Common Fish Diseases in Aquaponics and Treatments

Unfortunately, you cannot avoid the inevitability of coming across a common fish parasite or a disease. Because even if you follow all the steps when caring for your fish there will come a time where you will be reaching for a helping hand to save the day. Let’s chat about some common fish diseases in aquaponics and treatments to use if your fish are looking a bit off.

If you notice that your tilapia start to show signs of mould or white spots, you could be dealing with Ichthyophtirius (Ich). Which is a common parasite found in Aquaponics. The good news is that if you catch it quickly, it doesn’t have to be too much of a hassle. Fin rot is also a common culprit of bacterial disease and the first signs of this are fins that are wasting away or damaged.

It’s also crucial to keep an eye out for any suspicious behaviour as this can be another warning sign of fish diseases in aquaponics. The biggest warning sign is if your fish stop eating. However, also keep an eye out for lethargic behaviour and any fish that stop swimming. These behavioural changes can either indicate a parasite or an imbalance in your ammonia, nitrite and oxygen levels.

If your fish do seem to have a parasite, disease or imbalance, don’t panic, just move swiftly in treating the problem before it becomes fatal. Here are some treatments and tips you can use when needed.

• Always quarantine new fish. If you are adding new fish to your system, we strongly recommend a quarantine period to monitor the fish and its health before adding them to your Aquaponic system.
• Isolate any infected fish. If you can remove the infected fish and isolate them in another tank then we highly recommend this as an extra precaution when treating a disease or parasite.
• Check you water quality. If in doubt, first check your water quality. Run some tests and ensure that all your levels are correct and low in toxicity.
• Chloramine T. This is an effective broad-spectrum antibiotic used to lower bacteria in ponds. It is also relatively safe for your plants. However, it can be dangerous to your system at high pH levels. This is a bath treatment. Chloramine T is used to treat Ich, Myxobacteria and fungal infections. Recommended Dosage: 1g per 1000 litres and a pH lower than 9.
• Sea Salt. Your new best friend. In general, sea salt helps improve the immunity of Tilapia. Sea salt is worth adding when fish are stressed out. For example transportation, a sudden temperature change or the first signs of sickness. Recommended Dosage: Drop the water level for 30mins and add 10-30g per litre of dropped water as a salt bath.
• Potassium Permanganate. Used for the treatment of external fungal conditions. However, we suggest using it as a last resort. Permanganate can affect and kill good bacteria in your Aquaponic system, media beds and biofilters. Recommended Dosage: drop the water levels, dose for 30 minutes, pump water out and refill the tank.

So, that’s a basic summary of common fish diseases in aquaponics and treatments that we like to use. If you are concerned about your fish and their health please don’t hesitate to contact us. We would be happy to help where we can and if need be refer you to a good vet. Like we always say, it’s better to observe carefully and catch an issue early before it becomes fatal for your fish or detrimental to your system.