Swimbladder Answers

I'm having my first swimbladder issue with my Oranda.  It just started tonight and I rushed to teh pet store to talk to them.  I am now adding aquarium salt every time I do a water change. I had no idea that I should be doing that for a freshwater tank.  I am also using a water conditioner and a nitrifier for all those good bacteria.  I'm  don't want my fish to die, but I'm not sure exactly what else (if anything) I should be doing.  I'm new at this fish thing (less than 2 years) and I feel like I am doing this by trial and error.  Every time soemthing goes wrong and I look into it, I find out that there is something else I should be doing or adding to my water.  I'm getting discouraged.  I don't have asliding glass lid, I change my water every 5 days or so (just 25%), feed once a day/every 2 days, add water conditioner and cycle and take care of my filter.  I was told to fast my fish for a few days and then offer brine shrimp.  I have 2 other fishies in the tank, will this diet be good for them too? 
THanks in advance..

I do test my tank, I have had nitrate problems in the past and this seems to be the only way to keep them under control.  I read a couple of places about hte salt... so I might try it for a bit...

Now the fish is floating on top of the tank instead of the bottom.  His tail seems to be breaking apart and somewhat on his top fin. and some of his scales look hard and kinda white..Also I managed to get some pictures of thte fish ...  I am going to do a water cahnge tonight and see how that goes before I put him out of his misery.  (my second fish seems absolutely fine).  Any suggestions on how to humanely kill a fish?

thanks,

I have pics, but they are too large of files to post... Don't think I can make them smaller....

I will make the photos smaller for you if you like, you could email them to me I'll reduce them then email them back to you 

PM me if you would like me to do that for you

this might be a stupid question, but can comets get swimbladder problems too?

My comet keeps swimming on his side, and when i switch the light on on a morning, he swims about rapidly doing pirrouets and somersaults and stuff..

My water readings are this, ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 40..  

well how bout that I was bout to ask about my parents goldfish which has now turned into a flat fish and lies on the bottom of the pond looking like a flounder. BUt this has answered my question its a swim bladder prob. Alas though I do not think its a blockage as its been a long time of him being a flatfish, best I tell my dad he has to do what he doesnt want to do as this fish is 8 - 9 years of age and will be missed by my mum and dad.