BN Plecos Dying

[bottomfeeders]

Hi,

Please help!

Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 10 ppm
PH 7.6

I am having a continual problem which I think is bacterial related. Every couple of days I find another dead BN in the tank. Usually they are fry or juvies but every once in a while it affects some of the older juvies.

With the browns I really do not see any signs. With the LF's I usually see the tail fall off, very quickly. Literally the fish can llok fine and in one to two days later the tail is gone.

What is going on? I have treated with Maracyn/Maracyn2, Melafix.

I finnally got a good pic of a sick LF BN. I am sure he will not make it.

The tank is 20 Gal long.
One sponge filter
Bubble wand aeration
HOB filter.

[MatsP]

Certainly looks like a bacterial infection. However, that's usually a secondary infection, and the original cause is something else. Are you by any chance using bare-bottom tanks? If so, perhaps adding a substrate will help.

--
Mats

[bottomfeeders]

Yes. I am using a bare bottom tank.

I will add some substrate.

[bottomfeeders]

I think I finally have this under control!

I used Triple-Sulfa and the Jungle anti-bacterial food. The food was taking a long time to sink so I ground it up in a coffee grinder which made it sink to the bottom almost immediately.

I also added substrate to the tank as well as salt.

I have not had any losses in a week!