Very Pale And Not Moving Threadfin Rainbow

[Ch4rlie]

Have just transferred Threadfin to quarantine tank and dosed with Melafix.
 
Will I need the airstone as well, there is little water surface movement but not breaking surface.
 
And also, will I leave off feeding this threadfin for today, and feed tomorrow?

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

It won't do any harm to miss a meal or two so yeah I'd skip it. Don't worry about oxygenation, if it was a fully stocked tank and you didn't have good surface movement I might worry but as it is she'll be fine. 

 

[Ch4rlie]

Day 2
 
Her reddening/bloodstreaks under skin surface, thats gone now 

 
 
I think she is a bit more perky tbh, but unsure if my imagination or not! But still not eating, although this could just be done to the new tank move.
 
Have just done about 60% water change as nitrite showed 0.25 ppm, all other test are good, nitrate is lower at 10 ppm, no ammonia at all, ph at 7.6. So thats not too bad.
 
Realising that this tank is too big to be used at hospital tank as water changes are 3 or 4 buckets of water, must be better with a 24 litre (1 US gal) tank, will pick one up at some point in future. *makes mental note*
 
Lessons learned here and good to know, a bit more experience for me. All good!

 

[Ch4rlie]

A change for the worse on my Threadfin, she is now just below the water surface, reddening of her gills back again.
 
Water 60% change earlier today, definitely dechlorinated. And added right dosage of Melafix.
 
Water temp ok at 25C, just done all water tests, amm 0 ppm, Nitrite not quite 0 pmm but very close, nitrate around 20ppm, ph 7.6.
 
Just put in an airstone and pump in case is lack of oxygen.
 
Do you think may be the nitrite? Best to do another water change even though did a 60% change earlier this afternoon?
 
Or could it be anything else?
 
Advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DrRob]

All I can suggest if nitrite is suspected is salt, oxygenate the water and maybe turn the temperature down slightly.
 
edit, oh and keep doing the water changes.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Salt? Normal salt is all i have now as lfs are closed now. Have never added salt before and don't even know how much to add if normal salt is ok to use. The tank is has about 50 litres of water.
 
Have added an airstone just now, and will turn temp down to say 23C?

 

[DrRob]

Lowering temp would lower O2 demand.
 
Salt, so long as it doesn't have anything other than sodium chloride in it (watch for anticaking agents and such like) can be added at various doses, it's a matter of debate. I've always used 2 tablespoons for 10 litres, but have seen people add 3 or more with no trouble to get the effect.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Hmm, seems the salt I have has anti-caking agent Sodium Hexacyanoferrate II, thats all it says on the table salt tube package.
 
Does that make it unsuitable to use, otherwise gonna have to wait until tomorrow when I can get some aquarium salt or other supermarket salt of some sort, maybe sea salt would be ok?
 
Oh, dear, hope she survives the night again, kinda strange as earlier today could have sworn she was more lively and perkier as well as no blood/red under skin, back again with a vengeance. trying to think if I did anything to cause this but nothing comes to mind.

 

[DrRob]

Don't use that salt.

Aquarium salt is fine, as is anything that is pure NaCl, so supermarkets can serve, just read the labels.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Thanks for that.
 
Will have to wait until tomorrow before can treat with any salt to tank. Will get aquarium salt ensuring just has Sodium Cloride and will use dosage as per instructions.
 
Will Threadfin Rainbowfish be ok with this salt as have heard some specie are specially sensitive.

 

[DrRob]

IIRC they can be found in brackish water, so they should be ok with salt dosing.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Much appreciated DrRob 

 

[Meeresstille]

Whatever you do I would do the changes very slowly. These fish are supposedly very sensitive to changes in water conditions. I've also found a few sites where it is mentioned that they are sensitive to NitrAtes. In your initial post your NitrAtes show quite high. Do you have NitrAtes already in your tap water? That would make it very difficult to keep them at a lower level than what it coming from the tap. 
 
Don't know if that is the problem with this fish, just thought I throw it out there!

 

[Ch4rlie]

Yeah, water changes are done pretty slow using quite narrow siphon hose, and water siphoned back into tank. Don't tip bucket into tank. And water temp is almost the same as I have thermostat taps so can know within a degree or two at most what temp is when putting water into tank is.

And nitrate usually stays pretty steady at around 40 ppm although in hospital tank, nitrates is lower between 20 to 40 ppm so not huge changes really.

Thanks for your input, it all helps to try eliminates any variables.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

mmmm I may be wrong but I wouldn't think your nitrate levels would be of a concern at those levels.
 
Ya know...and you probably won't appreicate me saying this now lol - BUT with this being a timid and schooling species and with melafix being such a mild treatment, I maybe would have left her in the main tank so she's with the group (lessens stress) and melafix wouldn't have done any harm to the existing fish. Now, if the problem was stress from being harassed by other fish, then the QT tank will be a benefit.
 
How's she doing today?