pop-eye/epsom salts

Question
Hi Renee,

I have a 70 gallon freshwater tank with 1 Blue Dolphin, 1 Plecostomus, 1 Electric yellow, 1 snow-white socolofi, and Mom and Dad Tropheus Duboisi who've had 3 generations of offspring (total of 9 duboisi).  I know the tank's probably a little crowded, but I can't separate mom and dad because my other tank's got electric yellow Mom and her offspring lol!  Anyway, my tank jewel is Blue(the dolphin).  He's got a wound on his side, and has developed a swollen milky right eye (I'm assuming due to infection).  I'd like to try epsom salts to possibly alleviate the symptoms, but I don't want to affect the entire community.  Can I treat the tank without affecting the other fish, and water/salt ratios range considerably on the net, which ration would be safest?

thank you in advance!

Den

Answer
Hi Den,

By Blue Dolphin, I assume you mean the Blue Dolphin Shark?

If so, let's get him out of the tank and into a hospital environment right away. 1st day - 1 teapoon salt per gallon, and 2nd day - add another tsp per gallon.  3rd day, 4th and 5th, change out 10 percent of the water.  Let's also heat it to 80, and no lower.  He won't require light.  Make sure filtration is ample and he has a good charcoal system to oxygenate.  Don't add anything else and please, please use filtered water, not tap with dechlorinator.  The last thing I'd recommend is to chemically treat a sick fish. :)

He needs to be treated with salt, but let's also check your ammonia levels, as I suspect they are too high.

Is your water yellowish when put in a white bowl?  If you have no test kit, this can be a good indication that it's too dirty.  

Change all filters, add new charcoal and please make sure your filters are enough for your 70 gallon tank.

I will require more information to answer more at this point.  I need your water's readings.  I need ammonia, nitrate and nitrite at the least.  I also need to know your filter makes/models and what type of regimen you keep for changing them out.  

Please respond with more information.  Meantime, good luck and happy holidays.

Renee

PS- Don not treat the whole tank til we figure out if this is a water issue or an infectious condition.  Hospitalize sick fish separately from the rest.