Water Parameters and Treatment

[kaitie]

I purchased my first betta fish, Kappa, July 20th this year and we have been struggling, with what I believe to be, fin rot every since. Here's the timeline so far..

When I first got him I quite quickly started to see his fin quality decline. I started with Aquarium Salt in his tank with 50% water changes every day (using bottled spring water). The salt was added to the new water to maintain the same salt level. He continued to decline. Ten days is the max for salt in the tank so on day seven I did the 50% changes every day with no salt replacement. Meanwhile I was also transitioning to tap water.

I was checking the water parameters (just with the sticks) every day. I realized my tank had not cycled correctly AND my tap water has ammonia in it, so that was most likely causing him stress. I bought a better testing kit. While I waited for the kit, I started doing 30 minute Methalyne Blue and Aquarium Salt bathes. Shortly after I was able to add Catappa Leaves.


The test kit was still a few days away and he was still getting worse. So I pulled him from his tank to let it finish cycling while he stayed in fresh bottled water. Still, getting worse despite the bathes, the leaves, and the fresh water.

Tank finally cycled and was stable, so I returned him to his tank on Friday. I have been doing smaller water changes every other day.

The last two days, he hasn't gotten worse but I would like to purchase my next move now in case I need it (and shipping can take a while).

A lot of medications are not available where I am so I am limited to Paraguard, Neoplex, and Sulfaplex as far as I can tell. I also already have Hikari Betta Revive (with no neomycin in it) and Tetra Lifeguard All-In-One.

Tank and water parameters are:
Ammonia 0-0.125
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5
pH 7.8
Temperature 79
5 Gallon Filtered Tank

First picture was when I brought him home. Second was mid August. Third was this week. 

Attachments:

[Carl]

Hi Katie and welcome to EA (sorry for the slow response)

Two essential parameters are missing; what is your GH and KH?

I am especially concerned if you are using "spring Water" which often is missing essential mineral Cations and can impede fish osmoregulation.

I would also test the spring water for GH and KH prior to addition to your aquarium, as I suspect water quality may be the major issue here.

Also be careful about too much salt use and correct use of Methylene Blue baths, as the internet is full of incorrect information as to proper use
Please read:
www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2009/07/fish-baths.html

Also please Read these articles in full as to proper care:
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Disease.html

www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Basic_Aquarium_Principles.html

[kaitie]

Thanks Carl! No worries.

I only have the testing sticks for kH and gH but they give us a general read.

In the tank right now (just tested)
gH 80-90 ppm
kH 100 ppm

Both a little high to my knowledge. That is mostly tap water and some of the bottled water. The bottled water I was using while he was out of the tank tests at
gH 0
kH 20

I originally was adding the bottled water to lower the average in the tank. I had not thought of it when I pulled him out though. Rookie mistake. I am sure that stress did not benefit us.

It was AAP's website I used for bath and dip information, so I hope I at least got that right. I have done a lot of reading since having him, which I should have done before, but here we are. I was happy to see a forum here because I have not been enjoying trying to get information from random webpages and facebook groups.

It is day four in his tank with no further damage. There is visible regrowth. I have ordered what I can and am just waiting for it in the mail if it is necessary. I am now doing about a 30% water change every other day and a bath on the opposite days. Exluding the weekends.

[Carl]

Sept 9, 2022 15:53:01 GMT -5 kaitie said:

In the tank right now (just tested)
gH 80-90 ppm
kH 100 ppm

Both a little high to my knowledge. That is mostly tap water and some of the bottled water. The bottled water I was using while he was out of the tank tests at
gH 0
kH 20

I originally was adding the bottled water to lower the average in the tank. I had not thought of it when I pulled him out though. Rookie mistake. I am sure that stress did not benefit us.

This is what I suspected.
Unfortunately this is too low, especially when adding the bottled water which could cause issues with osmoregulation and Redox Balance (in particular when added separately, but not so bad when blended prior to addition)
Even you overall GH is too low and likely you are missing essential mineral Cations needed for healthy tissue growth and disease resistance.

Please make sure to read the article I already [provided about aquarium disease prevention as it addresses this.

Based on your comments I also urge you to read:
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumKH.html

As well, my suggestion is also to order some AAP Wonder Shells and start with a 1/4 dose and keep these in at all times
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/MedicatedWonderShell.html

What else have you ordered?

[kaitie]

I'll definitely take a read over the articles.

I just want to clarify, you're saying the tank gH and kH are still too low at 80 and 100ppm?

I've purchased Neoplex, Sulfaplex, Paraguard and StressCoat. Not to use all at once, or even at all, of course, but to have on hand. It was all I could order and I'm not even sure it will make it past the border. 

[Carl]

Yes, as per the articles.
Sadly there is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about GH and KH in a closed system, which an aquarium is.
This is why I suggested the articles which explain this and have links to further more in depth information

As for water conditioners, I suggest Prime over StressCoat:

Resource that supports this forum and free articles:
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Seachem.html#prime

I also suggest this article as per water conditioner use:
www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2007/04/aquarium-water-conditioners.html

Otherwise Neoplex, Sulfaplex, & Paraguard are good treatments to have on hand (although for your Betta,"AAP Nitrofuracin Green" would be the best choice)
Resource:
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquatronics.html#betta

I also suggest reading this article as to how to treat sick fish as it goes beyond just dumping medications in an aquarium:
www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2016/09/how-to-treat-sick-fish.html

[kaitie]

Yes, the misinformation is very frustrating. Especially for a new fish owner like me just trying to navigate through it all.

I did take a read over all of the articles you linked, so thank you for attaching those.

I do have Prime, which I have been using for the last week or two - so I will stick with that for now.

Thank you for all of the advice! It has been very helpful.

[kaitie]

Hello again! I have been monitoring my fish over the last week and reading and rereading the articles you have linked. I have a few things in my cart, but I just wanted to ask for some more information before finalizing it.



All week my ammonia has been .25ppm or less. Nitrites 0 and Nitrates 5ppm. pH sits consistently at 7.8. (Still a 5 gallon, holding at 79 with just the one fish -- no plants at the moment, just catappa leaves).



The tap water has brought up the gH to 150ppm but the kH is still too low. Maybe 80ppm. Will adding (and keeping) wonder shells be enough? After reading, my impression is that they help maintain appropriate kH but don't typically raise it. If that's the case and I have to look at alternatives, it worries me that my pH is already on the higher end, and then I'd need a buffer pH. All of that is quite daunting to me and even after reading, I still feel I would need some guidance.



So that's part one of my question.

Attachments:

[Carl]

Wonder shells only aid in maintaining KH, they do not raise.
For this your would need an alkaline Buffer, however your KH of 80 is perfectly fine, especially in lieu of your pH, so no further intervention/product is needed here.

[kaitie]

Well that is good news.

I am not sure what happened to the second part of my post, I had it all typed out originally. Kappa has been showing some great regrowth, but other areas continue to melt away day by day. Carl recommended Nitrofuracine Green earlier --- for this situation would a bath be better or an in tank treatment?

[Carl]

AAP Nitrofuracine Green would be best used in an "in tank" treatment.

Make sure to allow time to heal and often "melted away" fins never fully come back. The main reason to use any treatment is to stop any infection, healinng will come with time, often well after you finish treatment.