Very Persistent Fin Rot

[shellieca]

So, the basics . . . male VT Betta, 5g tank, no tank mates, temp 78-80F, sponge filter rated for a 10g, tank was set up March 2nd after his 10g sprung a leak while I was at work, no live plants, tank refuses to completely cycle. I have not tested the water lately because I have been doing 50%+ water changes pretty much every other day to keep his water clean. He has had fin rot since the tank disaster back in March. I have used aq salt, I have used & am currently using Kanaplex, I have done 2 rounds of Maracyn/Maracyn 2 & I have done very frequent water changes. His tail fin is pretty much GONE & I don't know what else to try. He is eating like normal, he is fairly active (gets excited when he sees me), his color I think is a little faded but not too bad. Suggestions????

 

[scuba dude]

I would start with a water test first then go from there.

 

[shellieca]

Well, if I wasn't doing water changes every other day that would be a great place to start. When I tested daily the results were all over the map, 0 across the board one day, a few days later ammonia at .5, nitrites 0, then nitrites would spike up to .5 & then everything would zero out again. This is another reason I started doing water changes every other day, to try to get the water more stable.

 

[scuba dude]

Certainly your call. It was just a suggestion.

If it were me thats what I would do but that is just me. Hope you can get it figured out.

 

[shellieca]

Certainly your call. It was just a suggestion.

If it were me thats what I would do but that is just me. Hope you can get it figured out.

I understand & I don't mean to sound testy or grumpy. A water test is typically where I start; its only been recently I haven't been testing this tank daily as this has been going on for 4 months. I don't know what testing my water will do at this point. I'm keeping the water clean by doing such frequent water changes; ammonia, nitrites & nitrates don't have enough time to build up to cause the fin rot. I know it initially began from the stress he suffered from being trapped for hours inside a cave decoration when his original tank leaked & left him only an inch or so of water. I have 5 other stable & fully cycled tanks but for some reason this tank has been quite the problem child.

 

[scuba dude]

I understand & I don't mean to sound testy or grumpy. A water test is typically where I start; its only been recently I haven't been testing this tank daily as this has been going on for 4 months. I don't know what testing my water will do at this point. I'm keeping the water clean by doing such frequent water changes; ammonia, nitrites & nitrates don't have enough time to build up to cause the fin rot. I know it initially began from the stress he suffered from being trapped for hours inside a cave decoration when his original tank leaked & left him only an inch or so of water. I have 5 other stable & fully cycled tanks but for some reason this tank has been quite the problem child.

Hey don't sweat it , no problem here and I can understand your fustration.

As you said in your original post it sounds like it has not completely cycled. If you have other tanks can you use some filter media , gravel; something and put that in the tank to try to get some good bacteria introduced in order to get the nitrates to come up? . Good luck Just another thought and hope you get it figured out.

 

[shellieca]

Water tests were as I suspected . . . tank NOT cycled. Ammonia .25 0 nitrites/nitrates. I don't understand why this particular tank won't cycle. Last water change was Weds. about 60% changed. I've gone back to Kanaplex, I don't know if you can dose it for too long & have adverse effects but his tail, what's left of it, doesn't have as much black on it.