whats wrong...
- Thread starter Fishyfan
- Start date
What are your water parameters? High nitrates can cause fin burn, and seem to be especially likely in some fish.
Poor water quality is also likely to lead to finrot. High pH can be stressful to arows, but I don't know if it would necessarily lead to frayed fins.
As an arow is growing their fins can look kind of tattered sometimes because they grow so fast, and they may not grow back evenly at first, so that could also be the case.
But definately check water parameters.
If you want my honest opinion, the first case doesn't look like finrot either, it looks like fin burn from high nitrates, ammonia or nitrites.
High TDS can also cause frayed looking fins in some fish, even if your pH isn't that high.
Poor water quality is also likely to lead to finrot. High pH can be stressful to arows, but I don't know if it would necessarily lead to frayed fins.
As an arow is growing their fins can look kind of tattered sometimes because they grow so fast, and they may not grow back evenly at first, so that could also be the case.
But definately check water parameters.
If you want my honest opinion, the first case doesn't look like finrot either, it looks like fin burn from high nitrates, ammonia or nitrites.
High TDS can also cause frayed looking fins in some fish, even if your pH isn't that high.
Fishyfan;1274784; said:
Not true. If your tapwater has low buffering it can drop significantly even without anything in the tank. My tapwater drops from 7.6 to 7.4 just sitting overnight in a bucket. Mine stops there, so isn't a worry, but I know some people whose water can drop much much lower, and quickly.
Not saying this is your case, but never assume your tapwater is going to stay the same after you fill your tank.
Considering your other water parameters are very good I would definately check the pH in tank and your TDS. TDS can be very high even if your pH is low. My TDS are pretty bad even with a fairly normal pH.
Alternately, if you ever top your tank off with tapwater instead of distilled or RO your TDS will slowly rise without notice until you start having issues from old tank syndrome.
Of course, you may just have a couple of random cases of finrot, but it's always good to check all angles
Additionally, just for the record.
The nitrification process will also eat up your KH and gradually acidify the water causing the pH to drop.
The level of aeration, fish stocking, and planting also has a bearing on the amount of dissolved CO2 in the water, which again can have an effect on pH.
The nitrification process will also eat up your KH and gradually acidify the water causing the pH to drop.
The level of aeration, fish stocking, and planting also has a bearing on the amount of dissolved CO2 in the water, which again can have an effect on pH.
ok tested ph, it came out to be 7.0-7.2, its kinda hard to tell with the dip strips but thats all the lfs had.
and the finrot looks like its getting worse
I did a water change(30%) on saturday and then added 1 tablespoon of salt for every 5 gallons and added a dose of melafix. It doesn't seem to have done anything...Today it looks like hes developing a few holes in his fins. There also appears to be a few small bloody spots (Ive never seen this before with any of my other cases of fin rot).
Could this problem im having with fin rot have anything to do with using a garden hose to do water changes? I asked if it was safe to use a garden hose to do water changes (on another forum i think) and people told me that it was. I bought a RV drinking water hose today just in case. It doesnt seem very likely but ive tried almost everything to get rid of this fin rot and it doesnt work
and the finrot looks like its getting worse
I did a water change(30%) on saturday and then added 1 tablespoon of salt for every 5 gallons and added a dose of melafix. It doesn't seem to have done anything...Today it looks like hes developing a few holes in his fins. There also appears to be a few small bloody spots (Ive never seen this before with any of my other cases of fin rot).
Could this problem im having with fin rot have anything to do with using a garden hose to do water changes? I asked if it was safe to use a garden hose to do water changes (on another forum i think) and people told me that it was. I bought a RV drinking water hose today just in case. It doesnt seem very likely but ive tried almost everything to get rid of this fin rot and it doesnt work
I have no idea if your problems have anything to do with it, but I wouldn't use a garden hose to do water changes, they're not approved for drinking water, therefore I wouldn't consider them aquarium safe. They've been treated to prevent algae buildup and stuff. While I've drank out of hoses as a kid and nothing bad happened as far as I know, I wouldn't run water through them for my aquarium.
Get a python or make yourself one. At the least buy something with hosing that is safe for drinking water.
If this is finrot, melafix has done absolutely nothing for me personally, it's more of a preventative. You can treat finrot with an antibacterial medication such as erythromycin which will clear it up fairly quick if that's what it is.
Get a python or make yourself one. At the least buy something with hosing that is safe for drinking water.
If this is finrot, melafix has done absolutely nothing for me personally, it's more of a preventative. You can treat finrot with an antibacterial medication such as erythromycin which will clear it up fairly quick if that's what it is.
ShadowBass;1289106; said:
Agreed.
Also, just to mention all possibilities, when filling tank straight from the hose are you using something to neutralise the chlorine/chloramine? What about big temperature swings?
Nick660;1290110; said:
I use amquel+ to neutralize the chlorine. I add enough amquel to the tank for the amount of water i need to replace just before i start filling it back up. After its done filling up, i usually add another dose just to be safe. I hook the garden hose up the sink faucet in my house and match the temp before i put the hose in the tank.
Got this yesterday to do water changes from now on:
