I have a 26 gal freshwater tank. I set it up 3 weeks ago with a Biowheel and airstone only. I added 3 platys after 7 days of cycling with dechorinator, stress-coat and Cycle brand bacteria. After 2 weeks water turned to cloudy fog with white flakes. I had to break down the tank and put in an undergravel filter (I was misguided by a pet-chain store in the first place!)..This has been 2 weeks since I added the undergravel filter with a Powerhead. Platys did very well through the change and so I added 4 tetra (headlights/taillights) to help cycle. Water conditions (have always been and still are): ph 7.8, hardness 150-300, nitrate/nitrite 0, ammonia 0, temp 75-76. Now 3 days ago my male platy (yellow with crescent tail) is acting drunk, hitting the rocks and floating sideways only to "snap" out of it after a few seconds to be head up/tail down at the top or resting at the bottom - not active at all, fins clenched, pale, and thin. Two other platys are active but may be starting the same "drunk look" if slightly, also are thin and slightly pale. All platys have snow-white waste. No fin rot, no ick, and other fish are not bothering each other. These were bought at a pet chain-store. I was told that platys are NOT good fish to start with and don't do well as the tank is cycling. What do I do? I don't have a hospital tank. I was told that I will probably lose the platys because of stress/uncycled tank. HELP!

Hi ... snow white waste = intestine bacteria = bloat.
pale = stressed or sick
thin = not eating (obviously!!!) = stressed or sick

BLOAT
Usually caused by stress or inappropriate diet ... especially for troupheus. In this case, I suspect that it is from stress. The white waste is full of the bacteria, and will soon infect all other fishes, that I suspect, are somewhat stressed as well. Very soon, all your fishes will strart to die. Go to your nearest fish shop and get some medication to treat intestinal bacteria.

When you put in medication, you must remove all sponge filters. Otherwise, the medicine will kill all the beneficial bacteria on your filter.

STRESS
There are many things that will cause stress ... the way you release the fish ... terratorial fighting amoung fishes ... lack of hiding places ... but MOST LIKELY, it is poor water condition. Regardless of your water condition, if you suspect that your fishes are behaving "funny", do a 50% water change every day for 3 days. This will quickly help you refresh your water without over stressing your fishes. Also, add in some plants, be it real or fake, floating or rooted ... just make sure they have somewhere to hide.

PRODUCTS USED
"dechorinator, stress-coat and Cycle brand bacteria" ... I don't really use any of these items. There are many misconceptions in fish keeping:

1. Don't change more than 50% of water. Only under emergency, change up to a maximum of 75% of water. Most people change 100% of water, but this REALLY stress the fish ... imagine the stress if you are in KL, and suddenly, you are thrown to North Pole!!! BIG & SUDDEN change cause much stress!!!

2. Don't wash your filter with tap water. Good bacteria helps clean your water. It takes about 1 month to for the bacteria to establish. Chlorine kills the bacteria, so your filter will have to start the process from scratch again!! Instead, use your tank water to wash your filters!!

3. Leave your tap water in a pail for 2 days. Not only will the chlorine eveporate naturally, your water will also become less stressful for your fish.

4. Your bio load (waste) must balance your filter capacity. Yes, white flakes = bio load > filter capacity. However, as your filter takes about 1 month to fully mature, you must also increase your fish slowly. It is recommended to add 1 fish per week ... something that I never do also !!

Sooo, I think this happened:

1. your bio load > filter capacity,
2. so you upgraded your filter to undergravel filter
3. during the upgrade, one of your fish becomes over stressed and gets sick
4. the white waste full of bacteria is released, and this infected less stressed fishes.
5. Other fishes gets sick, and the cycle continues!!

Hope this helps!!!

Thank you "goodreef" for your many helpful comments and suggestions. I ran out yesterday and bought a medication for internal bacterial infections (metronidazole). I know this entire problem will take time to correct, but I'm in it for the long haul.

I will continue my water changes as it does seem to "perk" up the fish (no more than 25% at a time for 3 days in a row). My water values are still the same as when I started so I'm not sure if thats good or bad (good for less stress on the fish or bad because the water is not stabilizing down to a lower pH properly). I have begun using RO water from my local fish store. No more tap water for any reason. I don't want to cause any more stress...

The fish do have a very densly planted tank with a few floating branches (all plastic plants of various kind) and a few hiding places under the large driftwood decoration (fake). There are no signs of fighting. The tetras swim together and are eager to eat. The platys swin next to the tetra without any fin nipping. I think I'm good there...

No more fish will be added until I am POSITIVE that all is well with the tank water and the fish health.

Again, thank you for your concern and suggestions - Crikee

You are most welcome!!!

Some once say that if your fish can live for the first 3 weeks, they will live for the next 3 years!!! So, just hang in there!!