Help , run out of ideas.

[Dunluce2]

Its Dunluce again. Ok. I have two barbs in a community tank of 60l. they are both showing poor condition and seem to be gasping. there are five other barbs that arent showing any signs of trouble. theres one platy. one small angel and some white clouds. nothing over an inch long. Yes i know the angel will grow too big but i didnt buy him it was a rescue mission.

the two barbs have slowly become extremely thin and although they seem overly eager to eat the cant. they try when they approach they food but its like it wont suck in their mouths. I treated for gill fluke months ago when i had similar trouble with a run of fish deaths but it didnt seem to do anything and things settle by themselves sometime later. I tested all my water parameters and there all good. the lowest amounts for nitrites and ammonia.

I am prepared to cull both these fish but would prefer to work out the problem in case others become infected or if i'm presented with the same scenario later with more expensive fish.

thanks dunluce

 

[sbundy]

how long has ur tank been up and running? what r ur exact results for amonia nad nitrites

 

[ddayton21]

I think your a bit overstocked which could be the problem. Just wondering, what kind of barbs do you have?

 

[Dunluce2]

Gold barbs and china barbs. nitrites are below 0.3mg/litre no2 and ammonia is below 1.2mg/l That was using nutafin test kits.

The barbs were actually feeder fish that i bought to cycyle the tank about 10 months ago.the golds were good some got big others remained quite small. the bigger two have coloured up to a goldy red. The other barbs are pretty plain and a few very faint stripes. i also noticed that one white cloud is quite emaciated and not feeding either.

I have kept a higher quantity of fish happily in this size tank before. I think overstocked is an easy answer. If that was the case why are the smaller fish suffering. The larger ones are strong and very happy. The sick fish arent avoiding food either. They are trying to eat but its like their mouth dont work properly. They're just flaping the lower jaw at the food in nothing goes in.
The other fish just suck it in.

dunluce

 

[Emg]

If your tank is cycled than the ammonia should be reading zero. My guess would be a water quality issue and the weaker fish are the ones showing signs first.

I would remove those fish from the tank and put them in quarenteen and treat them there. Then do some water changes and see if you can get your ammonia down to zero.

 

[sbundy]

For Healthy Fish Ur Amonia And Nitrites Should Both Be At 0

 

[Dunluce2]

Well thats the hard thing. The test kits use a colour chart and both results on either test was equal to the first colour on the chart indicating that they were at the lowest levels. I am also thinking its water quality as I'm getting alot of algea on plants and some on glass. What daylength {hours } are you running your lights at. I'm wondering if i run mine too long. generally 12 hours. I'm wondering if 8 would be better. I feed once a day and no more than they can consume in 5 minutes. I dontthink I'm over feeding.

I found a bronze cory with some fin rot today. It had been hiding. nearly has no fins now. All others accounted for. no signs on other fish.

 

[Emg]

Do a large water change and check your filtration ! Your tank is certainly not cycled yet. A fully cycled tank will read 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites..with some nitrates reading, which shouldn't be above 20.

Have an airstone running in there as well...it will help some...but those fish need fresh clean water right now.

 

[Roan Art]

I'm a little confused with your posts, Dunluce2, as they are rather contradictary. Ergo:

Take some of your water to your LFS and have them test it for pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Post the numbers here. We need exact numbers. If the Nutrafin test isn't giving you exact numbers, toss it and buy a Aquarium Pharmaceuticals liquid master test kit. Not strips.

Fungus, fin rot, all this other stuff is a water quality issue.

The smaller ones die or get sick first because they are the weaker ones. That's how nature works. Survival of the fittest.

The bottom feeder *probably* got sick from nitrates. Dunno as you didn't post those. I'm assuming you have a nitrates problem as it seems you have a water quality problem.

What is your water change schedule? How often and how much?

As Emg advised: Isolate the sick fishes. Change your water, at least 50%, immediately. Get the water tested ASAP and/or get a new testing kit. Post the numbers here.

Until we know what actual numbers you have are, we are only guessing.

Roan