Clown Loach Trouble.

[Robert04]

I have a 50g tank, tropical with the basic tropical setup.. normal ph and nitrates etc etc.. this tank has been established for a year... It's actualy my sisters tank.. she pays for the stuff.. We had run out of the charcoal bags and she had not told me till 2 days later so we rushed out and got one.. I cleaned it off in the destilled water I use to do the 10-15% change.. I put it in once it was clean and I made sure the water was running same ph nitrates etc as the tank. Now the problem is I think the clown loach is dying(swims upside down falls to the bottom dosnt eat and wont eat his favourite food.. no more clicking..) I qt'd it temporarily in a 3 1/2g to see if I could feed it.. but no luck
he wouldnteat and because I wanted to make sure the water quality was 100%.. he is doing terrible.. so I checked the tank and put him back in there.. I read they need a big tank(even in qt) so that didnt last.. I don't want to throw treatment chemicals in because I cannot see any visible reasons of why he would behavelike this.. He is very colourful fins are full no damage he just acts like he is dizzy... I really don't want to see this beauty go he is about 6 months old.. maybe 2 inches in length.. i feed him 3-5 times a day depending weather I am feeding him his vegitables or his protein.. I mostly give him frozen shrimp and blood wurms.. he clicks so aparantly that means he likes them.. I clean this tank once a week10-
20change dependant on how dirty the tank is.. though it runs very clean due to the over sized filter and easy to clean gravel.. I've mixed small rocks in because this guy likes to scrounge around and maneuver himself into tight spots... there is alot of comftorbale hiding spots for him...Now somewhere I read that they need somesort of floating plants to dim the light but I've provided more tha enough coverage and pleanty of spots where the other fish and him like to go and grab some light if they feel nessicary not to mession the tank is in a fairly lit room withalotof windows.. I have not added snails yet even though I heard they like it in there diet.. I've been a little scared of this because about 10 yrs ago i started a tropical tank with tetras and harlequin bumble bee's if that is the rightname.. had plecko's .. and I believe we tried some other guys but they didnt work out.. not aggressive enough I guess.. I took care of that tank for about 5 yrs before everything started to get to large or had lived passed there current expectancy.. FYI I found a home for the larger fish in even better tanks then I could ever provide.. anyways I put snails in and they over crouded my tank and there was constantly tons of shells laying in the bottom.. snails stuck to my pump.. it was quite a frustrating experience.. I would have to take them out weekly and qt them.. give them away.. or let them just reproduce in the bucket haha.. crazy guys dont die and I wasnt willing to just let them dry up and die.. anyways if anyone has any ideas of what might be wrong with my loach please let me know.. I have two other's in my other tank with the gold fish. they are a different type but they have been living happily here for a long time and i enjoy watching then swim around in the bubbles :) I am currently trying to get a larger tank for my guppies and crab aswell.. so I wont be able to buy him a new home or large qt tank.... I live in the toronto area if anyone knows any good LFS I can goto that might be able to help me.. I would take pics to show you guys.. but I'm sure you have all seen a suffering fish.. My 15g tank broke that I had my youngster crab in now he downgraded till I pickup his new tank and stand sometime this week.. Have not been having any luck this month.. :help:

[Robert04]

I have a 50g tank, tropical with the basic tropical setup.. normal ph and nitrates etc etc.. this tank has been established for a year...
It's actualy my sisters tank.. she pays for the stuff.. We had run out of the charcoal bags and she had not told me till 2 days later so we rushed out and got one..
I cleaned it off in the destilled water I use to do the 10-15% change.. I put it in once it was clean and I made sure the water was running same ph nitrates etc as the tank.

Now the problem is I think the clown loach is dying(swims upside down falls to the bottom dosnt eat and wont eat his favourite food.. no more clicking..) I quarantined it temporarily in a 3 1/2g to see if I could feed it.. but no luck.
he wouldnt eat, and I wanted to make sure the water quality was 100%.. he is doing terrible.. so I checked the tank levels and put him back in there..
I read they need a big tank(even in qt) so that didnt last.. I don't want to throw treatment chemicals in because I cannot see any visible reasons of why he would behave like this.. He is very colourful fins are full not damaged he just acts like he is dizzy... I really don't want to see this beauty go he is about 6 months old.. maybe 2 inches in length.. i feed him 3-5 times a day depending weather I am feeding him his vegitables or his protein.. I mostly give him frozen shrimp and blood wurms.. he clicks so aparantly that means he likes them..

I clean this tank once a week 10-20 change dependant on how dirty the tank is.. though it runs very clean due to the over sized filter and easy to clean gravel..
I've mixed small rocks in because this guy likes to scrounge around and maneuver himself into tight spots... there is alot of comftorbale hiding spots for him... Now somewhere I read that they need some sort of floating plants to dim the light but I've provided more than enough coverage and pleanty of spots where the other fish and him like to go and grab some light if they feel it nessicary, not to mession the tank is in a fairly lit room withalotof windows..

I have not added snails yet even though I heard they like it in there diet.. I've been a little scared of this because about 10 yrs ago i started a tropical tank with tetras and harlequin bumble bee's if that is the rightname.. had plecko's .. and I believe we tried some other guys but they didnt work out.. not aggressive enough I guess.. I took care of that tank for about 5 yrs before everything started to get to large or had lived passed there current expectancy..

FYI I found a home for the larger fish in even better tanks then I could ever provide..

anyways I put snails in and they over crouded my tank and there was constantly tons of shells laying in the bottom.. snails stuck to my pump.. it was quite a frustrating experience.. I would have to take them out weekly and qt them.. give them away.. or let them just reproduce in the bucket haha.. crazy guys dont die and I wasnt willing to just let them dry up and die..

anyways if anyone has any ideas of what might be wrong with my loach please let me know.. I have two other's in my other tank with the gold fish. they are a different type but they have been living happily here for a long time and I enjoy watching then swim around in the bubbles :) I am currently trying to get a larger tank for my guppies and crab aswell.. so I wont be able to buy him a new home or large qt tank....

I live in the toronto area if anyone knows any good LFS I can goto that might be able to help me.. I would take pics to show you guys.. but I'm sure you have all seen a suffering fish.. My 15g tank broke that I had my youngster crab in now he downgraded till I pickup his new tank and stand sometime this week.. Have not been having any luck this month.. :help:

(trying to tidy up my initial message abit)

[Rbishop]

Why are you using dstilled water?

Curious..do you have a good liquid test kit and post us some readings of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates on that tank?

[Robert04]

Becuase my tap water is very milky looking and causes my tanks to appear that way.. so i let the water sit and settle for a couple weeks. And water tends to neutralize through destilling.. or atleast the chemicals fall to the bottom..Sometimes I leave peatwood I believe its called in the bucket. and Yes I have meters I'll be taking them in a moment and I'll repost. I generally check the tank 1-2 times a day is that not enough>?

[Robert04]

Ph 6.2-6.5 I couldnt get a 100% accurate on that one for some reason.. nitrate 0 nitrite 0 ammonia 0 but i did just clean the tank yesterday.. now if the ammonia lvls get higher which they were yesterday would that have made the clown loach sick? it wasnt dramatically high just like 0.001

[pipebash]

your ph is too low. id try and get it closer to 7 slowly and stop using the peat in your water cause thats whats dropping the ph

[jpappy789]

pH has no effect on fish, it's the total dissolved solids that matter. But most fish adapt well to any condition Anywhere from 5.0-9.0 is fine as long as your bacteria colony is able to work effectively at your level.

Zero nitrate is not good unless this is a HEAVILY planted tank.

[Rbishop]

I think you have some GH/KH issues. Get some tap readings for GH/KH. You might need to cut it with distilled...but very likely not.

[oldogfish]

Hmmmmmm, seems some have habits of which I am not accustom. I do not do water changes. Never. Work towards the right number of fish and plants. Each tank should be analysed for this. Once this is done, plants are established, nature will take course with the proper filtration. How do you determine which fish to introduce to a tank. Seems everyone is concerned about the PH. PH changes with all creeks, streams, rivers and yes, the ocean. What waste percentage does this fish emit? What eating habits? Too much food will toxify readily. Two many plants will toxify, too many fish will toxify. Let's keep it simple. Plant toxins can be toxic to other plants. Same with fish. All we are trying to do is balance.
Oh, to nuetralize carbon.....wash it in 105 degree or hotter. Rinse with cold. A dishwasher does a great job. I have an extra dishwasher in the garage for just such cleanings. But, charcoal replacements are recommended by dealers and shops to enhance the sale of product. It is not necessary. Water changes?
What is your air content p.p.m.? If I were you, I would do a little research on air quanity and quality. Hope this helps.

[oldogfish]

[quote=oldogfish;1770005]
Hmmmmmm, seems some have habits of which I am not accustom. I do not do water changes. Never. Work towards the right number of fish and plants. Each tank should be analysed for this. Once this is done, plants are established, nature will take course with the proper filtration. How do you determine which fish to introduce to a tank. Seems everyone is concerned about the PH. PH changes with all creeks, streams, rivers and yes, the ocean. What waste percentage does this fish emit? What eating habits? Too much food will toxify readily. Two many plants will toxify, too many fish will toxify. Let's keep it simple. Plant toxins can be toxic to other plants. Same with fish. All we are trying to do is balance.
Oh, to nuetralize carbon.....wash it in 105 degree or hotter. Rinse with cold. A dishwasher does a great job. I have an extra dishwasher in the garage for just such cleanings. But, charcoal replacements are recommended by dealers and shops to enhance the sale of product. It is not necessary. Water changes?
What is your air content p.p.m.? If I were you, I would do a little research on air quanity and quality. Hope this helps.