I have a problem that I appear to be too dense to solve. I used to have a
almost 30 aquariums full of various kinds of fish. Swapped the young fish
to a fish dealer for supplies. When I went back to work full time I decided
spending my weekends cleaning fish tanks was a bit of a bore.

That was 30 years ago and I cannot believe I have forgptten so much about
fish.

As I have a fairly new pond outside that as yet has no fish, I bought three
fantails and all new equipment for an indoor aquarium. I hope to combine
some of the fish now living in my old outside pond with the new fish and put
all in the pond when the weather warms up.

When I bought these 3 new ones they looked perfectly clean. No ich, no rot,
nothing else visible. They looked and acted like healthy fish.

So I set up the aquarium and waited a day before putting the fish in. The
water started to cloud almost immediately. After a couple days their fins
started to sag. Two days later they were peppered with tiny white spots
which I presume is ich. And their tails started to shred which I assume
is fin rot.

Then they started to lay around on the bottom most of the time.

Didn't think they would live until morning so I took spring water and filled
a glass bowl, threw in a drop of methylenee blue or some such thing and
moved the fish.

This morning they are ever so much livlier and not on the bottom. The water
is starting to cloud again and unless my husband sneaked them some food, I
cannot think of any reason for this.

I just asked my husband and he said he did not feed the fish. So why is the
water getting cloudy when there are only the fish there.


My question is, where did the rot and the ich come from unless had it and it
just was not visible.

I never ever had a fish with ich before and I have had hundreds of fish in
the past.

I have removed all the water in the aquarium and am planning to rinse all
the stone and plants. Then hopefully I can let it stand over night and put
the fish back into the the 10 gallon job.

Anyone any suggestions? I don't really think this bio filter I bought at
Walmarts is doing a very good job. I got one of my 30 year old filters out
and can't believe that I can't remember how to set it up. I think it's
charcoal on the bottom with the cotton over that? Is this correct?

I didn't mean to write a book, but I feel for those poor fish and believe me
the people in that fish store will me one more time before I snub them
forever.

Hope some one can help me of point me in the direction of some h elp.
Thanks a bunch.

Pixi