I'm giving up.... O2 issues??

[Jinx_]

Hi,

On Monday I did a water change as I haven't done them in a while (depression and whatnot) and had to do a massive trim.

Fish were absolutely fine before the change, even with the slow and low flow of air and water current. They became less active, hanging only near water surface and gasping.

Next day I did a larger water change, pouring water from high up to try and dissolve as much oxygen as I could. Made them more active only for an hour, but stopped the gasping. All fry are by the surface, some with clamped fins. All loaches, the lone oto and guppies are breathing fast, can see their gills move. Only my shrimp are fine and still grazing.

New pump arrived today, guppies seemed more alive for a bit then back to surface and less activity again. Flow isn't as strong but better than before.

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 15
PH - 7.6

I don't know what to do. Might just sell off my animals in the tank and just get a paradise gourami

 

[Fishfunn]

I see you listed your ammonia as 0, but it sounds like the fish are having ammonia toxicity symptoms.

Did you clean your filter too? Hopefully you still have beneficial bacteria in it. Sounds like the water change that raised the pH to 7.6 could have turned some non-toxic ammonia into toxic ammonia. The aquarium's pH can influence the ammonia. In an acidic aquarium, ammonia actually becomes less toxic to fish.

I would put some Prime in the tank that will temporarily neutralize any ammonia for 48 hours so the beneficial bacteria filter can break down the ammonia. If you cleaned your filter, you should add some beneficial bacteria back into the aquarium

 

[MaloK]

How long have you been skipping wc and how much water did you change ?

What kind of filter and tanks size ? How many fish ?

What is the temperature of the water ?

You description make me think you introduced something in the water or your tank started overheating.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

This sounds moe like a nitrite than an ammonia issue. Once inside a fish the nitrite take around two days wto work its way out. No amount of added O to the water will help. Having no nitrite in the water will and in bead cases Methylene Blue is the only thing I have seen that can help get oxygen to the fish when Nitrite is causing them to be O deficient because they have nitrite poisoning as the cause.

The big difference between ammonia and nitrite poisoning is when the ammonia tests at 0, the threat is gone. But, with nitrite, even when it is no longer in the water is can still be in the fish.

Also, not doing water changes for a while means, when we finally do one, we change almost all the water parameters at the same time an this can be far from ideal. Changing water hardness (and TDS) can also be stressful to actually harmful.

 

[Magnum Man]

I seem to remember reading that adding aquarium salt helps with nitrate poisoning

 

[Jinx_]

I see you listed your ammonia as 0, but it sounds like the fish are having ammonia toxicity symptoms.

Did you clean your filter too? Hopefully you still have beneficial bacteria in it. Sounds like the water change that raised the pH to 7.6 could have turned some non-toxic ammonia into toxic ammonia. The aquarium's pH can influence the ammonia. In an acidic aquarium, ammonia actually becomes less toxic to fish.

I would put some Prime in the tank that will temporarily neutralize any ammonia for 48 hours so the beneficial bacteria filter can break down the ammonia. If you cleaned your filter, you should add some beneficial bacteria back into the aquarium

Thanks.

I have the API liquid test kit, I tested the water and it shows me 0 for ammonia and nitrite. Fish were more than fine until I did the water change. Once they started acting like this, I totally thought my tank has crashed and tested the water. Only to see nothing wrong, but I will have the water tested again.

I did clean the filter, thinking it having so much sludge and grime in it was causing the low flow.

I thought the bacteria were hard to "get rid of" since they get stuck strongly to surfaces? I've had this tank for a year now, and shrimp aren't showing any effects? Actually, I saw them mate and they don't look distressed at all.

How long have you been skipping wc and how much water did you change ?

What kind of filter and tanks size ? How many fish ?

What is the temperature of the water ?

You description make me think you introduced something in the water or your tank started overheating.

Few good weeks? Maybe over a month? I don't remember, it was a while and I struggle with regular daily tasks. First day I changed out only 10L (bucket is 10L), next day I did 20L. No improvements.

Tank is 60L, sponge filter.

26*C

I doubt overheating is the case, I use a good electronic heater from a good company. It's Aquael Platinum 100.

I have doubt I introduced any chemicals in the water, I don't wash my hands with soap when doing stuff around my fish. I washed the bucket beforehand. Unless you mean any acvidental disease like gill flukes.

This sounds moe like a nitrite than an ammonia issue. Once inside a fish the nitrite take around two days wto work its way out. No amount of added O to the water will help. Having no nitrite in the water will and in bead cases Methylene Blue is the only thing I have seen that can help get oxygen to the fish when Nitrite is causing them to be O deficient because they have nitrite poisoning as the cause.

The big difference between ammonia and nitrite poisoning is when the ammonia tests at 0, the threat is gone. But, with nitrite, even when it is no longer in the water is can still be in the fish.

Also, not doing water changes for a while means, when we finally do one, we change almost all the water parameters at the same time an this can be far from ideal. Changing water hardness (and TDS) can also be stressful to actually harmful.

I'll test the water again, I didn't do a water change. First water change was as little as I thought (10L), to not shock the fish.

I don't have blue meth on me
Not able to get one as I screwed myself up financially.

I think changing TDS stuff shocked them.

What do I do if so? Will they ever recover??

 

[Jinx_]

I seem to remember reading that adding aquarium salt helps with nitrate poisoning

I have loaches and an oto. Oh and shrimp. I have nowhere to put them in.

 

[MaloK]

I seem to remember reading that adding aquarium salt helps with nitrate poisoning

I read that too,

But in my mind, I wouldn't want to change osmotic regulation on a fish struggling to breathe.

Methylene Blue is the only thing:

Nitrite poisoning lead to methemoglobinemia, a condition where hemoglobin (the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen) is unable to effectively transport oxygen.

Methylene blue help convert methemoglobin back to hemoglobin, allowing the blood to transport oxygen more efficiently.

If using methylene blue, begin with the absolute minimum recommended dosage. It stains and not much is required to help.

 

[Jinx_]

New achievement unlocked: First tank crash



There's 0.25-0.50ppm of Nitrite and 0.25ppm of Ammonia

What do I do? A 10L water change?

 

[MaloK]

Few good weeks? Maybe over a month? I don't remember, it was a while and I struggle with regular daily tasks. First day I changed out only 10L (bucket is 10L), next day I did 20L. No improvements.

Tank is 60L, sponge filter.

26*C

I doubt overheating is the case, I use a good electronic heater from a good company. It's Aquael Platinum 100.

I have doubt I introduced any chemicals in the water, I don't wash my hands with soap when doing stuff around my fish. I washed the bucket beforehand. Unless you mean any acvidental disease like gill flukes.


I'll test the water again, I didn't do a water change. First water change was as little as I thought (10L), to not shock the fish.

I don't have blue meth on me
Not able to get one as I screwed myself up financially.

I think changing TDS stuff shocked them.

What do I do if so? Will they ever recover??

I don't think your first water change (15%) could have shifted water parameters enough to be dangerous. It was only a month or so, far from enough imo.

What is your sponge filter exactly ?

For a 15 gallons you still need something that is pretty serious, and an air pump that is at least rated for your tank size. It's very easy to under power them. And once "used" the filter need more power to remain at same effectiveness.

How did you rinse the sponge ? When the filter are clogged part of the bacteria wash off with debris, habitually It's not a concern and the colony bounce back quick enough not to have dangerous spikes.

If even the PH has not moved, I have no idea how a 15% water change could have such dramatic negative effect. Even if the basic chemistry of the water is off by a margin.

 

[MaloK]

New achievement unlocked: First tank crash



There's 0.25-0.50ppm of Nitrite and 0.25ppm of Ammonia

What do I do? A 10L water change?

Sadly, yes indeed... Water changes, but you will need to do larger than 15% around 50% and more.

Your tank fallen in a "mini cycle" it should recover fast.

Habitually The nitrite converting bacteria lags a little, but the ammonia ones should be back online rapidly.

 

[Jinx_]

I don't think your first water change (15%) could have shifted water parameters enough to be dangerous. It was only a month or so, far from enough imo.

What is your sponge filter exactly ?

For a 15 gallons you still need something that is pretty serious, and an air pump that is at least rated for your tank size. It's very easy to under power them. And once "used" the filter need more power to remain at same effectiveness.

How did you rinse the sponge ? When the filter are clogged part of the bacteria wash off with debris, habitually It's not a concern and the colony bounce back quick enough not to have dangerous spikes.

If even the PH has not moved, I have no idea how a 15% water change could have such dramatic negative effect. Even if the basic chemistry of the water is off by a margin.

What could have caused the crash then?

I bought an API AIR 100 pump, rater for 100L+ tanks. Got the valve for adjusting flow so not that bad. I replaced the airline tubing too.

I washed the filter in tank water, I always do that.

OH WAIT! I did feed shrimps and fish after doing the water change. I added as much I always give them. Maybe that? Weird tho but after a month or so of not doing water changes, maybe..

It's a sponge filter.. aired up by a pump.. corner one for 80L tanks

 

[Jinx_]

Sadly, yes indeed... Water changes, but you will need to do larger than 15% around 50% and more.

Your tank fallen in a "mini cycle" it should recover fast.

Habitually The nitrite converting bacteria lags a little, but the ammonia ones should be back online rapidly.

I'll do a 50% water change then, will test water tomorrow and so on.

Will my babies be ok once it's stabilised?

Ok the bacteria gotta fix their internet then

 

[MaloK]

I don't think so, but it has chances of not helped.

I think the inside part of your sponge became anaerobic and rinsing it removed the aerobic layer that was living over them.

You might want to consider adding a second sponge filter exactly like the one you have and run both at the same time and alternate sponges maintenance to help prevent colony crashes.

It's a little why I love these filters, They have 2 sponges and have biomedia housing (another good way to prevent loosing too much) with good sponge maintenance.

 

[Jinx_]

I don't think so, but it has chances of not helped.

I think the inside part of your sponge became anaerobic and rinsing it removed the aerobic layer that was living over them.

You might want to consider adding a second sponge filter exactly like the one you have and run both at the same time and alternate sponges maintenance to help prevent colony crashes.

It's a little why I love these filters, They have 2 sponges and have biomedia housing (another good way to prevent loosing too much) with good sponge maintenance.

Yeah I considered getting one of these once I am able to get stuff. Will be a while.

But then they need stronger pumps to be effective. Not a problem since I can control flow, but might strain the pump.