tibby25731
Fish Herder
My tank has been up and running for years, it has got to the point where it needs very little maintenance, as the filter is mature and it sorts itself out. Tank is 150 litre 4ft long. Stocking is - I mature pleco, 1 angelfish, 3 kribs, 4 silver sharks, 3 congo tetras, 3 barbs, 3 hoplo catfish. My fish have had no illness for a long long time, but the other day my angel started behaving strangely and when I got up close, I saw what looked like the start of finrot. The congo tetras fins were looking slightly weird too. I immediately did a 1/3 water change on the tank as I had no fin rot meds. At this point, it was only the angel behaving oddly, and to be honest he is a little strange anyway, prone to acting out. I went out and bought Interpet no 8, came home and dosed the tank.This was Saturday afternoon.
Next day the fish seemed a little lethargic, not bombing round the tank but not too weird. I put it down to the meds. Last night I noticed the sharks were staying close to the surface, and I realised i had not increased aeration so I did this, Bad me, I had been very busy all day and had not kept a close eye on the tank - had only checked out the angels fins and was happy that they hadn't worsened. It was late and I wasn't thinking straight, otherwise I would have checked the levels.
Got home tonight and the fish are still being a bit odd. I put a little food in and they ALL ignored it. This is totally wrong, they are all so greedy. Panic set in and I remembered to check the levels - the ammonia was through the roof. I changed 50% water then checked again. Still too high so I dod the same again. Reading is liveable at present, it is indicating a little ammonia but only just. I don;t want to change the water again tonight as the fish are stressed as it is.
Most fish are now much more active. I'm not feeding them right now. I am going to get up early tomorrow and take another ammonia reading and see if it has settled, if not it's another large water change. My worry is that the bacterias have died and the tank needs to cycle again - I leave for Japan mid afternoon on Thursday and do not return un til the 27th. Really worried I will return to a tank full of dead fish. I have nobody who I would be able to ask to do any water changes for me. My father in law will pop in halfway through my holiday and empty some food in which I will havew measured out, other than that they will not be fed - this is my usual strategy when I am away. I can ask him to scoop out any dead fish but this won't help if the tank needs to cycle. Argh!
I know I have to play this by ear, but anyone got any good ideas or suggestions for what I can do to help? I am pretty sure I dosed correctly, I folowed instructions and have used this med before some years back, it's always been good for me. I can't say for sure there was no ammonia problem before dosing, but there was no typical ammonia poisioning behaviour and I did water change before dosing. HELP!!
Next day the fish seemed a little lethargic, not bombing round the tank but not too weird. I put it down to the meds. Last night I noticed the sharks were staying close to the surface, and I realised i had not increased aeration so I did this, Bad me, I had been very busy all day and had not kept a close eye on the tank - had only checked out the angels fins and was happy that they hadn't worsened. It was late and I wasn't thinking straight, otherwise I would have checked the levels.
Got home tonight and the fish are still being a bit odd. I put a little food in and they ALL ignored it. This is totally wrong, they are all so greedy. Panic set in and I remembered to check the levels - the ammonia was through the roof. I changed 50% water then checked again. Still too high so I dod the same again. Reading is liveable at present, it is indicating a little ammonia but only just. I don;t want to change the water again tonight as the fish are stressed as it is.
Most fish are now much more active. I'm not feeding them right now. I am going to get up early tomorrow and take another ammonia reading and see if it has settled, if not it's another large water change. My worry is that the bacterias have died and the tank needs to cycle again - I leave for Japan mid afternoon on Thursday and do not return un til the 27th. Really worried I will return to a tank full of dead fish. I have nobody who I would be able to ask to do any water changes for me. My father in law will pop in halfway through my holiday and empty some food in which I will havew measured out, other than that they will not be fed - this is my usual strategy when I am away. I can ask him to scoop out any dead fish but this won't help if the tank needs to cycle. Argh!
I know I have to play this by ear, but anyone got any good ideas or suggestions for what I can do to help? I am pretty sure I dosed correctly, I folowed instructions and have used this med before some years back, it's always been good for me. I can't say for sure there was no ammonia problem before dosing, but there was no typical ammonia poisioning behaviour and I did water change before dosing. HELP!!
