View Full Version : Big Problems!
RobertA
12-09-2005, 1:31 PM
When I woke up today, I noticed my Cory was laying on its back, so I decided to imediatly do a 50% water change, which I just did, now the Cory is practicaly DEAD and my new Blue Gourami is laying on its side on the gravel! Please could anyone tell me what's happening?! This is my fifth week with my aquarium and a week ago the guy at my lfs who checked the water said my cycle was finished so he said I could add more fish, I added 2 gouramies and 4 tiny neon tetras, one of the gourami is fine while the other as I said before looks like he's about to DIE! I havn't changed the filter thing yet so I still have the original one since I bought the aquarium, I've been doing 20% water changes every week and I don't think I've been overfeeding... So, does anyone have any idea on what's happening, and how if I can save my dieing fish?
My ph is 7 I don't know the nitrites or the ammonia...sorry (i'm broke)
Thanks...
liv2padl
12-09-2005, 1:50 PM
This is my fifth week with my aquarium and a week ago the guy at my lfs who checked the water said my cycle was finished i think it unlikely that your cycle was finished a week ago. get test kits and test your own water ... LFS folks are non reliable. my guess is that you have toxic levels of ammonia and nitrite or both and therein lies your problem.
DO NOT change your filter media as this is where the bacteria you need to complete the cycle are located.
DO continue water changes to mitigate the buildup of excessive ammonia and nitrite and add the equivalent of 0.3 % -- the chloride ion will counteract the nitrogen blockage of oxygen uptake.
Aqualung
12-09-2005, 1:58 PM
DO continue water changes to mitigate the buildup of excessive ammonia and nitrite and add the equivalent of 0.3 % -- the chloride ion will counteract the nitrogen blockage of oxygen uptake.
Could you clarify that last part? I can't understand what you're getting at there, and I doubt Robert will either.
Robert, you definitely need a test kit. Even quick dip strips will be better than nothing for now. In the meantime I would be doing daily water changes, because I suspect that you are either still cycling or going through a mini cycle due to the introduction of new fish. Even if that's not the case, the water changes can only help.
liv2padl
12-09-2005, 3:06 PM
sorry, i meant add salt (NaCl). the chloride ion will mitigate .......
Go buy aquarium salt at your local fishshop and treat according to the directions on the box. Though that won't give you a 0.3% increase in salinity, it should do the trick in reducing nitrite toxicity. Pretty much the salt works since Cl- Ion is lighter in mass than the NO2- ion and diffuses into the fish faster displacing the toxic Nitrite (NO2).
stingray4540
12-09-2005, 3:38 PM
Even if you can't afford test kit, when you take a sample to the lfs watch the test and see the colors of the water yourself, and ask what the levels are specifically in ppm. YOu should have 0ppm ammonia and nitrites and less than 20ppm nitrates. They shouldn't have a problem with you comparing the color of the test water to the bottle to see for yourself, and if they do then they are lying. Tell them you want to see and compare it yourself.
RobertA
12-09-2005, 3:39 PM
Thanks for replying.
My Cory is imobile on the gravel but he seems to still be breathing. My Gourami is staying still in some Wisteria almost vertical, he too seems to be breathing. I forgot to say that I added Bio Spira while my tank was cycling so I think the cycle was already finished when I added the fish, at least that's what the guy at the lfs told me when he checked the ammonia and the nitrites... While I was doing the water change I saw a lot of little particles and crap in my water, do you think all this small garbage could be hurting my fish? Do you think I should vacuum the gravel?
stingray4540
12-09-2005, 3:58 PM
you should be vaccuming the gravel when you do water changes. HOpe they live through this, but l think youshould still test your water again and get the exact readings.
Hannys_Papa
12-09-2005, 4:50 PM
Well if i were you i'd do another waterchange - or even 2. You cant overdo waterchanges - its just not possible.
I recently had a problem with my betta that appeared out of nowhere - even though i have a good maintenance schedule with lots of waterchanges, gravel vacs and a very lightly stocked tank. So i did 50-60% twice a day ... and this might've saved his life. The levels in his tank were perfect but he still got sick...
In your case (seeing you have no test kits) you could always assume there is still ammonia or nitrite - and 2 x 50% waterchanges (or 1x 75%)will defenitely bring those levels down. And if those arent the problem - then the waterchanges will reduce any disease causing bacteria or other pathogens that (for whatever reason) might've accumulated in the water. The cleaner the water the better a fish can fight off any problems with the help of its immune system.
Just make sure to use water conditioner and have the temperature of the new water match the tankwater - but i am sure you knew that.
Hope your guys pull through and keep us posted.
TheMightyQueenPixie
12-09-2005, 6:09 PM
Sorry to sound like a hard ***, but if you dont have 15 bucks for a test kit, then you really shouldnt be keeping fish...When one choses to own a pet, they also chose to take responsibility for its health and well being...A kit is so cheap and worth its weight in gold...Without one, you are flying blind...
Just something to think about :)
RobertA
12-09-2005, 6:47 PM
I was able to test my water and I have:
0 Ammonia
0.25 Nitrite
7 Ph
My fish are still alive but look like they're gonna die any minute now...
stingray4540
12-09-2005, 8:53 PM
I'd have to disagree with you there pixie. I don't have a test kit, and I'm still able to take care of my fish. I just don't see the sence in buying something when you can use someone elses (lfs). Of course it's more convienient if you can afford it but for some people even 15 bucks is hard to come by. I don't "fly blind" I just run to the lfs if I need to know what my water paramiters are.
TheMightyQueenPixie
12-10-2005, 10:19 AM
I dont see the sense in driving back and forth to the LFS when it is only 15 bucks...When you need answers immediately what are you going to do??? Wait till the LFS opens??? His tank is a new tank and having access to that info is critical...And yes, 15 bucks is nothing...How much does it cost to make the trip to the LFS and back???
What size tank do you have?