old and dangerous

[layla_ryu]

has anybody ever heard of an old used filter they bought from somebody causing health problems to your fish? my 75 came with lights, filter, decor, and pretty much everything. not exacty but more like the basics. anyways i was definatly ready to move my fish into the new aquarium. i decided to use the filter they gave me because i thought it would be a waste of a 'good' filter if i threw it away, also that it retails for $70  so far the fish were doing ok for the first week. i did my 50% wc every friday params evchecking the water params before and after the change. then i stayed with my dad for the weekend leaving the fish with my mom untill i come back on monday.... when i came back from school first thing i did was to check on the fish. they were all on the floor and when i got a closer look i knew there was something wrong with them . all of them had itch and Sue (in my profile pic) who has become my favorite had a bad case of dropsy it broke my heart to them him like that *(, especially sue because i knew not many fish recover from dropsy that far into the disease. he passed the next day *(, it didn't stop there.... the disease also finished off two more of my fish further into the week until i finally decided to remove the filter in a desprit attempt to save yoshi and bella, my two survivers. so i threw i threw it out. i already started noticing improvements the next day, half their spots have disapeared and they started swiming more like they used to instead of staying on the floor. by the end of the week you couldn't tell there was anything wrong with them! i can definately tell they're much happier now. but now im back where i started with the same two fish i had before i bought some from wolfe... which were the ones who didn't make it. its also the reason i have'nt been on for a while, i just did'nt know how to tell her Im really sorry this happened to them and i hope you can forgive me

[addictinganimal]

Awww, that's a real shame. *( Even my Frankie is gone? What do you think was wrong with the filter?

[layla_ryu]

yes  *( I'm so sorry this happened, i had no way of knowing that the filter might of been the problem. i did all i could, i even ordered metro meds online but they never showed in time>. i 80% wc, the water params were perfect. my guess is that the filter i threw out was holding some sort of disease stored in it and let it loose on the fish when i turned it on. the previous owner housed wild-cought fish such as bass and panfish he caught from a lake....  i should've known better and gotten rid of it when i had the chance im really sorry

[SeaWitch]

Did you disinfect the used filter before using it and put in new filter pads?  How long has this tank and the old filter been set up?  Was the tank fully cycled?  I'm sorry you lost your fish!

[layla_ryu]

no i didn't. i had no idea i had to do that. i had two filters. yes my tank was cycled. one filter i had i got it when it was new. its been running for six weeks

[zookey]

Did you disinfect ANY of the tank and equipment that you used?
Did you use new filter pads or the ones that were in it when you got it?

I am pretty sure there is a stickie around here somewhere that explains how to disinfect used tanks/equipment.  If there is NOT there definately should be.

[SeaWitch]

Of course we have a stickie on that. 

[Lolafish]

That's a very good reminder layla.  Hopefully our scary stories will protect someone else from making our mistakes. 

Don't keep beating yourself up though.  We live, and we learn.  You did your best at the time.