Angels not doing well :(
- Thread starter gotglock
- Start date
DD, it was somewhat of the ammonia smell which tested .5 today and did a 25% water change. The 2 blacks and the veil look fine and are swimming around looking for food. The last silver one is in the corner breathing heavy, I fear that one my not make it. If it doesn't and the water is positive again for ammonia i'm going to do another 25% tomorrow or move all the fish I can outa there.
I wonder if the big vacuum you did on the sand bed may have stirred up a lot of mulm and decaying debris, causing the ammonia level to spike. You may get a nitrite spike, as well, following the ammonia spike.
Also, possibly poisonous gases may have been released from within the sand bed when you vacuumed. How deep is the substrate?
I don't know... just a possibility. I know that I had a problem a time or two in the past after an over-zealous vacuum of the substrate, which caused a mini-cycle in my tank.
I hope things improve for you. You've been working hard to remedy the situation.
Also, possibly poisonous gases may have been released from within the sand bed when you vacuumed. How deep is the substrate?
I don't know... just a possibility. I know that I had a problem a time or two in the past after an over-zealous vacuum of the substrate, which caused a mini-cycle in my tank.
I hope things improve for you. You've been working hard to remedy the situation.
You know what, I think you hit the nail on the nail on the head. I vacum faily deep to stir up the substrate and try to get as much poop out and distribute it again. I may have hit a nitrogen pocket or an old food pocket and released an ammonia spike. I'm going to test twice a day for the nitirite spike and do 25% water changes every other day to help settle it down. This weekend was also the first huge gravel vac I did as far as getting a lot done.
Edit:
My sand is about an inch and a half to 2 inches deep.
I would do water changes as often as needed to keep the ammonia and nitrite levels at 0. Prime does help detoxify ammonia and nitrites so I think I would continue to use it.
According to Seachem, and from what I've read on threads here on AC, you can safely use the emergency dose of Prime to help with detectable ammonia and nitrites while you keep working to get things under control.
I think you can overdose with Prime, but from what I've read it takes a lot of Prime to do that.
I've used the emergency dose on every water change during a couple of mini-cycles in the past.
According to Seachem, and from what I've read on threads here on AC, you can safely use the emergency dose of Prime to help with detectable ammonia and nitrites while you keep working to get things under control.
I think you can overdose with Prime, but from what I've read it takes a lot of Prime to do that.
I've used the emergency dose on every water change during a couple of mini-cycles in the past.
Just a thought on the white oil slick.
I have forgotten to wash my hand or hands after eating something
and ive gotten those oil slicks from that.Even and hour or so afterwards.Even
when i have washed my hands with water only after eating.Could be anything foreign on your hands going into the tank.
I have forgotten to wash my hand or hands after eating something
and ive gotten those oil slicks from that.Even and hour or so afterwards.Even
when i have washed my hands with water only after eating.Could be anything foreign on your hands going into the tank.
I think it is stagnant water and oil from the fish food. I have no surface agitation per se and my outputs are below the water line so that dont make noise when I sleep.
I would up your water changes as you need to get that ammonia at 0. I would do water changes every day and maybe 2x's a day (just water no vacuum) to get the ammonia to 0 for your fish until you get through this mini cycle. You may have to do more than 25% at a time as well.
