Tail standing, fin melt, HITH, off balanced discus.

tank ph8.8 after meds and salt
Rodi waste side 150ppm ph7.8
Rodi 0ppm ph6.4
Tap ph7.4
temp 85
ammonia .50ppm
nitrite 0ppm
nitrate 0ppm
Vitachem
8 tables spoons Epsom
10 tablespoons aquarium salt
4 packs furan-2
80 drops cupramine

I've been running my 90 gallon tank only half full. To reduce amount of ro water I need to change and amount medication i need to use. Also to reduce stress on tail standing fish incase of bladder disorder.

Problem started about a month ago, one fish showed signs of several worms protruding from the anus. Kind of white ish with a black spot on the tip of them.

I was recommend to treat with fenbendazole. I treated for 3 days I reduced feeding during this time and added epsom salt to try and reduce death due to constipation from passing the dead worms.

The fish did not take this treatment well. They seemed lethargic and show some fin rot/melt. I have not done the 2nd treatment following the 2 weeks due to other issues. "Side note About 2 months ago I did a treatment with metronidazole. I did full treatment."

Between all the extra water changes from the medications recommendations and already high water change requirements of discus. I decided to move my tank down stairs closer to my rodi water system. To make water changes easier.

I have all the fish in a 5 gallon bucket I decided to treat with potassium permanganate. I ended up overdosing them, they had that slim build up cover most of their body's and gills from over oxidation of the PP. The fish are looking pretty bad at this point. I immediately put them in fresh water and rinse there gills to clear of all slim build up.

2 fish almost died but all recovered. Several fish have fin rot/melt
And 3 have cloudy eye now. Some fish seem a little off balanced.

I treat with kannaplex dosing 3 times total ever 2 days. Cloudy eye has gone. Most of the fin rot/melt has gone. Now 2 discus are tail standing and 1 other discus has developed HITH.

I let the fish be with 50%water changes every other day. For about 4 days. No fish are getting better.

Tail standing fish are becoming more off balanced and unable to swim properly. I go to the LFS they recommend me to use ick cure in combination with Furan-2 and Aqurium salt. After adding medication a 3rd discus starts tail standing.

Video of the fish
https://youtu.be/42eitKedT4Y

Let me know if you need more info I will post asap. Also sorry for my terrible use of the english language ��

How long has the tank been running? You have done so much with these fish it is hard to know what's really happened.
With your ammonia at 0.5 and no nitrite or nitrates your fin rot could be from ammonia burns because your filter is not cycled fully...stress from all the treatments and ammonia combined could have weakened their immunity and left them susceptible to all kinds of secondary issues such as HITH and swim bladder infections.
You're gonna need expert help to navigate the appropriate course of action here so I'm gonna tap out...

I am not exactly sure what to say. What meds are you using exactly now? Also are the fish in RO water only? If not, how and where are you mixing your water and are you aging it?
Pat

Quote:

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Originally Posted by danotaylor

How long has the tank been running? You have ammonia at 0.5 and no nitrite or nitrates. Your fin prob could be from ammonia burns because your filter is not cycled fully...

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Good point Danny :) A de-chlorinator will help with the ammonia.
Pat

I'm using a mix of the 0ppm rodi water and the waste water which is 150ppm. Everything listed at the top of the original post is current water chemistry. Also I add in vitachem to the water to replace nutrients.

The tank has been running a long time but the main filter is not hook up currently and the tank is operating off of 4 sponge filter that have also been in the tank a long time.

With the amount of water changes I've been doing I'm not sure how the ammonia is even getting that high.

I forgot to mention there is stress coat/de cholirinator in the water also.

Are you mixing the RO/tap in the tank or an aging bin? Guessing a ph of 8.8 is a typo?
Pat

No I am not using tap, just a base reference for the ph...

I mentioned in the last post that I am mixing ro/waste water since they are both chlorine free.
One for minerals and the other to keep the hardness low.

I wrote in the original post idk why the ph is so high.

My guess would be from the salt and meds...
Also why I'm wondering if I am getting a incorrect reading on ammonia.

Also dont forget api master kit can not differentiate between safe and hazardous ammonia.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kingcolt

No I am not using tap, just a base reference.

I wrote in the original post idk why the ph is so high.

My guess would be from the salt and meds...
Also why I'm wondering if I am getting a incorrect reading on ammonia.

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OK, so how are you mixing the ro/ro waste in the tank or an aging bin. Also what is the ratio of RO to RO waste water?
Pat

I have been doing 50% water changes every 2 days. With new meds I will be increasing this to every 24 hours.

at current water change levels. The water ages for about 1 to 2 days. Idk why ro water would need to be aged tho?

30 gallons RO
20 gallons Waste/RO
mixing in tank

It's been about 12 hours since I started medication based on LFS recommendations. Fish do not seem to be getting any worse at this point. Definitely not any better either tho. All fish are trying to eat.

.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kingcolt

I have been doing 50% water changes every 2 days. With new meds I will be increasing this to every 24 hours.

at current water change levels. The water ages for about 1 to 2 days. Idk why ro water would need to be aged tho?

30 gallons RO
20 gallons Waste/RO
mixing in tank

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Correction
10 ro waste
15 ro

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Second Hand Pat

OK, so how are you mixing the ro/ro waste in the tank or an aging bin. Also what is the ratio of RO to RO waste water?
Pat

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I was miss reading what you where saying this morning I was half asleep I thought you were asking if I was aging the water. Sorry for misunderstanding, thank you for your help so far.

Yes I'm mixing the water in tank.

Since you're asking I'm going to go ahead and guess that i should pre mix the water before adding it to the tank.

Did the 24 hour water change since meds. And redosed per instruction.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kingcolt

I was miss reading what you where saying this morning I was half asleep I thought you were asking if I was aging the water. Sorry for misunderstanding, thank you for your help so far.

Yes I'm mixing the water in tank.

Since you're asking I'm going to go ahead and guess that i should pre mix the water before adding it to the tank.

Did the 24 hour water change since meds. And redosed per instruction.

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Hi Kingcolt, yes you should pre-mix the RO/RO waste in an aging bin as the oscillating TDS during the mixing process is not good for the fish and aging it will outgas any CO2. Also I think you should discontinue the ick cure and Furan-2. Go with straight regular salt at 6 tablespoons to 10 gallons. Time to detox these fish and continue with the 50% daily water changes. Is there any reason why you are not using tap water?
Pat