Any Ideas What Disease This Is?

[55gal]

My bleeding hearts have become ill due to poor water conditions that occurred while I was away at college. That's what I assume has caused their fin loss, so I'm working on getting the tank in an acceptable condition (the Nitrates are VERY high so I'm doing daily water changes). Anyway one of the fish, the one with the most fin loss, now has something growing near his gills. It does not look like ich to me. It started with one spot, then a second one popped up, the first went away, and now there is a cloudy substance around the remaining spot. This has all happened in the last 3 or 4 days. I got some pictures, any idea what it is? do you think it is contagious?

 

[Benakaben]

I think this is a bacterial infection due to the high nitrate levels, if you have any anti-bacterial treatment or even some easy balance to try bring your nitrates down

 

[55gal]

You don't think it's columnaris do you? A member of another forum thought it could be so I'm pretty worried. What product would you recommend for treatment? We have API and mardel products around here. Should I just remove the sick fish and treat him or treat the whole tank with the medication?

 

[FishFanatic04]

Edit: It looks like columnaris. You also need a strong bacterial medication, Maracyn is good. There are some others as well.

I would remove the fish and treat. That way you won't be exposing your whole tank to medications if they don't need it.

Nitrates wouldn't cause that.

 

[55gal]

It really doesn't look fuzzy to me but it could be, I just don't see it myself. I think I'll take the sick fish out and treat with maracyn and maracyn 2. And maybe treat the main tank with pimafix and melafix to try and kill anything that might be floating around. If I can afford all of that.