Problem Fin Rot

jg_23 · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 4

I've tried practically everything from the puregold website to treat a
4" ranchu for fins that keep getting fin rot after having successfully
treated in a hospital tank. My current tank setup isn't much. I have a
20 gallon bare-bottom glass tank with no tank decorations, a 6 inch
airstone, Aquaclear 300 packed with filter floss, a bag of Ehfisubstrat,
a bag of Black Diamond carbon, and then some more floss. The filter is
cycled: ammonia is zero, nitrite is zero, nitrate is 5 ppm, pH is about
8.4, GH = 250ppm, KH=6.

At one time, I use to keep this fish in a 5 gallon glass tank with just
an Aquaclear filter packed with filter floss. No carbon and no bio
media for bio-filtration. The ran the filter as a mechanical filter, so
I just changed the water every other day with tap water and plain no
frills dechlorinator. But I recall the fins on the fish were perfect
under these conditions.... never had fin rot problems.

Now, I'm wondering if the use of carbon filtration is causing the fin
rot problem. I have another goldfish in a separate tank (no
bio-filtration, no carbon, just mechanical filtration), and she has
perfect fins.

My question is are there any alternatives to using carbon that I should
try? Some other media that I could use that removes colored impurities,
keeps the water clear, etc.... Or should I just remove the carbon
from my filter and see what happens?

Archived from group: rec>aquaria>freshwater>goldfish

dr-solo · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1445

when there isnt any other explanation, remove everything but the necessities.
carbon is not generally used in GF tanks anyway. the fiber floss is a biofilter.
Add a bit of salt to the water, 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons. but mostly is change some
water every day if possible. Ingrid

jg_23 wrote:

>I've tried practically everything from the puregold website to treat a
>4" ranchu for fins that keep getting fin rot after having successfully
>treated in a hospital tank. My current tank setup isn't much. I have a
>20 gallon bare-bottom glass tank with no tank decorations, a 6 inch
>airstone, Aquaclear 300 packed with filter floss, a bag of Ehfisubstrat,
>a bag of Black Diamond carbon, and then some more floss. The filter is
>cycled: ammonia is zero, nitrite is zero, nitrate is 5 ppm, pH is about
>8.4, GH = 250ppm, KH=6.
>
>At one time, I use to keep this fish in a 5 gallon glass tank with just
>an Aquaclear filter packed with filter floss. No carbon and no bio
>media for bio-filtration. The ran the filter as a mechanical filter, so
>I just changed the water every other day with tap water and plain no
>frills dechlorinator. But I recall the fins on the fish were perfect
>under these conditions.... never had fin rot problems.
>
>Now, I'm wondering if the use of carbon filtration is causing the fin
>rot problem. I have another goldfish in a separate tank (no
>bio-filtration, no carbon, just mechanical filtration), and she has
>perfect fins.
>
>My question is are there any alternatives to using carbon that I should
>try? Some other media that I could use that removes colored impurities,
> keeps the water clear, etc.... Or should I just remove the carbon
>from my filter and see what happens?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
http://puregold.aquaria.net/
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
endorsements or recommendations I make.

Scott · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 19

When I had a similar problem in my tank (two black moors and one oranda), I
used Melafix in my tank for five days (not in a hospital tank). It seems to
have wiped out the bacteria that caused that fin rot, as it has never
appeared since.

Scott

"jg_23" wrote in message%GPa.50438$0v4.3412793@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I've tried practically everything from the puregold website to treat a
> 4" ranchu for fins that keep getting fin rot after having successfully
> treated in a hospital tank. My current tank setup isn't much. I have a
> 20 gallon bare-bottom glass tank with no tank decorations, a 6 inch
> airstone, Aquaclear 300 packed with filter floss, a bag of Ehfisubstrat,
> a bag of Black Diamond carbon, and then some more floss. The filter is
> cycled: ammonia is zero, nitrite is zero, nitrate is 5 ppm, pH is about
> 8.4, GH = 250ppm, KH=6.
>
> At one time, I use to keep this fish in a 5 gallon glass tank with just
> an Aquaclear filter packed with filter floss. No carbon and no bio
> media for bio-filtration. The ran the filter as a mechanical filter, so
> I just changed the water every other day with tap water and plain no
> frills dechlorinator. But I recall the fins on the fish were perfect
> under these conditions.... never had fin rot problems.
>
> Now, I'm wondering if the use of carbon filtration is causing the fin
> rot problem. I have another goldfish in a separate tank (no
> bio-filtration, no carbon, just mechanical filtration), and she has
> perfect fins.
>
> My question is are there any alternatives to using carbon that I should
> try? Some other media that I could use that removes colored impurities,
> keeps the water clear, etc.... Or should I just remove the carbon
> from my filter and see what happens?
>

Dave & Rachael · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

Hello

I used the INTERPET treatment (UK), do I need to repeat the dosage at all?
It doesn't say to do this, but just says if redosing wait 7 days and change
30% of the water.

I have just put this fin rot treatment into my tank today. (The instructions
said to remove any carbon filters before treatment.)

Are the 2 fish likely to be cured from mild-moderate fin rot (nowhere near
the actual body) with 1 dose given correctly according to the dosage?

Thanks

Rachael

Scott wrote in message$Ag6.995453@news20.bellglobal.com...
> When I had a similar problem in my tank (two black moors and one oranda),
I
> used Melafix in my tank for five days (not in a hospital tank). It seems
to
> have wiped out the bacteria that caused that fin rot, as it has never
> appeared since.
>
> Scott
>
> "jg_23" wrote in message
> %GPa.50438$0v4.3412793@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > I've tried practically everything from the puregold website to treat a
> > 4" ranchu for fins that keep getting fin rot after having successfully
> > treated in a hospital tank. My current tank setup isn't much. I have a
> > 20 gallon bare-bottom glass tank with no tank decorations, a 6 inch
> > airstone, Aquaclear 300 packed with filter floss, a bag of Ehfisubstrat,
> > a bag of Black Diamond carbon, and then some more floss. The filter is
> > cycled: ammonia is zero, nitrite is zero, nitrate is 5 ppm, pH is about
> > 8.4, GH = 250ppm, KH=6.
> >
> > At one time, I use to keep this fish in a 5 gallon glass tank with just
> > an Aquaclear filter packed with filter floss. No carbon and no bio
> > media for bio-filtration. The ran the filter as a mechanical filter, so
> > I just changed the water every other day with tap water and plain no
> > frills dechlorinator. But I recall the fins on the fish were perfect
> > under these conditions.... never had fin rot problems.
> >
> > Now, I'm wondering if the use of carbon filtration is causing the fin
> > rot problem. I have another goldfish in a separate tank (no
> > bio-filtration, no carbon, just mechanical filtration), and she has
> > perfect fins.
> >
> > My question is are there any alternatives to using carbon that I should
> > try? Some other media that I could use that removes colored impurities,
> > keeps the water clear, etc.... Or should I just remove the carbon
> > from my filter and see what happens?
> >
>
>

Mel · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 146

I've used the Interpet treatment for finrot a couple of times and have only
ever given one dose. Each time the fish were fine and the rot stopped. Don't
expect an immediate improvement as obviously it takes time for the damaged
tissue to grow back, but you should see a marked improvement in a while.
Mel.

"Dave & Rachael" wrote in message@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com...
> Hello
>
> I used the INTERPET treatment (UK), do I need to repeat the dosage at all?
> It doesn't say to do this, but just says if redosing wait 7 days and
change
> 30% of the water.
>
> I have just put this fin rot treatment into my tank today. (The
instructions
> said to remove any carbon filters before treatment.)
>
> Are the 2 fish likely to be cured from mild-moderate fin rot (nowhere near
> the actual body) with 1 dose given correctly according to the dosage?
>
> Thanks
>
> Rachael
>
>
>
> Scott wrote in message
> $Ag6.995453@news20.bellglobal.com...
> > When I had a similar problem in my tank (two black moors and one
oranda),
> I
> > used Melafix in my tank for five days (not in a hospital tank). It
seems
> to
> > have wiped out the bacteria that caused that fin rot, as it has never
> > appeared since.
> >
> > Scott
> >
> > "jg_23" wrote in message
> > %GPa.50438$0v4.3412793@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > > I've tried practically everything from the puregold website to treat a
> > > 4" ranchu for fins that keep getting fin rot after having successfully
> > > treated in a hospital tank. My current tank setup isn't much. I have a
> > > 20 gallon bare-bottom glass tank with no tank decorations, a 6 inch
> > > airstone, Aquaclear 300 packed with filter floss, a bag of
Ehfisubstrat,
> > > a bag of Black Diamond carbon, and then some more floss. The filter is
> > > cycled: ammonia is zero, nitrite is zero, nitrate is 5 ppm, pH is
about
> > > 8.4, GH = 250ppm, KH=6.
> > >
> > > At one time, I use to keep this fish in a 5 gallon glass tank with
just
> > > an Aquaclear filter packed with filter floss. No carbon and no bio
> > > media for bio-filtration. The ran the filter as a mechanical filter,
so
> > > I just changed the water every other day with tap water and plain no
> > > frills dechlorinator. But I recall the fins on the fish were perfect
> > > under these conditions.... never had fin rot problems.
> > >
> > > Now, I'm wondering if the use of carbon filtration is causing the fin
> > > rot problem. I have another goldfish in a separate tank (no
> > > bio-filtration, no carbon, just mechanical filtration), and she has
> > > perfect fins.
> > >
> > > My question is are there any alternatives to using carbon that I
should
> > > try? Some other media that I could use that removes colored
impurities,
> > > keeps the water clear, etc.... Or should I just remove the carbon
> > > from my filter and see what happens?
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

dr-solo · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1445

what is in it? fin rot is usually a water quality problem associated with high
nitrates or other water quality issues. Ingrid

"Dave & Rachael" wrote:
>I used the INTERPET treatment (UK), do I need to repeat the dosage at all?
>It doesn't say to do this, but just says if redosing wait 7 days and change
>30% of the water.
>
>I have just put this fin rot treatment into my tank today. (The instructions
>said to remove any carbon filters before treatment.)
>
>Are the 2 fish likely to be cured from mild-moderate fin rot (nowhere near
>the actual body) with 1 dose given correctly according to the dosage?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
http://puregold.aquaria.net/
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
endorsements or recommendations I make.

Dave & Rachael · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

Thanks for the replies, I'll be patient!

All it says on the bottle/packaging is 'contains 2-phenoxyethanol' it
doesn't give any percentages or other ingredients (I have increased aeration
by adding oxygen tablets and will check water quality) - not had any
previous problems in 16+ years with the same 2 fish in their tank.

Rachael

wrote in message@news-server.wi.rr.com...
> what is in it? fin rot is usually a water quality problem associated with
high
> nitrates or other water quality issues. Ingrid
>
> "Dave & Rachael" wrote:
> >I used the INTERPET treatment (UK), do I need to repeat the dosage at
all?
> >It doesn't say to do this, but just says if redosing wait 7 days and
change
> >30% of the water.
> >
> >I have just put this fin rot treatment into my tank today. (The
instructions
> >said to remove any carbon filters before treatment.)
> >
> >Are the 2 fish likely to be cured from mild-moderate fin rot (nowhere
near
> >the actual body) with 1 dose given correctly according to the dosage?
>
>
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
> http://puregold.aquaria.net/
> www.drsolo.com
> Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
> compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
> endorsements or recommendations I make.

dr-solo · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1445

vacuuming the gravel doesnt get rid of enough. after 3-6 months it can really be
loaded with organics and needs to be stripped and cleaned. the tip off is nitrates
are high even after cleaning and doing water changes., Ingrid

"Mel" wrote:

>Make sure you test your water regularly because as Ingrid said, finrot is
>usually due to poor water quality. There should be no ammonia, no nitrites
>and less than 20 nitrates. As long as the fish are in an adequately sized
>tank and the gravel is vacuumed and water changed regularly then the water
>quality should stay ok once a tank is cycled.
>Mel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
http://puregold.aquaria.net/
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
endorsements or recommendations I make.

Mel · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 146

Make sure you test your water regularly because as Ingrid said, finrot is
usually due to poor water quality. There should be no ammonia, no nitrites
and less than 20 nitrates. As long as the fish are in an adequately sized
tank and the gravel is vacuumed and water changed regularly then the water
quality should stay ok once a tank is cycled.
Mel.

"Dave & Rachael" wrote in message@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com...
> Thanks for the replies, I'll be patient!
>
> All it says on the bottle/packaging is 'contains 2-phenoxyethanol' it
> doesn't give any percentages or other ingredients (I have increased
aeration
> by adding oxygen tablets and will check water quality) - not had any
> previous problems in 16+ years with the same 2 fish in their tank.
>
> Rachael
>
>
> wrote in message
> @news-server.wi.rr.com...
> > what is in it? fin rot is usually a water quality problem associated
with
> high
> > nitrates or other water quality issues. Ingrid
> >
> > "Dave & Rachael" wrote:
> > >I used the INTERPET treatment (UK), do I need to repeat the dosage at
> all?
> > >It doesn't say to do this, but just says if redosing wait 7 days and
> change
> > >30% of the water.
> > >
> > >I have just put this fin rot treatment into my tank today. (The
> instructions
> > >said to remove any carbon filters before treatment.)
> > >
> > >Are the 2 fish likely to be cured from mild-moderate fin rot (nowhere
> near
> > >the actual body) with 1 dose given correctly according to the dosage?
> >
> >
> >
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
> > http://puregold.aquaria.net/
> > www.drsolo.com
> > Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
> > compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
> > endorsements or recommendations I make.
>
>
>
>