whats wrong with my tiger barbs

A

allecb

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Feb 6, 2008
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okay so nothign has been new in my tank except for the fact that i added two german blue rams. before i added these guys, my 8 tiger barbs seemed to school and swim all around the tank. now they just are split up in several small groups and just float low on the ground.


and just now i noticed one tiger barb keeps floating vertically..face down. and his stripes are greyed out..whats going on!?!? how come my barb is acting like this? all other fish act normal?

btw; is it normal for platies to float near top of tank next to the heater a lot of the time? both platies seem to do it.
 
jpappy789 said:
Params?
Did you QT the rams?
Are they still eating?
Click to expand...


all i have is a ammonia api test kit and a nitrite api test kit

the nitrite is fine... but apparently ammonia is reading 0.25 to 0.50..wow, cant believe it.

i better do a water change ASAP. i just did a WC a couple days ago.. only 5 gallons tho, out of a 55 gallon tank.

and no i didnt QT the rams. but ive had them in here for about 4 days now, and they seem to be doing great. and all fish are still eating. im gonna change 10 gallons instead of 5 this time

its just all i have is 6 neons, 8 barbs, 1 rainbow shark, 2 platies, nad 2 rams.. in a 55 gallon. my tank isnt fully stocked yet is it? i thought my bioload wasnt that much... maybe someone put alcohol or something in my tank, cause i had a party a few days ago
 
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jpappy789 said:
What is your filtration?
How and when did you cycle?

You need to do more than a 10% wc.
Click to expand...

one aquaclear filter rated for 30 gallons
one whisper air filter i think rated for 50.. i think its some walmart brand.

i cycled almost a year ago. i cycled with fish, which arent in my tank anymore.

and yeah.. i just realized that doing one 5 gallon bucket isnt a 25 percent water change. and then after i did two 5 gallon buckets (just now) i just realized THATS not 25 percent either!! gah man. im SOO used to my 20 gallon tank, and only doing 1 bucket..

anyways, just did 10 gallon water change, and now im gonna let it sit for a night and if ammonia is still there tomorrow, im gonna do 10 more gallons.. or should i do more? and should i wait one day to check for the ammonia again? or tonight? or in 2 days? ..?


i feel so bad for that tiger barb!! it was all greyed out..no wonder why they stopped swimming from left to right alll around the tank. that should have been my first sign. how many gallons of water do i need to change to make it a 25 percent water change, for future reference.
 
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jpappy789 said:
.25*55=13.75 gallons

I would check the level after the change and see where its at.
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i dont have to wait for the tank water to cycle thru or anything? i just checked..it looks like its at 0.25 or less now. i should go and do another 5 gallon bucket right now?


i wanna say thanks to the posters in this thread btw for giving such speedy and helpful responses. i appreciate that.

btw when will my 1 or 2 tiger barbs stop acting weird, and gain color back?
 
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i'd do 10-20 gallon water changes daily and maybe add some prime to the water or zeolite to the filter till you finish cycling. i have a decent bioload in my 50 gal but i have filtration rated at 160 gallons. (manufacturers claims on the box). i also don't use the manufacturers pads for my filters which really helps. my tanks are also planted.

what i am saying is i think your bioload has outgrown your filtration unless you don't mind constant water changes. you will still want to do them alot right now and quarantining should be in there somewhere.

you might want to do another 10-20 gallons sooner than later to reduce that ammonia to start with.
 
keep checking the ammonia, and make sure there is nothing dead in your tank.
I would be curious why the ammonia level rose, and nitrite is still fine.

Something has most likely caused the ammonia spike.
 
The Zigman said:
keep checking the ammonia, and make sure there is nothing dead in your tank.
I would be curious why the ammonia level rose, and nitrite is still fine.

Something has most likely caused the ammonia spike.
Click to expand...


well ive had my 55g set up for atleast a couple months now (previous i had a 20g so ntheres no cycle issue here) and ive been doing only 5 gallon water changes..but i just dont understand why im just now seeing the effects of ammonia?

im gonna check ammonia again right now, but theres a smaller tiger barb at the side of the tank floating vertically...

all the fish ate and everything. i dont understand why my barbs are just floating half vertical and stuff instead of playing around..


hell, if anything..shouldnt my rams be acting up? they are the most sensitive fish in the tank!! lol
 
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