Power Cut - Major Problems

jonesp1 · Mar 22, 2008

Hi everyone, I am quite new to this hobby so be gentle.

I have had my tank running for around 3 months. Started off with 6 mollies for the cycling part. Would have done a fishless cycle but only found about this once it had started.

My tank is a Roma 125L with an internal fluval 3 filter. I had also aquired a matured sponge from the LFS to speed up the cycling.

Once my tank was cycled i added a RTBS, 4 small clown loaches and 10 rummy nose tetras (not all at the same time). I always checked the water stats and everything was fine and the fish were loving my tank.

Then......monday night my RCD tripped while i asleep. The tank had no power for about 8 hours. Slowly but surely all the fish have died apart from the silver mollies. I took the necessary measures stopped feeding, water changes, lowered the water level, lowered the temp and i also got another matured sponge from the LFS. None of this helped.

The mollies now look like that are ill. They have white bits on their back fins? not sure what this is?

My question is really. How can i start a fresh. With or without the mollies. Is it worth treating my tank just in case their are some nasties in there like ick.

Can't beleive things were going so well then disaster!!!

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

scooterchick · Mar 22, 2008

Hi there,

Ok, first things first. My tanks been without power for around the same time in the dead of a Scottish winter, the temp dropped but not significantly. Not sure where you are but unless you're in Alaska I doubt enough damage would have been done to kill your fish. Nor would your filter bacteria have died in that space of time. It's possible it could have casued an outbreak of ich in your mollies so it would be worth treating for that and it certainly looks like.

For now we have to assume your tank is still cycled. Do a water change, get the water level back up (not sure why you reduced it) increase the temp, add an airstone as the ich med can affect the CO2 in the water. Increasing the temp shortens the lifespan of ich so you'll be able to eradicate it quicker.

So am I right in thinking all you have left are mollies? Lets concentrate on saving them then once your tank is healthy again we can advise you on suitable stocking for it. I'm afraid the clown loaches were far too big for your tank and you would have had to rehome them shortly, they need a 55gallon minimum.

Anyway, keep posting and let us know how you get on. And welcome to the forum!

Genesis · Mar 22, 2008

Sorry to hear of your loss

With the ick problem, I'd try putting some aquarium salt in the tank with the mollies, this should help to fend off the parasite and the mollies will be none the worse off as they are a semi-marine fish anyway

scooterchick · Mar 22, 2008

'genesis said:
Yes, aquarium salt can be helpful, marine salt even better for mollies. However I didn't advise it as it's then going to restrict him when he wants to add more fish.

In fact, salt for mollies IMO is more than helpful, I consider it necessary, that's why I have a molly only tank and have another freshwater community tank, but unless OP wants to go down that road I wouldn't recommend adding salt.

jonesp1 · Mar 22, 2008

Hi, Thanks for the reply.

Yes all i have left are mollies. They are the originals.

The clown loaches were only very small as i was going to upgrade my tank when they got bigger and move them over to that.

The tank should still be cycled and i also have another matured sponge from my LFS.

Just seems a bit of a coincidence that everything was fine then after the power cut everything went pear shaped.

I have bought some protizin and have started treating the tank with this.

Yes will need help with stocking options. Some of the shops just sell you anything!

Thanks again for your help.

Cheers

scooterchick said:
Hi there,

Ok, first things first. My tanks been without power for around the same time in the dead of a Scottish winter, the temp dropped but not significantly. Not sure where you are but unless you're in Alaska I doubt enough damage would have been done to kill your fish. Nor would your filter bacteria have died in that space of time. It's possible it could have casued an outbreak of ich in your mollies so it would be worth treating for that and it certainly looks like.

For now we have to assume your tank is still cycled. Do a water change, get the water level back up (not sure why you reduced it) increase the temp, add an airstone as the ich med can affect the CO2 in the water. Increasing the temp shortens the lifespan of ich so you'll be able to eradicate it quicker.

So am I right in thinking all you have left are mollies? Lets concentrate on saving them then once your tank is healthy again we can advise you on suitable stocking for it. I'm afraid the clown loaches were far too big for your tank and you would have had to rehome them shortly, they need a 55gallon minimum.

Anyway, keep posting and let us know how you get on. And welcome to the forum!

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Power Cut - Major Problems

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