Maintaining the Status Quo

Had to change the water today while football was on. With less gravel and less over-feeding in the 5-gallon tank, I noticed a lot less detrius (or mulm) when I vacuumed the gravel. I dropped some new Fungus Clear in (as per the directions after a water change). While a lot of the white bits were still on fins, I think the barbs were a little better on the cory catfish. We'll see if it gets better.

As for the 30 gallon tank, I did a partial there, too (probably closer to 10% than 25%) and managed to get a little of the mulm off the substrate by removing the cylinder from the siphon tubing. I hope that helps the nitrates just a little and foils the algae some.

Speaking of algae, I believe I have a strategy for getting rid of it. There's a little fish called Otocinclus affinis (or "Otto catfish") that stays small and leaves the plants alone, but will go after the algae. Now I just need to find the damn things for sale somewhere.

It's later tonight, and I'm afraid my second cory in the 5-gallon tank is on his last legs. The fish in the tank are really hungry (the Buenos Aires has developed a taste for the corydoras' sinking tablets), but he's not eating the food that gets down there. In fact, he's not moving at all unless someone deliberately bumps or nips him. I added some MelaFix in a last ditch effort -- hopefully that doesn't interfere with the Fungus Clear and kill all the other fish, too. I'm hoping for the best, but expecting the worst.

After doing some more internet research, I'm suspicious that my catfish has Enteric Septicemia. I'm not sure there's a whole lot I can do for him, but right now it's at least as important to keep my first cory from meeting a similar fate. Apparently, ES cannot live at temperatures above 83 degrees F, so I'm adjusting my heater to keep the tank a little warmer than its normal 79 or so.

I really hope I'm not in the process of stressing and killing the rest of my fish.