FLUKES are crazy indestructible

[peterhql]

So I had a case of flukes between two tanks. I treated one tank with a 2x dose of pure prazi for 2-3 weeks. It worked as I had no signs of them for months. 2nd tank I never treated and it has been dry for months. I recently used a power filter from the 2nd untreated tank and I've been using a mag drive for draining from the 2nd tank also. The power filter I cleaned and rinsed for what seemed to be hours and the mag drive I left dry for months too. Maybe the mag drive was not as dry as I thought?

THE FLUKES ARE BACK a day or two after I let these two objects touch my water.

[Jennie]

Such good friends they are peter!

[peterhql]

Yea, they really don't bother me much at all anymore. You get used to it, I mean what are you gonna do... START FROM SCRATCH? but yea definitely indestructible.

[nc0gnet0]

I am not buying the fact that the flukes were re-introduced via the equipment that was dry for months. Either you already still had flukes or there is another source producing producing fluke like symptoms. Even if you had re-introduced the flukes (highly unlikely) from the equipment from the dry tanks, first the eggs would just be hatching (flukes themselves long since dead), and second, their numbers would be so minimal at this point I doubt they (the fish) would be showing any symptoms yet.

I still still think that alot of the time, we see the symptoms and autmatically assume flukes, when if fact there are many things that can produce the same symptoms, and this is how they get such a reputation as being indestructable.

[peterhql]

The only thing I can think of besides the equipment is my water storage barrel. I've been doing water changes straight from the tap for 2 months. I've only just started using the barrel again for a week straight before i noticed symptoms. Now I've never sanitized this barrel, but then again it was COMPLETELY dry as well.

I know often times many people say that it may not be flukes if you don't confirm it with a scope. What I am humbly asking is, since I do not know, what else could it be?

In my case,
- I had fish breathing from one gill. (not all but say 2-3 out of 10 fish)
- fish scratched and flicked themselves against anything they could get themselves on, not constant, but intermittently
- when treated with prazi, closed gills would open up pretty quickly (seemed like less than 2 hours) and flashing would stop.
- when prazi was removed with WCS. Within 2 days symptoms would reappear. My water is fairly warm 85 degrees.

edit - I should clarify, that this recent occurence may not be flukes I guess because I have not noticed any clamped gills yet, just flashing. The earlier example of my case was during my previous treatment with prazi.

Thanks,
Peter

[Rex82]

High nitrates will make fish flick and breath out of one gill. fighting will as well. When under treatment fish will breath out of both gills as there is less oxygen in the water and the fish will have to work harder to breathe. Is your water storage barrel food grade? if not i could prob put money on it thats where the problem lies.

[peterhql]

it is a brute rubbermaid 55 gallon from Home depot.

[Rex82]

Thats a garbage bin? Am i correct? It will most likely have a mould resist in the plastic. You mentioned the problem went away when you done changes from tap?

[peterhql]

yes there was no scratching whatsoever during the months I did straight from the tap. Anyone else have this problem with brute trash cans? I know alot of other people on the forum use these.

[Jennie]

Peter, what are your parameter readings?

[peterhql]

Peter, what are your parameter readings?

Lol I wonder if i still have a test kit lying around somewhere.

[Jennie]

you're kidding me right??

[peterhql]

I do regular water changes and regular maintenance on filters preserving the bio media each time. I avg 3x a week 50-70 percent wc. I haven't tested my water in over a year. Do you want me to test for nitrates? Otherwise i believe that most discus folks would know very quickly if their tank was not cycled. Fish behavior, water clarity, water smell being most obvious.

[peterhql]

I love the smell btw

[uberdave]

Have you tried a med for flukes and worms called wormer plus?