What to do after fin rot?

[Babel Fish]

Hello,

I have just lost white cloud mountain minnows to fin rot. I am guessing
that this is because the tank had not been fully cycled. Now I am more
clued up on the cycle, etc, what would be the recommmended course of action
to take? - take everything out, wash it and start the cycle again, or leave
the water in there that the minnows were in and keep an eye on water
chemistry until it completes the cycle?

Thanks

[Peter Ashby]

Babel Fish > wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I have just lost white cloud mountain minnows to fin rot. I am guessing
> that this is because the tank had not been fully cycled. Now I am more
> clued up on the cycle, etc, what would be the recommmended course of action
> to take? - take everything out, wash it and start the cycle again, or leave
> the water in there that the minnows were in and keep an eye on water
> chemistry until it completes the cycle?

Leave it in there. The organisms that cause disease are there all the
time, you could disinfect the entire tank but that would mean starting
the cycle from scratch. Fish get sick when they are unable to to resist
disease, often due to bad water conditions or other stress. Since you
were using the minnows to cycle the tank then high nitrite levels are
the likely culprits. So the solution is to continue to cycle the tank.
Reality can be harsh.

Peter

[Babel Fish]

Thanks for that. I'll leave it then and keep a check on water chemistry
before introducing more fish.


"Peter Ashby" > wrote in message
...
> Babel Fish > wrote:
>
> > Hello,
> >
> > I have just lost white cloud mountain minnows to fin rot. I am guessing
> > that this is because the tank had not been fully cycled. Now I am more
> > clued up on the cycle, etc, what would be the recommmended course of
action
> > to take? - take everything out, wash it and start the cycle again, or
leave
> > the water in there that the minnows were in and keep an eye on water
> > chemistry until it completes the cycle?
>
> Leave it in there. The organisms that cause disease are there all the
> time, you could disinfect the entire tank but that would mean starting
> the cycle from scratch. Fish get sick when they are unable to to resist
> disease, often due to bad water conditions or other stress. Since you
> were using the minnows to cycle the tank then high nitrite levels are
> the likely culprits. So the solution is to continue to cycle the tank.
> Reality can be harsh.
>
> Peter

[Dick]

On Mon, 9 Feb 2004 17:03:57 -0000, "Babel Fish"
> wrote:

>Hello,
>
>I have just lost white cloud mountain minnows to fin rot. I am guessing
>that this is because the tank had not been fully cycled. Now I am more
>clued up on the cycle, etc, what would be the recommmended course of action
>to take? - take everything out, wash it and start the cycle again, or leave
>the water in there that the minnows were in and keep an eye on water
>chemistry until it completes the cycle?
>
>Thanks
>

In my experience fin rot follows fin nipping. Have you got an
aggressive fin nipper perhaps?

Melafix often clears "rot" and is safe for most fish.

[NetMax]

"Dick" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 9 Feb 2004 17:03:57 -0000, "Babel Fish"
> > wrote:
>
> >Hello,
> >
> >I have just lost white cloud mountain minnows to fin rot. I am
guessing
> >that this is because the tank had not been fully cycled. Now I am
more
> >clued up on the cycle, etc, what would be the recommmended course of
action
> >to take? - take everything out, wash it and start the cycle again, or
leave
> >the water in there that the minnows were in and keep an eye on water
> >chemistry until it completes the cycle?
> >
> >Thanks
> >
>
> In my experience fin rot follows fin nipping. Have you got an
> aggressive fin nipper perhaps?
>
> Melafix often clears "rot" and is safe for most fish.

Fin rot is a very opportunistic bacteria which enters the open cells of
the end of a fish's fins (usually the tailfin). The fish has almost
always have to be in an advanced stress condition, so that their immune
system cannot stop the bacteria from multiplying. If you have lost all
the fish, then just wait until the tank has cycled, do a large water
change and add a few new fish. If there are still fish in there, there
are antibiotics available. Melafix can also be used, though it is more
of a preventative, it does have some mild curative powers (imo), and I've
never observed it to have any bad effects on the biofilter (unlike most
antibiotics).

NetMax

[Babel Fish]

"Dick" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 9 Feb 2004 17:03:57 -0000, "Babel Fish"
> > wrote:

> In my experience fin rot follows fin nipping. Have you got an
> aggressive fin nipper perhaps?
>
> Melafix often clears "rot" and is safe for most fish.

None of the fish seemed aggressive. All were dead within a week of
introducing them to the tank.

[Babel Fish]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
.. .
>
> "Dick" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On Mon, 9 Feb 2004 17:03:57 -0000, "Babel Fish"
> > > wrote:
> >
> > >Hello,
> > >
> > >I have just lost white cloud mountain minnows to fin rot. I am
> guessing
> > >that this is because the tank had not been fully cycled. Now I am
> more
> > >clued up on the cycle, etc, what would be the recommmended course of
> action
> > >to take? - take everything out, wash it and start the cycle again, or
> leave
> > >the water in there that the minnows were in and keep an eye on water
> > >chemistry until it completes the cycle?
> > >
> > >Thanks
> > >
> >
> > In my experience fin rot follows fin nipping. Have you got an
> > aggressive fin nipper perhaps?
> >
> > Melafix often clears "rot" and is safe for most fish.
>
> Fin rot is a very opportunistic bacteria which enters the open cells of
> the end of a fish's fins (usually the tailfin). The fish has almost
> always have to be in an advanced stress condition, so that their immune
> system cannot stop the bacteria from multiplying. If you have lost all
> the fish, then just wait until the tank has cycled, do a large water
> change and add a few new fish. If there are still fish in there, there
> are antibiotics available. Melafix can also be used, though it is more
> of a preventative, it does have some mild curative powers (imo), and I've
> never observed it to have any bad effects on the biofilter (unlike most
> antibiotics).
>
> NetMax
>

Thanks for the info. What would you call a large water change? 30 or so %
?

[CapFusion]

I would say half of your tank volume.

CapFusion,...


"Babel Fish" > wrote in message
...
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> .. .
> >
> > "Dick" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > On Mon, 9 Feb 2004 17:03:57 -0000, "Babel Fish"
> > > > wrote:
> > >
> > > >Hello,
> > > >
> > > >I have just lost white cloud mountain minnows to fin rot. I am
> > guessing
> > > >that this is because the tank had not been fully cycled. Now I am
> > more
> > > >clued up on the cycle, etc, what would be the recommmended course of
> > action
> > > >to take? - take everything out, wash it and start the cycle again, or
> > leave
> > > >the water in there that the minnows were in and keep an eye on water
> > > >chemistry until it completes the cycle?
> > > >
> > > >Thanks
> > > >
> > >
> > > In my experience fin rot follows fin nipping. Have you got an
> > > aggressive fin nipper perhaps?
> > >
> > > Melafix often clears "rot" and is safe for most fish.
> >
> > Fin rot is a very opportunistic bacteria which enters the open cells of
> > the end of a fish's fins (usually the tailfin). The fish has almost
> > always have to be in an advanced stress condition, so that their immune
> > system cannot stop the bacteria from multiplying. If you have lost all
> > the fish, then just wait until the tank has cycled, do a large water
> > change and add a few new fish. If there are still fish in there, there
> > are antibiotics available. Melafix can also be used, though it is more
> > of a preventative, it does have some mild curative powers (imo), and
I've
> > never observed it to have any bad effects on the biofilter (unlike most
> > antibiotics).
> >
> > NetMax
> >
>
> Thanks for the info. What would you call a large water change? 30 or so
%
> ?
>
>

[CapFusion]

Sound like either the following:
Bad handling
Water is not cycled
Water parameter

and or

Overfeeding

CapFusion,...


"Babel Fish" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Dick" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On Mon, 9 Feb 2004 17:03:57 -0000, "Babel Fish"
> > > wrote:
>
> > In my experience fin rot follows fin nipping. Have you got an
> > aggressive fin nipper perhaps?
> >
> > Melafix often clears "rot" and is safe for most fish.
>
> None of the fish seemed aggressive. All were dead within a week of
> introducing them to the tank.
>
>
>

[Babel Fish]

"CapFusion" > wrote in message
...
> Sound like either the following:
> Bad handling
> Water is not cycled
> Water parameter
>
> and or
>
> Overfeeding
>
> CapFusion,...

I would probably say tank not cycled and overfeeding. Am keeping a check on
water parameters and will not add any more until it's settled.

[NetMax]

"Babel Fish" > wrote in message
...
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> .. .
> >
> > "Dick" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > On Mon, 9 Feb 2004 17:03:57 -0000, "Babel Fish"
> > > > wrote:
> > >
> > > >Hello,
> > > >
> > > >I have just lost white cloud mountain minnows to fin rot. I am
> > guessing
> > > >that this is because the tank had not been fully cycled. Now I am
> > more
> > > >clued up on the cycle, etc, what would be the recommmended course
of
> > action
> > > >to take? - take everything out, wash it and start the cycle again,
or
> > leave
> > > >the water in there that the minnows were in and keep an eye on
water
> > > >chemistry until it completes the cycle?
> > > >
> > > >Thanks
> > > >
> > >
> > > In my experience fin rot follows fin nipping. Have you got an
> > > aggressive fin nipper perhaps?
> > >
> > > Melafix often clears "rot" and is safe for most fish.
> >
> > Fin rot is a very opportunistic bacteria which enters the open cells
of
> > the end of a fish's fins (usually the tailfin). The fish has almost
> > always have to be in an advanced stress condition, so that their
immune
> > system cannot stop the bacteria from multiplying. If you have lost
all
> > the fish, then just wait until the tank has cycled, do a large water
> > change and add a few new fish. If there are still fish in there,
there
> > are antibiotics available. Melafix can also be used, though it is
more
> > of a preventative, it does have some mild curative powers (imo), and
I've
> > never observed it to have any bad effects on the biofilter (unlike
most
> > antibiotics).
> >
> > NetMax
> >
>
> Thanks for the info. What would you call a large water change? 30 or
so %
> ?

If there are no fish, a couple of 60-70% changes will dilute things
nicely. Just match temperature approximately & de-chlor as needed before
you turn on the filter again (which has most of your good bacteria).
Don't leave your filter off too long, or let it dry out.

NetMax

[Peter Ashby]

Babel Fish > wrote:

> "Dick" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On Mon, 9 Feb 2004 17:03:57 -0000, "Babel Fish"
> > > wrote:
>
> > In my experience fin rot follows fin nipping. Have you got an
> > aggressive fin nipper perhaps?
> >
> > Melafix often clears "rot" and is safe for most fish.
>
> None of the fish seemed aggressive. All were dead within a week of
> introducing them to the tank.

that 25C might have had something to do with it too. White clouds in
cycled tank might have done well at 25C but combined with using them to
cycle a tank might well have been too much.

We routinely use neon tetras to cycle a tank and have found them tough
little blighters. However we try and go for soft, acid water so your
mileage may vary. I wouldn't repeat with the minnows though. Try some
guppies?

Peter

[Babel Fish]

Are neon tetras and guppies not tropical? I don't have a heater....

"Peter Ashby" > wrote in message
k...
> Babel Fish > wrote:
>
> > "Dick" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > On Mon, 9 Feb 2004 17:03:57 -0000, "Babel Fish"
> > > > wrote:
> >
> > > In my experience fin rot follows fin nipping. Have you got an
> > > aggressive fin nipper perhaps?
> > >
> > > Melafix often clears "rot" and is safe for most fish.
> >
> > None of the fish seemed aggressive. All were dead within a week of
> > introducing them to the tank.
>
> that 25C might have had something to do with it too. White clouds in
> cycled tank might have done well at 25C but combined with using them to
> cycle a tank might well have been too much.
>
> We routinely use neon tetras to cycle a tank and have found them tough
> little blighters. However we try and go for soft, acid water so your
> mileage may vary. I wouldn't repeat with the minnows though. Try some
> guppies?
>
> Peter