Fish are sluggish ideas?

R

root81

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Feb 23, 2007
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Eastern Townships, Quebec
I have a 10 gal tank, planted with 7 Java Ferns and a good clump of Java Moss, inhabited by 3 Cherry Barbs. A few days ago, they were swimming around actively. I added a small dose (about 1/2 the recommended dose) of Plant Gro aquatic plant fertilizer and a Jungle plant food tab, as well as adding a Nutrafin natural plant system CO2 system.

Since I got home last night, the fish haven't eaten much, and mostly hide in the corners behind plants and the heater. This morning I notices that one was "breathing" hard and shivering

I checked the water, and saw the PH had dropped from 7.8 to 7.0 since I added the carbon and fertilizer 3 days ago. Nitrite was also up a bit at 1.2 and Nitrate was at 50

I've changed about 60% of the water through 2 water changes today, and removed the CO2. and am now starting to see some activity in the tank but one fish is still hiding in the corner.

I don't think the Nitrate or Nitrite is a problem because I've hit those numbers several times since I got past the ammonia phase, and have never seen the fish stressed out like this, and NEVER have seen them ignore food. I figure it's
a) the PH change stressed them,
b) the CO2 system is too strong
c) the fertilizer, I just noticed both types contain iron, which my water already has sufficient iron in it.
d) some factor that I don't see

I know the best way to narrow things down is to try to revert back to my previous water parameters, then make one change at a time to see what is the problem, but I'd rather not stress the fish out any more, especially right now when they are already bothered by something. I'm going to change some more water tomorrow to dilute the fertilizer and iron a bit more, and hope they get back to normal soon. After that, unless I can figure out the problem, I'll slowly re-introduce the changes with fertilizer and CO2 and hope that the problem was just too much too fast for the little guys.

If anyone has ideas or suggestions I'd defiantly appreciate it.
 
java fern and java moss are both low maint plants..they need a bit of light..
they may not need ferts. the fert most likely taised the nitratss..

how much light do you have..what kind of CO2..

do you know your kH?

back off the CO2..do a water change and see what happens.
 
whats the temperature of your tank?

tiger barbs like warrrm water. round 76-78
if the water is warmer they move around more.
 
i also think there is to much CO2 in the tank. java moss and java fern are both low-light, low-maintinence plants. they should not need the extra ferts or CO2; if you stock your tank smart, they fish will provide enough nitrates for them and you wont have to add anything to your tank.

the barbs are probably stressed because of the pH drop and since the nitrates are really high. you are going to want to keep them below 20, even in a planted tank.
 
After removing the CO2, and numerous water changes to remove the fertilizer, the fish are doing well. I've tried with the CO2 a bit at a time, and everything is going well. Yesterday, I left the CO2 on and this morning, the 3 fish were are happy and eat.

I don't think they were sufficating because the carbon is running exactly the same now, and nothing else has changed. I think they were just from too many changes at once, or from the PH drop, or they disagreed with the fertilizer.

I'm going to keep a close watch for the next few days, and keep the CO2 running as long as there are no problems because I'm seeing better growth in the moss with it on. The fertilizer is probably not needed, but I might try a much smaller dose of it over the weekend when I'm home for a couple days.
 
you prob don't need ferts for those but if you do add it do a little at a time.
you are probably right..too much at one time.

good luck
 
As I understand your post, your tank is still cycling. Its probably not a wise idea to add ferts to your tank until your cycle is complete.

Your fish were stressed because of the ph drop caused by the addition of co2, and my guess would be the addition of ferts in an uncycled tank.

To go a bit off topic, as others have said, the fern and moss dont need co2 or extra ferts. The ferns are slow growing plants and moss doesnt need much of anythig to grow. With that being said, unless you are running greater than 2 watts of light per g, co2 isnt going to do anything. Lighting is a nutrient just like ferts, more likely than not if you do not have enough lighting, or your plants do not use the extra nutrients you provide, or the co2 is more than your plants will use, you will have an uncontrollable algae bloom. Having a planted tank without algae, or problems with your fish takes a fine balance between all nutrients..

I suggest you do more research on co2 injection and adding fertilizers....the probs you had are really basic start up probs and imo, injecting co2 into a tank should be researched thoroughly before it is started due the the risk involved with your fish. I would think that even tho you may not be experienced with using co2..through researching the basics on it.....the "breathing" hard would immediately point you to your co2 system..as well as you would know that the possibiity for your ph to drop like that is real...

Check out http://rexgrigg.com/

HTH
Blue
 
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