I got new fish! Questions

[cowgirluntamed]

Ph has gone up to 7.6 at least. It wasn't quite any color on the high ph chart. I will see what it is tomorrow morning.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

@Colin_T

So, just under 24 hours later and the tank is back to 8.2 ph.

Also, no deaths. Yay! I did feed a little bit more today than I have been. All seem to be eating well. Though I did notice one actually go to the top and sit to the side for a few minutes before going down and around again. This was during feeding. If I catch it again I will try to get a picture of it. I cant quite be for sure but it's mouth almost looked deformed so maybe it's the same one.

Ok, just got some pics and a video! I will get those posted next! I honestly can't see a deformity...maybe it's just a weird fish...lol.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

 

[cowgirluntamed]

Ok...these are just for fun...but so cute! Thought you might enjoy. Lol.

 

[Colin_T]

Can you get a nice clear photograph showing the fish in the video from the side?

What colour is the muscle tissue (under the skin) in the fish in the video? It looks opaque in the video, can you confirm that?

The fish gasping at the surface in the video is not normal.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

Can you get a nice clear photograph showing the fish in the video from the side?

What colour is the muscle tissue (under the skin) in the fish in the video? It looks opaque in the video, can you confirm that?

The fish gasping at the surface in the video is not normal.

I will try to get a better picture if I see it again. It stopped and hid within the rest of them. I'm not exactly sure the color of the muscle either. I may have to drain a bit of water to lower it below the rim. It was too hard to see from the side because of that. I'll try again!

 

[cowgirluntamed]

@Colin_T

Well, unfortunately it passed away. I didn't see anybody gasping at the surface today at feeding time. Kinda figured I'd lose another one or two. So far everybody else looks good and is active and eating so hopefully that's it! I did the last dose of triple sulfa today so tomorrow I will do a large water change.

 

[Colin_T]

Hold off on the water change for a couple of days. Leave the triple sulpha in there for another 48 hours. It won't hurt the fish and might help if it's a gill fungus. You don't have to add more triple sulpha, just don't water change it out yet.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

Hold off on the water change for a couple of days. Leave the triple sulpha in there for another 48 hours. It won't hurt the fish and might help if it's a gill fungus. You don't have to add more triple sulpha, just don't water change it out yet.

Ok! I can do that. Thanks a lot Colin. That was actually my last packet of the stuff today but I do plan on getting more soon to have on hand just in case! I love triple sulfa.

 

[Colin_T]

don't get too carried away with sulpha based medications because diseases can become resistant to them quite quickly.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

don't get too carried away with sulpha based medications because diseases can become resistant to them quite quickly.

Don't worry, I don't medicate unless absolutely necessary. But before I started these tanks up again I had some fish that had septicemia and it worked wonders! I always want to at least have it in stock just in case.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

@Colin_T

Again.....glowlights started to not swim right before I added water but after I drained about 80%. The air pump was not on. Again ph is 7.5ish. I decided to do an ammonia test too on the freshly changed water. It is absolutely at 0.5!! I think I need to tell my dad we may have to check the well.....something isn't right!

I guess until something is figured out I will have to get trash cans and prepare water ahead of time.....I know prime can neutralize ammonia but will it get rid of it?? what am I supposed to do now??? I would almost rather start buying RO or distilled water from walmart but this is a lot of water for me! I just don't know what to do now......

 

[cowgirluntamed]

Oh and a harlequin died during the change...and I found another dead as well but maybe it died over night? Not a clue on that one....testing for nitrite and nitrate just in case too.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

So 0 nitrite and 5 nitrate which is normal for my well water.

 

[Colin_T]

Fish dying after a water change would indicate something in the water. You should probably get your well water tested for everything you can, especially if you drink it.

Prime apparently binds the ammonia and makes it non toxic for about 24 hours. During that time the filters break it down and convert it into nitrite and nitrate.

The other option is a box filter with Wardley's Ammogon in it. Ammogon is a white ammonia absorbing granule that looks and feels like chalky gravel. If you have the water in a bucket you add a filter with Ammogon in and leave it to run for a bit, it will absorb the ammonia from the water.

You could also run Activated Carbon in a filter and see if that helps. If there is ammonia there might be something else in there that the carbon can remove.

In the mean time I would monitor the nitrate levels in the tank and only do a water change if the nitrates go over 40ppm. You can also try small water changes 10-20% and see how the fish do. But if the well water is contaminated you really need to find out what from.