Fin Rot In Platies And Albino Danios

[ebrcknrdg]

I have 5 zebra loaches, 3 platys, 2 ottos, 6 albino danios and 6 neons in a 125L tank. I have an internal filter and an external eheim.

The tank has been fishless cycled and the fish have been in for about 2 weeks. Have been testing water parameters every few days to keep an eye and they have been fine so far. The only concern was low PH due to a piece of bogwood being added. The PH dropped from 7 to 6.2. I did 25% water changes every day to try and steady the Ph and it did come back up to 7 where it stood for a week.

Today ive noticed that my two smaller platies have what look like fin rot. They are feeding as normal though and seem to be fine in themseves although i know its hard to tell. The larger one is fine.

I did another water test (the last one being yesterday and i did note that Ph rose to 7.2) and ammonia is 0, nitrite 0 and nitrate is 10. However there seems to be another rise in Ph to 7.4. I have done another water change today.

Is the fin rot due to the shift in PH or the stress of a new tank? Ive had these platies for a year now and would hate to lose them. If it is PH what would be the best solution? I cant really add anymore bogwood due to lack of room (i have lots of plants) and i know its not really advisable to try and meddle with Ph, but why is it rising so much? My tap water PH is 7.

Ive had the zebra loaches for a week and they do chase the platies about when they swim on the bottom. Could they be fin nipping? The platies with fin rot dont really swim to the bottom so i don think its fin nipping.

I have purchased some waterlife myxazin today and will dose with that.

Can anyone help?

 

[scooterchick]

What ornaments and rocks etc do you have in the tank? My husband put shells in our tank and it made the PH go to 7.5, from 7. The change in PH is almost certainly cuasing the fin rot. The fish can cope with PH's out of the normal, what they can't cope with is changes in PH. I think you'd be better leaving it to see what it settles at and leave it at that. rather than trying to change it. The fish will adapt to a 'different' but steady PH, rather than a fluxtuating one.

 

[ebrcknrdg]

What ornaments and rocks etc do you have in the tank? My husband put shells in our tank and it made the PH go to 7.5, from 7. The change in PH is almost certainly cuasing the fin rot. The fish can cope with PH's out of the normal, what they can't cope with is changes in PH. I think you'd be better leaving it to see what it settles at and leave it at that. rather than trying to change it. The fish will adapt to a 'different' but steady PH, rather than a fluxtuating one.

I only have one piece of bog wood and some slate with java moss on. I havent been messing with the PH, only ding water changes to try and keep it stable. I did think the PH was of concern. I will use treatment until it clears up. Thanx

 

[-germ-]

Many of the bacteria associated with fin rot are constantly present in aquarium, but fishes immune systems are constantly protecting themselves against illness (just as humans are) when the immune system is hampered through stress, they become more vulnerable to infection.
So it could be stress related to any or all of your options. Aggression, PH swings, new tank or something you haven't noticed.

If you have doubts that it may have been the loaches then a baterial med would be unnessecary as fin damage and fin rot are different things, although interlinked.

Then again as you have no way of being sure if it was the loaches, just do what you are doing and monitor them well.

 

[ebrcknrdg]

Many of the bacteria associated with fin rot are constantly present in aquarium, but fishes immune systems are constantly protecting themselves against illness (just as humans are) when the immune system is hampered through stress, they become more vulnerable to infection.
So it could be stress related to any or all of your options. Aggression, PH swings, new tank or something you haven't noticed.

If you have doubts that it may have been the loaches then a baterial med would be unnessecary as fin damage and fin rot are different things, although interlinked.

Then again as you have no way of being sure if it was the loaches, just do what you are doing and monitor them well.

cheers germ. i suspect it is more to do with PH swings rather than fin nipping. I have monitored them carefully today and it seems the loaches chase the large platy (she doesnt have fin rot) alot more than the two small ones. Hopefully the meds will sort it out as its in the early stages