Cloudy water

[tintin]

Hi,

I'm new to the fishkeeping game but everything has been relatively ok for the past few weeks. Then on Sunday I did a water change, added some new plants to the tank, added a background. and some new gravel.

Since then the fish have been right off their food, particularly the Golden Gourami who now spends most her time just under the surface with her fins clamped.

A few books seem to point to stress as I can't see any evidence of disease. A water test yesterday suggested relatively low levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate but the pH was high.

I used Proper pH 7.0 powder yesterday to get the level right, as well as adding some stress coat. About an hour later the water went from clear to cloudy - I assume from the pH 7.0 (?)

This morning I went out and got AquaClear and some 7 hours later the water doesn't look much clearer. The good news is that the fish appear to be more alert although they are still not feeding that much. The gourami is still sticking to the surface most of the time but is swimming about and using her fins more.

I guess my questions are: How long does it take to get the water clear again or do I have to go for water changes instead? And also, if the lack of appetite is down to stress when should I expect them to gain their appetite back?

Any help much appreciated.

TT.

 

[tstenback]

First welcome to the forum.

I think that you need to stop adding chemicals to the tank. Most are unnecessary and can cause you grief in the long run. What are the parameters of your tank...ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, size etc.

If you are adjusting the PH just because someone said it has to be 7.0 then stop because this can cause a very unstable tank in the future if you forget to add the chems to a water change. Also if you get your fish locally then your lfs may have the same water parameters as you do right out of the tap. So check and see if this is so.

The fish are definitely stressed but with out readings we cant be sure why. I would do a few 25% water changes over the next few days to help clear the tank. There appetite will return when the stress is removed but we have to isolate the cause first. So on to the water changes and tank testing. Keep us posted.

 

[canarsie11]

You should not mess with your ph, fish can adapt to the ph pretty well. Usually if your lfs is near you the ph you have at home may be the same.


Do some water changes? Daily water changes until your water clears up IMO, but every other day is fine

 

[tintin]

Thanks for the advice. When pre-treating the water for a change, how long should I allow for the Stress Coat to do its work before adding the water to the tank?

TT

 

[tstenback]

No need to wait, i usually do though just until there is no foam/suds on top of the water. you can add it immediately if you want.

 

[tintin]

Ok. done a water change. Any harm in adding some Aquarium salts or should I try and keep the water as pure as poss?

Note that the water is still cloudy, less than before, but still cloudy.

Here's the test results, post-change:

pH - approx 7.3 (lower than what it was yesterday)
Ammonia - 0.25 mg/l
Nitrite - 0 mg/l
Nitrate - approx 15 mg/l

For info, I've got a 20l tank (only small), with two Red Phantoms, a Dwark Gourami, 2 guppies, and a Catfish (Synodontis flavitaeniatus.)

What do you suggest, daily 25% wter changes until the behavious is normal again?

TT

 

[kashmir]

Hi!, Im new too!

Well, tbh, your tank is a little crowded. And yes, daily 25% water changes.

 

[tintin]

The tank is much clearer today and some of the fish seem to be paying more attention to the food.

The gourami is still behaving oddly though. It appears that it keeps floating up to the surface like a cork - like it cant stop itself. I have a upturned flower pot and it is going there to stop itself from being forced up to the surface. Is this a known condition? I can't seem to find anything on it.

Please help. I do want these fish to survive. I'm already mortified at the idea that I might be the cause of all this!! javascript:emoticon('')

 

[tintin]

Strike that. I've now read about Swim Bladder Disease. Im guessing its probably that. I also read that feeding peas might help but she still seems to stressed to eat.

Other than adding aquarium salt (which i've done), is there anything esle I can do?

Christ, this fish-keeping lark is stressful.

TT.

 

[clutterydrawer]

Do you know why your ammonia is so high?

 

[tintin]

I've no idea but then I am new at this. The tank is relatively immature (only 5 weeks old) so perhaps the filter isn't up to 100% strength yet?

I did a quick ammonia test this morning having changed another 25% of the water last night and it is still at 0.25 mg/l.

An earlier post suggested that the tank was too full but I've gone by the rule of approx total length of the fish being no more than the total width of the tank. They certainly don't appear to be crowded. The community as it is now lived happily together for a week and the problems only started last weekend after adding the the blue background, some new gravel (which I admit I washed in tap water - sorry), and some new plants.

I'm continuing to change 25% of the water every day but im worried that the fish still don't have much interest in food. And the gourami of course. The catfish also seems to be fairly inactive although I understand that they are reclusive?

Sorry if I come across as being completely ignorent. Its a steep leraning curve!

TT.

 

[The-Wolf]

I guess that you didn't know that most catfish can't tollerate salt.
keep your eye on them, if they start to look ill you will need to remove them straight away.

I'm no expert but If you pm cfc he is. and he'll gladyly help you with any catfish questions, treatments etc

 

[tintin]

No, you're right. I didn't know that.



Titus the Catfish isn't doing much of anything right now so its quite hard to tell if he's unwell or not. He's spending virtually all his time in his hiding space (although I am out of the house most of the day.)

Obviously I'll lay off the salt from now on.

 

[clutterydrawer]

An earlier post suggested that the tank was too full but I've gone by the rule of approx total length of the fish being no more than the total width of the tank.

I don't think that's a very reliable rule Because tanks are so variable in shape. It's better to use a rule based on the volume of water, or even better, he amount of surface area

I think maybe you added your fishes a bit fast and that's why the ammonia is high. What are the dimensions of your tank? I think the catfish will get too big for it. I don't mean to sound ctrical, just trying to think of some solutions, everyone makes mistakes when they start out...

 

[tintin]

No thats fine. I appreciate the advice. Its just that i've had so much conflicting information from various sources!

TBH, I was warned that Titus could grow big - although he is a smaller species of catfish - but I expect to have a bigger tank by then (I didn't want to go overboard on my first go.)

Im at work so can't give you measurements but it is 20 litres. Not big but i wouldn't say overly-crowded with the 7 small fish that are in there at the moment. (Titus is by far the biggest at 5cm long.)

The fish were added in 2 stages - 4 first, then the other 3 about 2 weeks later. I wasn't planning on adding any more. The 7 seemed to be doing fine for the first week but at that point I didn't have a water testing kit. Its only since I made a few changes to the tank interior last weekend that things went pear-shaped.

Do you think the only way out of this is to remove some of the stock? That would really be my last resort.