Parasite Emergency

Hello! I've had a 30gal tank that's been up and running for almost a year. For the past month I've been battling a parasite issue in my gourami, and while he's alright now, around five days ago I noticed a parasite issue in my tank. Little white free floating ones in my water, I can see them move on their own. I've been treating it with API general cure and they seemed to be dying off, but I just vacumed out my tank and there's hundrends of the coming up from under my undergravel filter. Obviously, I'm going to have to take the fish out and tottally clean the tank, but what about when I want to put them back in?

I can't afford a QT tank right now. I was reading about Tetra safe start and people were saying if you use a declorinator and don't wait 24 hours it won't work, but I can't leave my fish in a bucket for 24 hours. What can I do? I have around ten fish.

 

Sounds like worms more than parasites. Parasites are generally tough to see. I would gravel vac on area first and a day or two later gravel vac the other half.

 

I don't feel confident I could get them 100% gone like that.are worms dangerous?

They're about as thick as a hair, maybe a centimeter in length tops and white, almost transparent. Free floating, I haven't seen them crawling at all.

 

If you poke the worms with a stick, do they spaz out and swim in an "s" formation? If so, then these are detritus worms. Not harmful.

 

If you poke the worms with a stick, do they spaz out and swim in an "s" formation? If so, then these are detritus worms. Not harmful.

I can't really poke them because they're flosting, unfortunately.

 

Worms in tanks are generally not harmful. Traditionally not parasitic to fish but worms such as planaria can be harmful to shrimp. They can show up because of over feeding and hitchhiking. Really not much to worry about, just a nice little snack for your fish. Could you show us a picture? If they are floating I am suspecting nematodes. Do they look like they kind of dance around in the water?

 

I can't get a picture of the ones in my tank, but I found these online and they look just like it. Yes, they do dance.

 

Not planaria. My bet is between detritus or nematodes. They look super nasty but they aren't much to worry about. This could be a sign you are overfeeding so maybe cut down a bit. I assume your fish is going for these guys. Just try to vac out as many as you can when you do changes

 

Looks like Detritus worms. Nothing to worry about. My guppies love these.

 

Vacuum your gravel, and cut down on feeding. They'll disappear on their own.

 

Looks like Detritus worms. Nothing to worry about. My guppies love these.

Yeah free food it's from over feeding your fish will love them slow down on your feedings it will help alot

 

I had the same in my shrimp tank and I put a guppy fry (bcz we have some brine) in there for 24hrs and the glass is now spotless!! No more “hanging lint” and we moved the fry out as well afterwards.