Sailfin Pelco Fin Rot!

[fresh_sailfin]

Hello
This is not the first time i have treated this problem. First time with this fish in this tank thoe. He is less than a week old for me at least. 2.5 inc My water parameters are all at zero except for the nitrate 10-15 ppm. The second or third day I brought him home he developed the fin rot. On his Tail fin aprox 1mm all the way down. Slight discolouration on his side. I imideatly treated with pimafix common Ick Treatment. the tank is aprox 77 deg. And none of the other occupants seem affected. Have not noticed a change within the last couple of days. I am nervous if I remove my active carbon from my HOB yes the medication will work beter but what about my Ammonia ect? would this not negativle affect my fish?

I have been preforming a 10 percent water change every 2 days. Partialy because I am nervous partly because it is a realitivly new tank and partialy because my neww P#lco eats a poops like a 2 foot monster lol. He is Active and I just want him to be ok. Any Advice?

[Loman]

fresh_sailfin,
If your tank is well established and completely cycled you should be able to remove the charcoal with no real impact. That said the scenario you are describing does not seem consistent with the typical case of fin rot. IMO Fin rot is almost always associated with poor water conditions. I would get my water tested at the LFS or by a friend with a separate test kit (and be sure and get the actual numbers not just it looks okay) to be sure the water is of high quality. I would also investigate other potential issues such as injury from an aggressive fish or something. You could be right and have fin rot with good water params but it seems very unlikely so I would double and triple check everything.

[fresh_sailfin]

Have double checked my water parameters and they are ok I can post them after 6 olock if you like. In any Case Three or 4 days has gone by since i posted this and there has been little to no change in the fish. The Fin Rot is still there but it is not advancing. Thankfully. What medication do you recomende? Antibiotic? Really not sure how to procede.

Ps my tank Is "New yet established" For that reason I am hesitant to remove my charchol filters! Is there a med wich works despite the filters beeing in?

Would rasing temp adding an air stone and salt help? Or hurt the rest of my fishies?

In any case thanks for any help

[Tommy Gun]

Ps my tank Is "New yet established" For that reason I am hesitant to remove my charchol filters! Is there a med wich works despite the filters beeing in?

Not really. Carbon works by absorbing and trapping certain molecules in its pores so I don't know of a medication that is impervious to carbon.

There is no real reason to remove your carbon filtration. A strong argument can be made the you don't even need it. If you have not replaced your carbon within the past three or four weeks, odds are it is already full and you are not enjoying the origonal benifits you added it for.

Would rasing temp adding an air stone and salt help? Or hurt the rest of my fishies?

Your other fishes are in jeopardy as well. Tail/fin rot is generally a bacterial infection but usually is a secondary problem caused by a few different things such as an injury or poor water quality. This is why I warned you about trying to keep this potentially huge and messy fish in a relatively small tank.

I do not believe salt and temp is going to benifit you all that much in this situation.