Help! Chinese Algae Eater (ADVICE NEEDED!)

[triivk]

Hello! I've had my fish for a while but I've only now grounded myself enough to really get a handle on maintenance and creating the best life for my handsome fish named Suckerpunch. His current tank light and heater recently broke, so he's been sitting in 20degrees Celsius water for about 34 hour and without light the same. He's maybe 3 years old, and he's acting very jumpy and then going and laying either on his stomach or on his side in the back of the tank. I'm here because I need reassurance that he'll be okay for another 12 hours.

He's currently in a 34 litre tank, however I ordered new equipment that will be arriving today. I got a Fluval flex 57 litre tank with the filter included, a 100 watt aqua-one heater, gravel, cave decoration, and 3 live plants. (Alongside a ph regulator thing, ph tests and a water conditioner). I've never acclimated a fish before, so I'm nervous to do that. Is there anything else I should be doing? Anything else I should get? All and any advice is appreciated.

 

[UnknownFishies]

Alright, first... those fish can grow to about 5 long so I don’t know if that 57 liter will cut it. They will room to swim and explore. Then again fluval flex are pretty big so you be the judge of that. Second, you should probably get an entire testing kit instead of just ph testers. Third, I don’t know how much longer it can last. These fish are kept in warmer waters and since he’s already been in there for over a day it’s hard to tell if he’s ok, especially if he doesn’t have light that makes things worse.

 

[triivk]

Alright, first... those fish can grow to about 5 long so I don’t know if that 57 liter will cut it. They will room to swim and explore. Then again fluval flex are pretty big so you be the judge of that. Second, you should probably get an entire testing kit instead of just ph testers. Third, I don’t know how much longer it can last. These fish are kept in warmer waters and since he’s already been in there for over a day it’s hard to tell if he’s ok, especially if he doesn’t have light that makes things worse.

I know that he needs bigger but it's the best I can manage at the moment, all I can say is that it's an improvement. Google told me that they can survive in 23 degrees Celsius water, but I don't know if that's entirely true. What other testing kits make up a whole testing kit? Yeah, I'm really worried. I paid for same day delivery and they promised me it would all arrive really soon. He's swimming around a bit more now, sort of 'sucking' along side of the tank and stuff.

 

[4Angelsandme]

I know that he needs bigger but it's the best I can manage at the moment, all I can say is that it's an improvement. Google told me that they can survive in 23 degrees Celsius water, but I don't know if that's entirely true. What other testing kits make up a whole testing kit? Yeah, I'm really worried. I paid for same day delivery and they promised me it would all arrive really soon. He's swimming around a bit more now, sort of 'sucking' along side of the tank and stuff.

I am new to this group however can u put him in something smaller with some of your aquarium water ( smaller container ) and wrap it with a towel or blanket. I’ve done that before. Turn your heat up in the room he’s in helps as well.
Also you need an API master test kit for checking water perimeters. Before you put your fish in a new tank it needs cycled too. You need to read up on steps to setting up a new tank if you don’t know how otherwise it can kill your fish. Good luck

 

[justinhill]

Isn't it possible to rig up some kind of lamp? A table lamp or a reading lamp maybe - that would put a (tiny) bit of heat into the water as well...

 

[triivk]

That's a very good idea, thank you! I'm already setting up his new tank, I'll try to put him in in 4 ish hours.

 

[Colin_T]

Chinese Algae Eaters can live in cold water. We used to have people buy them all the time for coldwater tanks, so 20C for 12 hours is fine. Just make sure there is plenty of aeration and monitor the ammonia and nitrite levels. It's probably a good idea to change all the water each day, replace it with water from his display tank.

 

[triivk]

Chinese Algae Eaters can live in cold water. We used to have people buy them all the time for coldwater tanks, so 20C for 12 hours is fine. Just make sure there is plenty of aeration and monitor the ammonia and nitrite levels. It's probably a good idea to change all the water each day, replace it with water from his display tank.

Thank you so much! I've set the temp for the new tank at 24-26, and in that case I think I'll let the tank cycle for a little bit longer. I don't have any ammonia tests, but I can do a nitrate test! Hopefully he'll be moved in by late tomorrow, I just want him to survive until then.

 

[justinhill]

Thank you so much! I've set the temp for the new tank at 24-26, and in that case I think I'll let the tank cycle for a little bit longer. I don't have any ammonia tests, but I can do a nitrate test! Hopefully he'll be moved in by late tomorrow, I just want him to survive until then.

I'm rooting for you! I'm a complete bloody novice myself but I can say you need to test for ammonia and nitrite. I was in a similar place to you - an empty tank and no time to get it right because I had a plastic box full of potentially dying fish. So you can't always follow the rules in an emergency... I believe you should transfer your algae eater when the new tank is at around the same temperature as whatever the old one is at now, then bring it up to working temp. but the grownups on here will correct me if I'm wrong.

In my case the fish water had dropped to about 19c so I waited until the tank was just that and then transferred them and brought it up to 23c over a couple of hours.

Just a thought - if your old pump and filter is still functional maybe you could temporarily put that in the new tank alongside the new one. It should contain some beneficial bacteria.

 

[triivk]

I'm rooting for you! I'm a complete bloody novice myself but I can say you need to test for ammonia and nitrite. I was in a similar place to you - an empty tank and no time to get it right because I had a plastic box full of potentially dying fish. So you can't always follow the rules in an emergency... I believe you should transfer your algae eater when the new tank is at around the same temperature as whatever the old one is at now, then bring it up to working temp. but the grownups on here will correct me if I'm wrong.

In my case the fish water had dropped to about 19c so I waited until the tank was just that and then transferred them and brought it up to 23c over a couple of hours.

Just a thought - if your old pump and filter is still functional maybe you could temporarily put that in the new tank alongside the new one. It should contain some beneficial bacteria.

You and me both! I'm clueless as to the fish-keeping world. I will get ammonia tests tomorrow! And you're right, I might try to put him in his new home earlier, I'm a bit torn. I really appreciate your advice! Good luck with your fishies!

 

[4Angelsandme]

Isn't it possible to rig up some kind of lamp? A table lamp or a reading lamp maybe - that would put a (tiny) bit of heat into the water as well...

You know what you are correct. I have used a candle warmer to heat near a fish bowl and it works. It’s amazing really. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

 

[triivk]

Chinese Algae Eaters can live in cold water. We used to have people buy them all the time for coldwater tanks, so 20C for 12 hours is fine. Just make sure there is plenty of aeration and monitor the ammonia and nitrite levels. It's probably a good idea to change all the water each day, replace it with water from his display tank.

Hi sorry to reply again, I just did a nitrate test and PH test because I haven't got an ammonia test yet - I tested the nitrate twice and it shows that I have 0ppm nitrate levels? Which, I don't think is normal? I have a 7.6PH too, but I think my type of fish is pretty okay from 6-8ph lvl. When I treated the water, I used a tap water conditioner and a conditioner that is supposed to bring the PH down to 7, and detoxify ammonia, heavy metals and stuff. Do I need any other types of treatment?

For aeration, should I get a bubbler type thing? I know that Chinese algae eaters are supposed to have a sort of strong current, how can I simulate that? Sorry for all the questions!! (also, I found an old heater and put it in the old tank for him so at least he's not too cold.)

 

[UnknownFishies]

Well did you cycle the tank? If no then yes those 0 nitrates are a problem and means you probably have ammonia or nitrite in your tank, neither of which is good. If you did cycle though then that’s good! Especially since this fish is really sensitive to nitrates

 

[justinhill]

Hi sorry to reply again, I just did a nitrate test and PH test because I haven't got an ammonia test yet - I tested the nitrate twice and it shows that I have 0ppm nitrate levels? Which, I don't think is normal? I have a 7.6PH too, but I think my type of fish is pretty okay from 6-8ph lvl. When I treated the water, I used a tap water conditioner and a conditioner that is supposed to bring the PH down to 7, and detoxify ammonia, heavy metals and stuff. Do I need any other types of treatment?

For aeration, should I get a bubbler type thing? I know that Chinese algae eaters are supposed to have a sort of strong current, how can I simulate that? Sorry for all the questions!! (also, I found an old heater and put it in the old tank for him so at least he's not too cold.)

If this is your new tank, then it's fully non-cycled and unless you used the water from the old tank you're basically just measuring the tap water. The cycle is ammonia -> nitrite -> nitrate so (given you're putting the fish in straight away) in the early days it's the ammonia and nitrite you want to keep a close eye on. Your pump, with its outlet just below the water line, should keep the water moving enough. I may be wrong (I often am) but I don't think a bubbler is called for here.

 

[Colin_T]

0ppm nitrate is fine and some places around the world still have 0 nitrates in their water supply. You can have 0ppm nitrate in an established tank if you do regular water changes and don't overfeed or overstock the tank.

Don't bother mucking about with the pH.

If you can have something to circulate and aerate the water in the bucket, it will help the fish. However, if it's only going to be in there a short time, there's not really much point buying a new air pump just for this. On the other hand, if you already have an airpump and airline, then put an airstone in the bucket.