Help My Hap And Ahli!

I did read the intro to the forum, so I'm sorry. I don't keep test strips handy, I instead have professional water tests at the water department for much larger spectrum of parameters. I change 20% of the water monthly or bi-monthly, and the water is PERFECT (always less than 5ppm, usually 1 or 0 ppm on average of nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, etc) PH 7.5 Temp 81* (increased recently from 78* due to the onset of symptoms thinking it was fin-rot) water hardness is 16% (medium hard). Aquarium/Epson salt at recommended levels. I know my water habits sound neglectful, but based on some AWESOME advice from several professionals (and a couple breeders) and their analysis of my water tests, its perfect. Lets just skip the water issues.

I recently (about a week ago) introduced a new Pseudotropheus Acei and Socolifi to the tank, and thats where I believe the problems began. Days later the Acei looked like he had been attacked (missing fin pieces) and was hiding in the rocks. I didn't see him for a few days until today when he was floating. His entire dorsal fin was gone! He looked like he'd been eaten from the inside out. Tracing back it could have originated with a demasoni that I acquired from a less than reputable pet store that died about 3 weeks ago. Since his perceived attack I notice that now my Ahli and Moorii are showing similar symptoms. So far the other fish have been resilient against these problems.

Tank mates:
2 Electric Yellows Labs
1 Pseudotropheus Socolifi (recent)
1 Pseudotropheus Acei (recent - deceased)
2 Clown Loaches (recent)
1 Synodontis
1 Red shoulder peacock
1 Red Empress
2 unknown peacocks, yet to bloom
1 OB Zebra
1 Demasoni (deceased 3 weeks ago)

Tank size: 55 Gallon

Filtration: Fluval 305 + Marineland Emporer 400 (classic)

In a panic I went to Wolly World (Walmart) and got Jungle Solutions Fungus Clear, Melafix, quICK cure and added recommended doses. Have a friend who's a retired vet, he recommended adding an antibiotic so I dissolved half a human amoxicillin into the water, cant get the moorii to eat so disolving in food will probably not be effective.

The best I can come up with is Red Pest, please see the pictures below and offer any suggestions. I am DESPERATE! I can't let my buddy go!

First picture is the moorii tail where the back near the fin is rubbed, 2nd is his lips which look like they're falling off, 3rd is the ahli dorsal. Wish I could post the full pics. any ideas? cant post it in 100K

I would also post in the right section of the forum as i'm not familar with these type of fish.
The tanks looks overstocked to me.
Also ammonia and nitrite should be 0.
Also should be doing a water change and gravel vac once a week.

Is the mouth rotting away. Any white cotton wool on the lips, or bleached out lips, or swollen lips.

Antibiotics wipe the beneifical bacteria out in the filter.
I would only recommend using them in issolation if only one fish is sick.

I can't make anything out in the pics.

Finrot can be caused by pecking and bad water quality.
Also fins falling apart can also be due columnaris if the mouths rotting away.

Any red streaking in the fins.
Any white, red, or pink edging to fins.

I uploaded the full images to photobucket so I could share them at full 10mp res. I just cant get good pictures in the 100K upload limit. The pictures have a blue hue due to the jungle tablets. The pictures were taken under water inside the aquarium

http/i860.photobucket.com/albums/ab161/bhamguyspecv/sick%20fish/P1180082.jpg

http/i860.photobucket.com/albums/ab161/bhamguyspecv/sick%20fish/P1180072.jpg

going to get the water tested again today, just to be sure. I'm 99.9% sure that water isn't the issue. Gravel was vacuumed 2 days ago, which ofcourse prompted water change of about 25%. (use the old fashioned siphon vacuum)


Edit:

Just got test strips.

water test results:

Nitrate: 200ppm (high)
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: 0
Total Harndness: 550ppm (Very hard - desirable for cichlids)
Alkalinity: 250ppm (slightly high)
PH: 8.0
Since adding the meds yesterday the Ahli isnt hiding anymore, he's actually out and playful again. No change in the moorii yet.

Amoxicillin. Just looked the med up and it's a gram neg and gram pos antibitoic.
How long did you use the antibiotic for.
Any improvement in the fish.

Can you list all the symtoms the living fish are showing. Also the symtoms the dead fish showed before dying.

Wilder said:

Amoxicillin. Just looked the med up and it's a gram neg and gram pos antibitoic.
How long did you use the antibiotic for.
Any improvement in the fish.

Can you list all the symtoms the living fish are showing. Also the symtoms the dead fish showed before dying.

Click to expand...

The Ahli is missing fin pieces, almost like they're ripped out, along with some sections of skin where the fins were. The Ahli has done a turn around in 24 hours, he is active again. His skin around the wounds seems to be closing up. I'm almost sure he's on the road to recovery. He is eating and acting normal.

The Hap Moorii has what seems to be "rotting" around his lips, on his bottom dorsal fin, and a section by his tail before the fin where the scales have come off and white flesh is exposed. In 24 hours, this section seems to have turned pink except for a very small bit (maybe dead flesh coming off?) but so far no improvement in his appetite (none) and activity. I noticed yesterday he had what looked like a wart on his lips, and 3 small white dots: 1 on the forehead, 1 about 1cm from each eye not in the same place though). He ran from the net when I was putting him in my empty tank for recovery. Otherwise he just swims aimlessly. I had just set up a 29L in my office just for a second tank, the moorii is in there now alone. I am dosing the water with amoxicillin and Maracyn Two. The water in that tank is untouched so 0 ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, aquarium and epson salt added (1tsp mix per 5 gal). Oyster shell bedding (raises PH to 8 - acts as buffer solution). Bubble wand and Whisper 10-20 filter without cartridge (dont want carbon to filter out the meds) and heater. Otherwise desolate.

The two fish that died looked like they had been eaten from the inside out. Dorsal fin was almost detached from the body, what was left of it atleast. The fish looked like they had rotted in the tank for days when they had just died overnight. Almost no color in the skin, white flesh coming out all over.

I have watched the tank EXTENSIVELY, and I can see NO signs of aggression from any of the fish. One might chase another one for 5-10 seconds once or twice an hour, and that's about it.

I dont know what other details to give.

Sounds like you have a severe bacteria infection in your tank.

Get you two links to look at.

http/www.articledepot.co.uk/article-29320.htm

http/www.flippersandfins.net/flexibacter.htm

make sure the white dots are not whitespot.