What is in my water?

Subject: What is in my water? Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:27 pm

All of the fish in my 55g are gasping for air. My levels are ammon 0 nitrate 5 nitrite 0. What could be making my fish gasp for air?

also my GT isnt doing well at all. She is sitting on the bottom of the tank breathing slowly so slow that my GF thought she was dead.

Subject: Re: What is in my water? Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:39 pm

What's the temp of your water? I assume you have a filter running right?

The only other thing I can think of is if a contaminant somehow made its way into your tank. Soap, chemical or something like that which is undetectable by your test kits. Do a major water change and see what happens.

Subject: Re: What is in my water? Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:45 pm

You're showin, on line, PMed ya to go to chat. Done a water change today?

Subject: Re: What is in my water? Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:02 pm

Sounds like something foreign entered your tank. Do a 50-75% water change!

Subject: Re: What is in my water? Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:39 pm

Mostlycichlids wrote:: Sounds like something foreign entered your tank. Do a 50-75% water change!

I agree with Mostlycichlids, also add an airstone.

Subject: Re: What is in my water? Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:51 pm

Wyomingite wrote:: You're showin, on line, PMed ya to go to chat. Done a water change today?

Yes I was in the middle of a water change. I've done 3 50% through out the day.

Subject: Re: What is in my water? Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:53 pm

c_scherer123 wrote:

Mostlycichlids wrote:: Sounds like something foreign entered your tank. Do a 50-75% water change!

I agree with Mostlycichlids, also add an airstone.

i agree

Subject: Re: What is in my water? Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:16 am

That sucks. Best of luck Mike. Hope all turns out well.

The Turtle Whisperer Posts : 1930

I've had this happen once or twice in different tanks around here. *Especially* after a power outage.

I'm guessing that your biological system crashed and all your good bacteria has died.

If the bacteria are without oxygen for long enough they'll die, the fish will be gasping for breath, and (on smaller tanks I've noticed it more than bigger ones) a smelly smell. Not a gag worthy smell, but a subtle whiff of something ain't right.

Get an airstone in there ASAP, and help along the bac problem by taking a scoop of gravel or something or other from one of the stable tanks. If that's what's happened the heavy water changes aren't going to fix it, it's just time for the colony to regrow.

Subject: Re: What is in my water? Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:17 am

saint_felony wrote:: I've had this happen once or twice in different tanks around here. *Especially* after a power outage.

I'm guessing that your biological system crashed and all your good bacteria has died.

If the bacteria are without oxygen for long enough they'll die, the fish will be gasping for breath, and (on smaller tanks I've noticed it more than bigger ones) a smelly smell. Not a gag worthy smell, but a subtle whiff of something ain't right.

Get an airstone in there ASAP, and help along the bac problem by taking a scoop of gravel or something or other from one of the stable tanks. If that's what's happened the heavy water changes aren't going to fix it, it's just time for the colony to regrow.

If that is the case water changes will help with reducing any Ammonia buildup.

The Turtle Whisperer Posts : 1930

Yes, to an extent, he doesn't want to keep changing so much water that it never re-establishes properly. I made this mistake the first time with one of the feeder fish tubs after a power outage and ended up wiping out an entire established pink convict feeder population save for three large males.

Without an airstone, or some other form of oxygen getting into the water, everything will die from suffocation well before the ammonia gets 'em.

Ideally if it's at all possible, move everything still alive out into different tanks cycle it for a week and test it out with some minnows or something cheap. It may still be something else after all.

Banned Posts : 910 Age : 30

Who are they doing now???

Subject: Re: What is in my water? Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:47 am

I'm not so sure it is bacteria die off usually it takes a long time and a lot of abuse for a tank to crash. It would of had to been neglected for a long time. If it was seeded with bacteria and there is plenty of ammonia to feed the bacteria then I would guess it is a spike rather than a crash. A water change in Mike's case is the likely remedy from the water test results he posted. I would add some Prime and an airstone is a good idea....also squeeze some sponges from other tanks in there.

Subject: Re: What is in my water? Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:04 am

I do have an airstone along with a powerhead that is attached to a sponge filter. I dont think it was a spike because the levels I've posted have been that way for almost a month now. This is the tank I got for christmas and when I set it up I used established water, filter and decor. I've used Prime in all of the changes.

New symptom gray film. There is a gray flim covering over my Redhead.

Subject: Re: What is in my water? Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:21 am

The film is his slime coat coming off.

Subject: Re: What is in my water? Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:42 pm

SNAP!!! I added aqua plus this morning because it removes heavy metals along with chlorine and chloramine. It also says that it protects scales and fins.

One of my cons is not responding to any of the water changes. She just sits at the bottom of the tank gasping for air and the gray film seems to be stabilizing. Its not as pronounced as it was this morning.

I moved my GT into my guppy tank where she to has stabilized a bit. She is swimming around but not alot.

I just had a thought Gray film looks like velvet on deer antlers! I might be on to something.

Subject: Re: What is in my water? Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:01 pm

Its velvet! All of the symptoms match what my fish have. I never put 2 and 2 together I was thinking that it was something foreign in the water not a disease.

Off to my LFS to get aquarium salt and a bigger heater.

Subject: Re: What is in my water? Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:06 pm

Sorry to hear that, Mike. Do your fish have very tiny white spots on them? (Smaller than ich). If so that is a sure sign of velvet.

Subject: Re: What is in my water? Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:37 pm

Im seeing small white dots on my Cons fins.

The symptoms I found online are Scratchs against hard objects, Fish is lethargic, Loss of appetite and weight loss,rapid labored breathing, Fins clamped against body, Fine yellow or rusty colored film on skin, In advanced stages skin peeks off.

My fish are scratching on rocks, they are lethargic, have stoped eating also there breathing has become labored and rapid.

Subject: Re: What is in my water? Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:18 pm

Yup...those are all symptoms. Small white specs too. It is a parasite which bores into the fish's skin and gills which is why it is hard for them to breathe. The white spots are much smaller than Ich sometimes hard to see. Almost like a dust.

Banned Posts : 910 Age : 30

Hope you poor fishes heal!

Subject: Re: What is in my water? Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:22 pm

Thank you BSF.

The spots are in patches. The con isnt going to make it Sad

On the upside my GT is doing well! I came home from the grocery store to find 1 half eaten guppy and my GT hunting an otto cat. SO I moved her to a 10 gallon QT tank. She will only be in there untill the velvet is gone from the other tank.

The Turtle Whisperer Posts : 1930

Good thing you managed to figure out what it was. Sounds like they'll mostly have a decent chance of making it.

Subject: Re: What is in my water? Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:22 pm

Sorry to hear about the con, Mike. Hopefully you caught it soon enough for the rest of them to make it through OK.

Subject: Re: What is in my water? Thu Jan 22, 2009 12:11 am

Sorry to hear about your loss...I am in a similar situation with one of my tanks....I think it is my fault.

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What is in my water?

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