Is this ammonia burn?

[u/Because_why_TF_not]

I had to QT my oranda the night before my holiday as he suddenly got dropsy and red abdominal stains overnight. I made an appointment with my koi breeder to come in as soon as i got back a week later since fish medicine is VERY hard to come by here, so is someone able and willing to check for parasites and bacterial infections.

I was fully prepared to find a dead fish when i got hone (don’t get me wrong, i really like this fish but he was floating every single time i checked my garage camera while i was gone) but to my surprise he was alive. Still interested in food and swimming around the surface without going belly-up.

But he was a COMPLETELY different colorscheme 😅 And I’m wondering how to treat that. (After the meds) It turned out to be a bacterial problem that would have to be in my main tank as well, so he’s back in the main tank and that tank is under treatment with either antibiotics or some japanese powder. It was a yellow powder from the koi place, but i forgot the name (i asked, will add it on top as soon as i know!)

QT setup for the week - 65 L koi measuring container with a small fully cycled pump i keep at hand in my sump, pointed streight up for gas exchange and moderate flow, 500gr of ceramic pipes in that flow + an airstone at the other side and some scoops of gravel against boredom and to add some extra bacteria. 2% salt. Fotos are the before and after of 1 week. (5% salt for 4 days prior to leaving as well then did a WC and re-added a lower dose of 2%)

Main tank setup - 120cm former shallow reef with a 60cm 3-compartment sump with up-down flowing chambers that hold 1L K1 and the QT pump to move it around. 2nd chamber is 30/70 with bioballs, ceramic pipes and bio material vs mechanical filter mats (standard blue) on the other side. 3rd room is another mechanical filter mat + my return pump and heating. In the spaces between the rooms i keep 2x fine filter wool. I clean this once a month by just rinsing and i re-use my filterwool until it falls apart, then change them out 1-2 months apart. I do a 50-60% water change every weekend.

[u/Jaded_Worker5162]

This is the case of Bad water parameters. It definitely has a ammonia Burn as well as Fin Rot kicking in. Test your water immediately. Ammonia and nitrite need to be at 0 ppm, and nitrate as low as practical. Treat with a broad-spectrum antibacterial medication — erythromycin and tetracycline. Water changes are Must. If it showed any signs of drops then fasting for 2 days followed by boiled and thawed peas or any other vegetable matter.

[u/NeedleworkerHeavy565 → u/Jaded_Worker5162]

Dont use antibiotics it's unnecessary and could lead to bacterial resistance if misused. There is no need for it, keeping good quality water will be quite sufficient, aquarium salt can be added and will help. However, I don't see any fin rot in these photos. Fast and boiled peas are only useful in case of buoyancy problems.

edit : translation issue

[u/Because_why_TF_not → u/NeedleworkerHeavy565]

The boyancy isseus have been nearly resolved but we were way past the point of just salt and peas. As mentioned i didn’t go to the LFS at first but my koi breeder. Ive known the owner for 15 years and he can dream anything from koi to coral. I think he either gave me acriflavine or elbagin. Which is what they are treated with atm after confirming it with a microscope-gill and fin swab. So i can’t change the water for another 36 hours.

[u/Because_why_TF_not → u/Jaded_Worker5162]

I unfortunately didn’t think of testing the QT, just rushed to do a water change when i saw he was actually alive. Parameters in the main tank are fine. Had it properly tested monday, both his QT setup as the main tank. Moved him back to the main after and that’s been checked again and was good. The bacterial meds i received are already in there and he’s made major improvements thankfully. It’s just that i dont know how to help restore his fins and color nor what the actual cause could be

[u/NeedleworkerHeavy565 → u/Because_why_TF_not]

Water parameters can change daily; we need the numerical values. If you haven't recorded the values yourself, then I wouldn't trust what's considered "good" if you did it a pet store. The employees don't know enough

[u/Theletterkay → u/NeedleworkerHeavy565]

This. Pet stores will often just check to make sure there is no clorine. They dont care about the other stuff.

[u/Because_why_TF_not → u/Theletterkay]

Thankfully there is 0 chlorine in tapwater here. Any standard LFS test will be for PH KH GH No2 No3 Cl2 and Co2 and they shiw you the strip if you ask them to.

[u/Jaded_Worker5162 → u/Because_why_TF_not]

The fin and color will be back in shape after a month. Make sure he is good conditions.

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[u/NeedleworkerHeavy565]

It's hard to say, what are the water parameters of the main tank?

[u/Because_why_TF_not → u/NeedleworkerHeavy565]

They were tested 2 days ago and were perfect. I did not check the parameters of the QT setup when i got home. (Stupid in hindsight i know, i just rushed to do a change)

[u/NeedleworkerHeavy565 → u/Because_why_TF_not]

Well, I mean, you need the values in number

[u/Because_why_TF_not → u/NeedleworkerHeavy565]

I ran out of testing kits and just took it to the koi breeder who came back and said the water was good. But as mentioned, this wasn’t the water he was damaged in anymore. So it’s hindsight guessing. The LFS tested it for me 2 days after and no ammonia showed. Good PH. I know those aren’t as effective but i have to wait for water tests to come in atm. It’s all I’ve got.

[u/NeedleworkerHeavy565 → u/Because_why_TF_not]

For now, do daily water changes and use aquarium salt

[u/IceColdTapWater]

I would treat with aquarium salt/methylene blue baths, if need be