.

 

[LadyArtemis]

Oh good! Sounds like you have a good amount of experience so that’s helpful. When the parameters are that off, you can get away with larger water changes. I’m pretty old-school and come from the same line of thinking of not doing too large of water changes, just had a fascinating discussion in another sub forum here where I learned the younger kids are changing 50-90% weekly as their standard water changes without issues these days lol, but even in dinosaur world with nitrates that high 50% water changes would be warranted in this situation. HOB filters work, but if the powers that be are giving you any kind of budget to do this, id push for an upgrade to a canister filter for better filtration.

Good on you for trying to help these fish! I wish you luck!

 

[Becky Smith]

Thank you so much! I did another 50 % WC today, and vacuumed tons more waste from the gravel. My concern now is the temp. I believe they put the thermometer in and just set it. It was at 90.1 degrees this morning. I don't know much about tropicals, but everything I read today states that that is too hot. I've been slowly replacing water over the last six hours, and now it is at 83.5. I've also, I believe, calibrated the heater to stay at around that temp. There are a huge assortment in there... Angels, catfish, gouramis, rainbow shark, tetras, plecos, zebra danios, and a clown loach. What temp should I be aiming for? I'm also worried because I am going on days off and I'll have to leave them be for two days. I haven't moved the gourami over yet.

 

[Becky Smith]

I'd really prefer a canister filter too, but unfortunately, I have no budget. All supplies and meds I'm bringing in are out of pocket. I work in a government run youth treatment facility. The fish are supposed to make the place more homey, but there is no budget for any extras, unfortunately.

 

[happyscrub]

You trying to cook your fish? That's some HIGH Temps buddy.

 

[Becky Smith]

You trying to cook your fish? That's some HIGH Temps buddy.

Yeah, no kidding. I am trying to regulate the temp in a tank that nobody else cares about, without shocking them. Is 83.5 still too high?

 

[happyscrub]

Yeah, no kidding. I am trying to regulate the temp in a tank that nobody else cares about, without shocking them. Is 83.5 still too high?

heck ya. Knock it down to like 76

 

[Becky Smith]

heck ya. Knock it down to like 76

I'm thinking I would need to do that gradually? Can you advise me on the best way?

 

[happyscrub]

I'm thinking I would need to do that gradually? Can you advise me on the best way?

It will gradually cool itself. But if you are so concern, put it like on 80 for a hour and then just put it on 76

 

[Becky Smith]

Ok thank you for your help.

 

[happyscrub]

Wait a min... I'm half reading your post and might be giving you bad advice. I'm making sure that only Gouramis and goldfish are in the tank. Those are not really tropical fish so don't need those high temps. But you might have something else in there that does. What's else you got in there?

 

[LadyArtemis]

Agree 76-78 ideal temp range. And be sure to turn down that heater lol! That’s nice this is for your local youth center, you might try asking at your local fish store they might be willing to donate one to you, off the books even. Or Craig’s list. Plenty of fish peeps out there that might have one they could give ya. The mix of livestock in the tank sounds ok. Fingers crossed for ya.

 

[Becky Smith]

Wait a min... I'm half reading your post and might be giving you bad advice. I'm making sure that only Gouramis and goldfish are in the tank. Those are not really tropical fish so don't need those high temps. But you might have something else in there that does. What's else you got in there?

The goldfish aren't with them, they are with me at home. I put the list of species up there somewhere...

 

[Becky Smith]

Wait a min... I'm half reading your post and might be giving you bad advice. I'm making sure that only Gouramis and goldfish are in the tank. Those are not really tropical fish so don't need those high temps. But you might have something else in there that does. What's else you got in there?

The goldfish aren't with them, they are with me at home. I put the list of species up there somewhere...

Angels, catfish, gouramis, rainbow shark, tetras, plecos, zebra danios, and a clown loach.

 

[Becky Smith]

I have both tanks at 80 degrees for now. Will lower more when I will be on the unit long enough to monitor and adjust the temp. The previous person had set the heaters without calibrating them, and the temp just kept rising. The gourami is in the QT tank, has received two doses of Furan 2, and his scabs have come off, which seems like a good sign. Going over to do partial WC on both tanks, and give third dose of med, this afternoon. I think it is going well... yay!

 

[Becky Smith]

Mr. Gourami is all healed up, and yesterday I put him back into his 30 gal community tank. His younger, smaller counterpart immediately went after him, biting and clamping on. He was relentless! I put the small one on a time out in the QT tank. I am now looking to rehome him, as I suspect his nastiness is what caused the bigger guy's sores. Sigh.... not even my fish...