Lethargic Guppy And Platy

[denismen]

Hi
 I pasted the text beolw with info but I am very worried about these 2 fish at the moment and would appreciate any help if possible.
 
Tank size:35w 45h 80l cm
pH:8-8.2
ammonia: 0-25
nitrite:0
nitrate:40-80
kH:?
gH:?
tank temp:26

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
1 platry and 1 guppy behaving lethargic and hiding away and not eating. Platy did have clamped fin [dorsal fin] last time I noticed. Guppy is sort of shaking and usually is very active. Platry has always been a bit sickly and itchy when other fish have no symptoms but this time looks more serious.
I changed 1/3 water yesterday and adsded some Easy Balance also.
Today I decided to test water and wasn’t too sure of the results.
I use a proper testing kit but I can never seem to get the ammonia to the yellow colour that indicates a zero amount in water. It always appears slightly lime green similar to the 25 measure.Nitrate was red colour and soimewhewre between 40-80.
I changed 1/3 water again tonight and cleaned the filters which were quite dirty despite cleaning the sponges weekly [every 7-10days approx].
I did think in iotially that the male platy was bullying this female and a couple of weeks ago a chunk was missing from her tail and another small notch near her dorsal fin.
I treated it successfully and her fins are fine now but she is too reclusive for normal.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: Usually weekly and between 10-30 percent

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: I had treated for Velvet disease about 2 weeks ago because the platy was scratching and swimming erratically.

Tank inhabitants: 1 Black Moor Goldfish, 1 Plec, 3 guppy [2 f and 1m], 3 platy [2 f and 1 m]

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): nothing new except some aquatic cotton wool pads in filters about a week ago. [2 filters in tank]

Exposure to chemicals: Regular Stress Zyme, Aqua Safe and Easy Balance…the last 2 I use either one or the other but not together`

Digital photo (include if possible): Video did not come out so I may need to borrow another phone/camera if u want videos or photos.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

For now I would start with a ~90% water change, which ought to drop your nitrates very close to how the tap water comes out of the tap, you may have considerably more than your test kit results suggest. I tend to periodically do a large ~75% water change (~every 6 weeks) to "freshen" up the tank water, adding 33-50% new water initially and then topping up gradually over the next 24-48 hours.
 
Cleaning the filter sponges weekly sounds rather excessive, I open up my externals every 4-6 months, my internals every couple of weeks for a gentle rinse/squeeze. Given you have at least one and possibly two messy fish (blackmoor and "plec"), you really should have a good external on this tank.
 
Still waking up here before work, but that's all I can offer right now.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

I don't think your black moor is a good mix with your other fish. The black moor alone should be in a 10 gallon tank as he is likely to grow to around 8 inches... may also be who had nipped your platy. Also, you black moor would prefer tempertures around 20-23c.

Depending what sort of pleco you have, that may grow large as well... could be your filter is over taxed and that is why you are seeing a need to clean it so frequently (assuming you are seeing brown gunk in it).

 

[denismen]

The black moor was bought by my wife when we got our first goldfish about 9 months ago and he is around 5 inches long now already...I found out too late he was wrong for the platy after we bought the platy and decided to have tropical fish but aquarium shops said it would be ok to keepthem together at 26 degrees.
I changed about 30$ water last night and treated the tank for velvet disease and today the platy and guppy that were hiding are back in the tank and not hiding.
I also noticed some spry today.
The water was quite brownish after cleaning sponges in it also so I will have to test the water more regularly for a while.
Are you familiar with the ammonia readings form test kits and the colour coding because no matter how many times I test it the colour never appears yellow as a zero indication.
The next colour at 25 is lime green and it appears the only reading OI ever get is this type of colour.
Does anyone ever achieve a yellow result?

I don't think your black moor is a good mix with your other fish. The black moor alone should be in a 10 gallon tank as he is likely to grow to around 8 inches... may also be who had nipped your platy. Also, you black moor would prefer tempertures around 20-23c.

Depending what sort of pleco you have, that may grow large as well... could be your filter is over taxed and that is why you are seeing a need to clean it so frequently (assuming you are seeing brown gunk in it).

I forgot to say the plec is also about 5 inches or so long now?

I don't think your black moor is a good mix with your other fish. The black moor alone should be in a 10 gallon tank as he is likely to grow to around 8 inches... may also be who had nipped your platy. Also, you black moor would prefer tempertures around 20-23c.

Depending what sort of pleco you have, that may grow large as well... could be your filter is over taxed and that is why you are seeing a need to clean it so frequently (assuming you are seeing brown gunk in it).

After a 30% water change last night and a velvet disease treatment the platy and guppy that werte hiding seem to be coming around so I can only keep testing and changing water as it appears to me so thanks.
I never heard of anyone doing a 90% water change?
I heard the London water has high nitrate levels also so I filtered the water I used last night after it had been standing in bottles for several days already.
Can you clarify what you mean by externals and internals.
Maybe I am also squeezing the sponges too much when cleaning and wasting the good bacteria?
What do you think?
I have been told by my brother that he only cleans his sponges evert 2-3 weeks and he has been keeping fish for over 20 years now but when I get bad readings that confuse me I can only think of doing water changes and maybe I have been too frequent with water changes and cleaning sponges.
What do you think?

For now I would start with a ~90% water change, which ought to drop your nitrates very close to how the tap water comes out of the tap, you may have considerably more than your test kit results suggest. I tend to periodically do a large ~75% water change (~every 6 weeks) to "freshen" up the tank water, adding 33-50% new water initially and then topping up gradually over the next 24-48 hours.
 
Cleaning the filter sponges weekly sounds rather excessive, I open up my externals every 4-6 months, my internals every couple of weeks for a gentle rinse/squeeze. Given you have at least one and possibly two messy fish (blackmoor and "plec"), you really should have a good external on this tank.
 
Still waking up here before work, but that's all I can offer right now.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Just checking as I am a bit unsure by your description... when squeezing sponges in old tank water... you are placing the sponge in a bowl of old tank water, not in the tank, right?

Reading of nitrite and ammonia mean that your filter isn't coping with the amount of ammonia your fish are producing. The process of your filter adjusting is called cycling. Since you have fish in your tank and you've been cleaning your sponges in tank water, it means your filter sponges aren't cycled. When you get any readings of ammonia and nitrite you need to change water to remove it. You are doing the right thing in that respect. With fish in the tank, this process can take a long time (several weeks, maybe up to a couple of months). This is why regular water testing with your kit is important as you need to make sure to know when you need to do those tests.

Is your tank thereabouts 30 gallons in size? I don't know much about plecos or if they are compatible in the same water parameters as your goldfish... if they are... you might want to consider getting a 10 gallon tank and cycling that for your guppies and platies. Long term, it doesn't sound like you have a good mix of fish.

Another option is choosing the type of fish you want to keep (cold water or tropical) and re-homing or returning the others to the shop.

Internal filters are the sort that hang inside your tank... external filters either hang on the outside or are often bellow the tank and connected via pipes.

 

[denismen]

I take about 5-6 litres of tank water in a bucket and clean filters and sponges there and if I need to clean other tank stuff I dump that water and take another 5 litres in bucket from tank and clean whatever else might need it.
I have 2 internal filters capable of dealing with about 150 litres of water and have about 100 litres in tank capable of holding 120 litres....taking into account tank fittings and fixtures, pepples etc I would say I have about 100 litres in tank, and I work that out by seeing how much I change when changing water...about 1/3 of tank is roughly less than 35 litres.
So I have about 22 gallons in tank.
I think the blackmoor is responsible for high ammonia level as he is constantly scavenging and passing waste...he probably shits more than all the other fish combined, but my wife adores him and wont get rid of him or the plec.
My fish seem much better now after the 2 water changes so I will keep my eye on things.
Tnx 4 ur hlp

Just checking as I am a bit unsure by your description... when squeezing sponges in old tank water... you are placing the sponge in a bowl of old tank water, not in the tank, right?

Reading of nitrite and ammonia mean that your filter isn't coping with the amount of ammonia your fish are producing. The process of your filter adjusting is called cycling. Since you have fish in your tank and you've been cleaning your sponges in tank water, it means your filter sponges aren't cycled. When you get any readings of ammonia and nitrite you need to change water to remove it. You are doing the right thing in that respect. With fish in the tank, this process can take a long time (several weeks, maybe up to a couple of months). This is why regular water testing with your kit is important as you need to make sure to know when you need to do those tests.

Is your tank thereabouts 30 gallons in size? I don't know much about plecos or if they are compatible in the same water parameters as your goldfish... if they are... you might want to consider getting a 10 gallon tank and cycling that for your guppies and platies. Long term, it doesn't sound like you have a good mix of fish.

Another option is choosing the type of fish you want to keep (cold water or tropical) and re-homing or returning the others to the shop.

Internal filters are the sort that hang inside your tank... external filters either hang on the outside or are often bellow the tank and connected via pipes.

 

[gforce17]

Yes, you'll get a 0 or near 0 ammonia reading when your water is being cleaned effectively through your management of filtration. If you've got fish who produce lots of waste your filter won't be able to cope with the ammonia levels. Without trying to sound big headed my tanks all show 0 ammonia and nitrite readings - if they don't I get very concerned about the welfare of my fish.You would benefit by using an external filter which will be much more efficient at dealing with the waste products. They are more expensive but worth the investment. Good luck.
 
Here's a link to externals:
 
external filters for aquariums