Fin Rot...help

champ&sweetpea

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Hello all. I thought I knew what I was doing, but after reading some of the posts on this site...let's just say I am humbled.

My problem is fin rot with one of my oscars. I do normal water changes. (once a week or so) The water tests out just fine. I treated with API pro series fungus cure, which was reccomended by the local pet store. I followed the directions to the letter, and the problem is still there now 3 weeks after treatment.

I just added 3 tablespoons of dissolved, iodine free salt to my 30 gallon tank in an effort to help the problem, along with a 30 to 40 percent water change. I am embarrased to say that I did not know that salt could help in a freshwater tank.

Do I repeat the treatment? Do I try a different product? Please give any advise you care to. If Idon't fix this my girlfriend will make ME "sleep with the fishes"...
 
Hello all. I thought I knew what I was doing, but after reading some of the posts on this site...let's just say I am humbled.

My problem is fin rot with one of my oscars. I do normal water changes. (once a week or so) The water tests out just fine. I treated with API pro series fungus cure, which was reccomended by the local pet store. I followed the directions to the letter, and the problem is still there now 3 weeks after treatment.

I just added 3 tablespoons of dissolved, iodine free salt to my 30 gallon tank in an effort to help the problem, along with a 30 to 40 percent water change. I am embarrased to say that I did not know that salt could help in a freshwater tank.

Do I repeat the treatment? Do I try a different product? Please give any advise you care to. If Idon't fix this my girlfriend will make ME "sleep with the fishes"...

It would be helpful to have your water readings and maybe a picture of your fish or a better description because it may be something else. Also you would probably get better and quicker answers if you posted this in the tropical emergency section.
 
Oscars are messy fish that grow to a big size. You might need a bigger tank in the near future. It is a good idea to do water changes and gravel cleans twice a week in Oscar tanks. This helps to reduce the gunk that builds up and encourages diseases and water quality problems.

Salt works in several ways.
1) the salt encourages the fish to produce more mucous and this can help prevent disease organisms from getting at the fish.
2) the salt can help kill some of the pathogens but the levels need to be a bit higher than what you have.
For salt to be effective as a disease treatment you need to use 1 heaped tablespoon per 20litres of water. This dose rate can stress certain fishes like Corydoras and Discus, but Oscars should be fine.

To work out the volume of water in the tank
measure Length x Width x Height in cm
divide by 1000
equals volume in litres

When measuring the height, measure from the top of the gravel to the top of the water level. If you have big rocks or driftwood in the tank, remove them before measuring the height.

Remove carbon from the filter before treating otherwise it will absorb the medication out of the water.

Normally the medication should kill off the disease within a few days to a week. However, the fins will take a while to recover, often a month or so before they have regrown.

A photo would help us to id the problem if it is still occurring.
 

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