Sick guppy, please help!!

[mel_20_20]

One of my guppies is staying on the surface of the water, and I know that's not a good sign. He's not tilted, or bloated. I am having a problem with algae in the tank. I think, from the description I've seen on this site, that it is hair algae.

The tank has cycled and was staying in the 0 nitrite, 0 ammonia, good ph... I did go too long between vacuuming. Just did it Sunday before last, and a large water exchange.

The nitrites are in the "caution" zone on the color chart, though I did a 25% water exchange yesterday. What do I need to do to save him. Please help. I also have a 10 gallon tank with another guppy, 3 neon tetras, 3 ghost shrimp, 2 ADFs and an Emerald Cat. I don't want anyone else to get sick.

Do you think the algae is taking too much oxygen out of the water? I have this stuff called Tank Buddy Algae Clear. It said to use it to kill the algae, and take the carbon filter out while using it. How long do I leave the filter out?

 

[fish guru]

The algae has nothing to do with your fish's behavior. It is the nitrite that is causing the problem. Even small amounts of nitrite can be deadly. Check to see if there are any signs of parasites on his body. If not, then move him to the other ten gallon until conditions get better. Go to your lfs and ask them for a nitrite remover. they are usually in bottles, and they contain beneficial bacteria that should get rid of the problem. add it to the tank, and wait for about three to four days. check the water, and if it is fixed, then you can slowly add fish again.

 

[mel_20_20]

I don't see any parasites at all. When I was typing my post I was listing the fish and decided I needed to insert the size of my tank. I inadvertantly gave the impression that I have 2 tanks. I only have the one 10 gallon tank. I don't have anywhere else to put this little guy. What should I do? Do you think he will be OK until I can go to get some nitrite remover in the morning?

 

[jaylin]

The nitrites are in the "caution" zone on the color chart ...

Nitrites will affect your fish's ability to utilize oxygen. You need to get the nitrite level down asap. That means water changes until the nitrite level is no longer reading. (Some say below .25, but these guys have nitrite poisoning and need have the level reduced as far as you can ASAP.)

You'll need to continue to monitor the nitrites and do water changes as often as you need to keep that nitrite level under .25 until your tank finishes cycling.

What's your ammonia and nitrate levels?

 

[mel_20_20]

Hi,

This morning my ammonia is 0 (the ammonia level has been 0 for quite some time) and the nitrates are in the light pink area of the color chart. (I'm going to get the test kit, today, that gives the more accurate readings.)

Last night I did some searching on this site and I think I know why the nitrite levels had gone back up. My tank had already previously cycled, (I set this up around the first week of June) and, until now, had been having great water quality readings, 0 nitrites 0 ammonia, and good levels of nitrate (but low enough so far that I had very little algae, until this week).

Around Monday of last week, I bought 2 more guppies, and the Emerald Cat, and the 3 ghost shrimp, and put them in the tank. I think I must have created a mini cycle. The new additions created a new imbalance and the beneficial bacteria couldn't keep up with the new addition's waste, and, also, I think my nephew has been putting too much food in there. Last week and over the weekend I did water exchanges but was having trouble keeping the nitrites down.

Does this sound logical? This morning the nitrite has dropped to 0, and the guppy looks, OK. Will there be any lasting consequences from this, do you think?

I appreciate, so much, everyone's input. I'm new, and really love this. I went about it all wrong to begin with. The girl at the pet store let me buy a 10 gallon tank and put 3 guppies, 3 tetras, and 2 ADFs in there. I have the colored gravel, (I washed it laboriously before putting it in there), some plastic plants, a little fake coral/sea anemone feature, a plastic hollow tree stump, a treasure chest that bubbles, a bubble wand that really doesn't work well, heater, filter, and digital thermometer, and put the fish in there after 24 hours of set up. (at least the girl knew to tell me that)

I struggled the first month and a half, reading water quality, doing water exchanges as the ammonia and then nitrite levels began to climb. I was doing water changes almost every day. Added Amquel plus to add bacteria and condition the water, and aquarium salt. I can't believe I only lost 2 fish. One guppy that I found on the bottom of the tank one morning after the 4th week, and into around the 5th week one guppy developed bloat. I nearly had a stroke! That is the most pitiful looking thing to see. He looked like a little pine cone. I tried to save it, using suggestions I found on this site. Finallly I euthanised it with eugenol as directed by the threads I found on this site.

I was thrilled when finally after about 8 weeks the water quality was excellent! Clear and beautiful. The fish happy. I really started this for my nephew who lives with me, but I love having an aquarium.

Reading the posts in this site has been very encouraging and helpful. I hope I continue to improve in my fish keeping and would like to get a bigger tank. I realise now, too, that I should also have a small tank as a hospital tank.

I'm going to get a python for water exchanges, after reading about that here on this site. (I was syphoning and carrying buckets 'til I felt like Mickey Mouse in the Sorcerer's Apprentice, which most of you may be too young to remember- I ain't no spring chicken, lol)

The algae in the tank is worrying me. There's this whispy strand-like stuff on all the plastic plants, clogging the intake (I keep cleaning it), and on the coral a dark brownish black algae.

How can I control this? Will weekly water changes do the trick, or should I get an algae eater?

Sorry I'm so wordy. I'll try to be more succinct in future posts.

Thanks again to all.

Melody