Low oxygen?

[M-li]

Does anyone have any cunning tricks to increase oxygen levels in a tank? I've tried everything to increase them but my fish are still gulping at the surface. I have a problem with what I think are small worms that are using the oxygen in the water. I don't know how to get rid of them either! My cory has a blister on the end of his nose aswell. If anyone can help with anything, I'd be really appriciative. I'm having a crappy day.

 

[Lateral Line]

What are your other water parameters like? Blisters are not characteristic of low O2.

 

[DrOizo]

Shouldn't this be in emergencies?? Yuo may have one already but putting in an airsoftne and pump greately increases the oxygen content of your water. Medicines also decrease the carrying capacity of your water aswell. The white worms may be due to overfeeding but I'm not sure about the blister may be fungus?

 

[guppymonkey]

Worms in the tank might be more of a problem than low oxygen in the water. Those worms (which are probably quite an eyesore and icky looking) are probably do to excess food in the tank. They are feeding on the food that the fish don't eat. I would lower the amount at feedings and try running an airpump to increase oxygen content in the water. Try to remove as many of the worms as possible.

 

[M-li]

They're really tiny though, so removing would be impossible. They are white, and less than a mm long. There are so many of them though, that the water looks cloudy from a distance. I've done a water change, and hoovered the gravel to death. All levels are fine, I had them tested today. The fish have been on a two day fast and I just gave them a small amount of food. I don't have the pump set up for an airstone and would rather not spend the money on it all if I can at all avoid it. I'm at a loss!

 

[DrOizo]

Pumps and airstones hardly cost anything and I would advise strongly at getting one. What aren't your corries eating the worms? Mine ate the worms immediatley (overfeeding worms )

 

[M-li]

I think they're too busy just trying to stay alive! They're gills are going at a right old rate and they keep doing mad dashes to the surface evry now and then. My sister has a pump and airstone for her goldfish tank, do you think it would be a bad idea to use this for now?

 

[DrOizo]

I think it should be ok. The only problem might be cross contamination but as your fish sound so ill I would do it. Make sure that the pump is higher than the aquarium so that you don't get back siphoning. Wash the stone and pipe with boiling water once you've finished with the pump and airstones as you don't want to give the goldfish anything that your fish may have