need some help

[screwsloose]

my qt tank has apparently got a decease that has proven to be hardy and i cannot get rid of. its a 75 gl qt tank and i keep 3 damsels in there to keep it cycled. i added a couple flame angels a few months ago and one died within two days while the other made it about 3 weeks and then developed splotchy spots on his body and died a few days afterwards. i thought it was brook at first and treated with formilin and copper on rotation but the flame still didnt make it. non of the damsels were affected. waited a month and bought an emporer angel that did good for a week and then appeared with the same spots and i tried copper and general cure this round but it wasnt successful either. so i waited two months and no signs of anything and added a majestic angel saturday night and as of last night he was dead. i seen a couple spots on him but not to the extent of the others.

the heater in the tank stuck on 2 weeks ago and the tank was at 96 degrees for 2 days so it killed them damsels but the cycle remained intact other then a .25 ammonia spike for 2 days.

so what ever it is it ha smade it through the temp spike and every med i have flung at it. do i need to shut the system down and let it all dry out and then recycle it? or is there something else i can treat with? i have the dead fish frozen i can snap pics of if it will help with diagnosis.

 

[Chris27]

Given that it's a QT, draining and cleaning would be the easiest way to resolve any issues.

Your problem may have been from keeping the damsels in there, as many ailments will hang on forever simply because there is a fish host available.

I completely understand your reasoning behind keeping the damsels in there, however there are better ways to keep a biofilter running, not easier mind you, but better.

 

[screwsloose]

so your suggestion would be complete tear down and clean? is there any other med i could try first to prevent that?

 

[Chris27]

Leaving it fishless for 8 weeks may straiten you out, but it's still a gamble. Why so hesitant in breaking it down for a few days?

 

[screwsloose]

i cannot break it down yet because i still have one fish in qt that isnt showing signs of the illness yet and i would rather treat him with any meds that will take care of it before i lose him . or when he is finished with qt in 3 weeks ill tear it down and start over but i generally qt 2 at a time to save on meds when i am treating. my qt process is hypo and general cure the first week, hypo the second week with copper if needed, and then the last two weeks just water changes and monitoring, treating as needed. it has always worked for me in the past but this time is proving different