Repeated Fin Rot

[mshell_p]

Hi everyone, new to the forum ... I started a 16 gal. aquarium about 18 months ago (my first). Then started a 10 gal. w/ 1 goldfish in it (carnival !). Have had repeated episodes of fin rot, or something like it. I have lost two pink cory catfish, whose fins deteriorated to stubs before sinking to the bottom to die. And lost one red platey, who seemed to have a mouth ulcer and stopped eating and died. (The goldfish got fin rot once and I was able to treat his tank and he recovered beautifully, at recomendation of meds from a Petco guy.) I was wondering what I am doing wrong.

I change 2 gal. of water every 7-10 days. Ammonia is always 0. Nitrites are always 0. Nitrates are usually 20-40 by the time I'm ready for the water change. Temp is 82 degrees. I have a Penguin filter with bio-wheel. I have 4 black skirt tetras, one zebra danio, and 1 red platey in there now. Alkalinity is reading high right now, so I but in some Bullseye this morning.

I do not really know how to regulate salt. Is there a test kit for that? Isn't that supposed to keep this stuff out of my aquarium?

What is the best med to get it out of my tank? I have tried Maracyn and Maracyn II in the past.

Two of my tetras anal fins look like they are fraying now. Not sure if they are being nipped by the others, or have a problem again.

Any advice? Thanks.

M_shell

 

[hollyp0p]

Hi everyone, new to the forum ... I started a 16 gal. aquarium about 18 months ago (my first). Then started a 10 gal. w/ 1 goldfish in it (carnival !). Have had repeated episodes of fin rot, or something like it. I have lost two pink cory catfish, whose fins deteriorated to stubs before sinking to the bottom to die. And lost one red platey, who seemed to have a mouth ulcer and stopped eating and died. (The goldfish got fin rot once and I was able to treat his tank and he recovered beautifully, at recomendation of meds from a Petco guy.) I was wondering what I am doing wrong.

I change 2 gal. of water every 7-10 days. Ammonia is always 0. Nitrites are always 0. Nitrates are usually 20-40 by the time I'm ready for the water change. Temp is 82 degrees. I have a Penguin filter with bio-wheel. I have 4 black skirt tetras, one zebra danio, and 1 red platey in there now. Alkalinity is reading high right now, so I but in some Bullseye this morning.

I do not really know how to regulate salt. Is there a test kit for that? Isn't that supposed to keep this stuff out of my aquarium?

What is the best med to get it out of my tank? I have tried Maracyn and Maracyn II in the past.

Two of my tetras anal fins look like they are fraying now. Not sure if they are being nipped by the others, or have a problem again.

Any advice? Thanks.

M_shell

how often is it happening...or what gaps of time are in between?
Once fish have had finrot, particuarly long finned varieties it's often prone to recurrence, so it may be this, maracyn one and two should have been doing the job as they're good strong meds that we can't get here in the UK.

 

[rdd1952]

Are you using the Bullseye on a regular basis? If so, that could be the problem. Most fish can easily adapt to any stable pH but struggle when it is constantly fluctuating which is what happens when you use the pH adjusters.

 

[mshell_p]

Well, this is at least the third time in this tank in 18 months. And once in the separate goldfish tank. So, it could be several months apart.

Is there a good way to keep it from happening?

M_shell

Hi everyone, new to the forum ... I started a 16 gal. aquarium about 18 months ago (my first). Then started a 10 gal. w/ 1 goldfish in it (carnival !). Have had repeated episodes of fin rot, or something like it. I have lost two pink cory catfish, whose fins deteriorated to stubs before sinking to the bottom to die. And lost one red platey, who seemed to have a mouth ulcer and stopped eating and died. (The goldfish got fin rot once and I was able to treat his tank and he recovered beautifully, at recomendation of meds from a Petco guy.) I was wondering what I am doing wrong.

I change 2 gal. of water every 7-10 days. Ammonia is always 0. Nitrites are always 0. Nitrates are usually 20-40 by the time I'm ready for the water change. Temp is 82 degrees. I have a Penguin filter with bio-wheel. I have 4 black skirt tetras, one zebra danio, and 1 red platey in there now. Alkalinity is reading high right now, so I but in some Bullseye this morning.

I do not really know how to regulate salt. Is there a test kit for that? Isn't that supposed to keep this stuff out of my aquarium?

What is the best med to get it out of my tank? I have tried Maracyn and Maracyn II in the past.

Two of my tetras anal fins look like they are fraying now. Not sure if they are being nipped by the others, or have a problem again.

Any advice? Thanks.

M_shell

how often is it happening...or what gaps of time are in between?
Once fish have had finrot, particuarly long finned varieties it's often prone to recurrence, so it may be this, maracyn one and two should have been doing the job as they're good strong meds that we can't get here in the UK.

 

[hollyp0p]

I've been told very clean water.....but maybe rdd is right!

 

[mshell_p]

Are you using the Bullseye on a regular basis? If so, that could be the problem. Most fish can easily adapt to any stable pH but struggle when it is constantly fluctuating which is what happens when you use the pH adjusters.

No, this is only the second time I have used it. I just thought the fish may be stressed from the alkalinity or something. The tetras do seem to be charging at one another, which isn't really usual.

That is good to know about adaptability. Thanks. Guess I'll avoid that fluctuation.

 

[mshell_p]

I use the gravel vac, and whipe down the glass with each water change. I have never really had cloudy water. It looks really good. But looks aren't everything, right? I don't really clean my ornaments, unless I can see algae on them. Have had a bit of brown algae from time to time.

 

[hollyp0p]

I use the gravel vac, and whipe down the glass with each water change. I have never really had cloudy water. It looks really good. But looks aren't everything, right? I don't really clean my ornaments, unless I can see algae on them. Have had a bit of brown algae from time to time.

I'm not 100% but I think finrot is normally a bacterial problem.....do the fins drop off in chunks, or do they go slowly with a white, black or red edging??

 

[mshell_p]

I haven't seen rapid chunks falling off. They are slowly tearing or separating, like frayed blue jeans. Only the bottom -anal fin on these. No noticable coloration along the edges.

Does "bacterial" mean it would be treated differently?

 

[celaeno]

i'd use a finrot medication. remember to remove the activated carbon by taking out the rite-size cartridge. after it heals, i'd dose with melafix to encourage fin regeneration. pimafix may help, but i think it may be too mild for what you're describing.

 

[hollyp0p]

i'd use a finrot medication. remember to remove the activated carbon by taking out the rite-size cartridge. after it heals, i'd dose with melafix to encourage fin regeneration. pimafix may help, but i think it may be too mild for what you're describing.

I'd had success with pimafix and melafix on finrot that was taking large chunks, it might be worth a go, maybe wilder will be able to suggest something better if she's about later on.

 

[mshell_p]

Thanks for the input.

I'll check back later. And let you know if I have a change for the better!

 

[Snooks1!]

You have a goldfish in a 10 gal tank....with the temp at 82?


Or am I reading this wrong?

 

[hollyp0p]

You have a goldfish in a 10 gal tank....with the temp at 82?


Or am I reading this wrong?

eep i missed that earlier.......urrrr

 

[WILDER]

Is there any other fish in the tank with the goldfish.
As the first goldfish alone needs 20 gallon then 10 gallon for every other goldfish added to the tank.
Goldfish are massive waste producers and meed double the filter size to the tank.

Finrot and ulcers are bacterial, but ulcers can be caused by parasites like flukes.
Ulcers are a pink or red colour with a circling of dead white skin around the edges.

Med maracyn plus
[URL="http/www.aquariumguys.com/maracynplus.html"]http/www.aquariumguys.com/maracynplus.html[/URL]

The more meds you use the build a resistance up to them.
Are you cutting the meds to short, as in bad cases you can be treating fish up to 4 weeks.