How should I treat fin rot

[mblauderdale]

Hi, we must removed a hippo tang (100 gallon tank) that was getting too big for the tank and probably stressing the rest of the community. The hippo had been showing frayed fins for the past 3-4 months and it was getting worse, but very gradually. So we gave him away to a loving family (tang was a highly-prized yellow-belly). We have noticed the beginning of frayed fins on the fire fish, and the dottyback is showing a fine white line on its tail fin, presumably the precursor to fraying. Do you guys think this is fin rot and, if so, is quarantine the only way to treat it, i.e., we've removed the big tang, which was a stressor to the other fish, and hope the fins might recover on their own? Water quality is good, but probably too much food volume due to the tang's eating habits. Thanks.

[prow]

what are you testing and what are the lastest results, also all the tanks levels temp, ph ect...?

[leebca]

The fin fraying and 'ragged' look to marine fish are usually from microbial activity, like a bacterial infection. However the cause for the fish succumbing to this is a wide range of possibles.

Look to water quality as prow implied. Too much organics, not doing your maintenance to remove detritus, maybe water changes are too small or far in between, skimmer and/or carbon filter not performing properly, etc. are offending conditions. Then check to see the fish are getting their proper nutrition. A fish getting all its needed nutrition can usually fend off a bacterial problem. If this still doesn't help, look for things you add to the aquarium and check the quality of your source water to see if something you don't routinely test for is getting into the aquarium (e.g., pesticides, extra organics, ions, etc.).

[mblauderdale]

Nitrite = between 0.1 and 0.2
Nitrate = 2.5 ppm
pH = 8.2
Ammonia = .25
Calcium = about 500 ppm
Salinity = 1.023

[mempho reefer]

You ammo is a bit high. Probably because of the hippo tang. I suggest a 10% water change every three to four days until you get to zero/undetectable ammo. That should also alleviate your nitrIte and nitrAte issues. and likely solve your fin issues as well.

[prow]

hummm dont take it wrong but your water is far from good. couple things you need to do ASAP. first a big water change 30% or more. then get some amquel or other ammonia remover and add it accordingly. something is up in your system. how long has it been up? maybe something died or your over feeding alot. can you give your setup everything, LR #lbs, sandbed type, skimmer, water used for top off, water flow ect...

[mblauderdale]

Thanks mempho reefer, prow, and leebca:

Great feedback. Will provide the extra requested info (need my husband to fill in the details). The tank has been running for a couple of years, but we just removed a yellow-belly hippo, which drove some over-feeding, perhaps? Clearly there's a call for more agressive water changes over the next few days, based on the feedback...

[goody]

Originally Posted by leebca

Too much organics, not doing your maintenance to remove detritus, maybe water changes are too small or far in between, skimmer and/or carbon filter not performing properly, etc. are offending conditions.

Bought a mandarin and she was getting tore up by my clowns and wrasse, so I move her to my fuge. I noticed that her fins were mangled from the others attacking her. Now, her dorsal fin is almost completely gone. I do believe I have a lot of detritus on the bottom of my fuge. What should I do to help save her from fin rot? Will vacuuming the fuge do it or do I add some medication? If I add medication, is it harmful to fuge and main tank?

[Witfull]

waste in the fuge can be simply siphoned out without hurting anything. another thing to look for are dead spots behind or under rocks in the main tank where waste and food become trapped and slowly decompose.

anti-biotics can be used to help fin rot, but cleaning up the cause will cure the issue.

control feeding amounts, feed slowly. let fish eat everything then give a bit more. split the feeding up if you can. several small feedings are better than one large one.