Saprolegnia; pH

[Carl]

I updated my Columnaris/Saprolegnia article with a newer look, but more importantly I added more information about the risks of lower pH and allowing Saprolegnia/Fungus getting a foothold in an aquarium.

Saprolegnia; low pH

Carl

[goldenpuon]

EXCELLENT EXCELLENT article!!!

Thanks to this, I just figured out what keeps plaguing my aquariums by growing on ANY piece (even a particle) of uneaten food. It was Saprolegnia. This was my guess based on what you had told me but I was not entirely sure until now.

And also I finally realized what my disease broke out when I first got guppies, Columnaris. Irene Fish is of the guppies that was affected by it and is still living today.

I would also like to note that the medications you said treat Columnaris and Saprolegnia DO in fact treat them. When I treated Irene Fish and the other guppies affected, I used Pimafix (along with some medications I don't remember) and it cleared up. the symptoms were exactly as you described too. Fins wearing away (white edges), cotton like growth just behind the head (saddleback appearance) and rapid breathing/gasping at the surface.

The Saprolegnia I have encountered also fits your description. And wonder shells (which contain Acriflavin) seem to wipe it out.

Thanks so much for updating this article. As well, I should have read it before. I learned a lot from it.

Renee