My Oscar fish are all lying at the bottom of the tank and they have went pale. I have done a water change and test is showing 1 in nitrites which I don’t understand as just cleaned the full tank out . Please help me
Oscar fish lying at the bottom of the tank
- Thread starter Lyndz123
- Start date
Picture of the tank if possible. Cleaning the full tank including the filter I presume? Anything new added recently? If you can check the tap water as well just to be sure the spike hasn’t come from that.
Other members can give better advice once we have some more info
Other members can give better advice once we have some more info
In post #1 you say nitrite but in post #4 you say nitrate. Which is it that's at 1 ppm? Nitrate at 1 ppm is pretty good; nitrite at 1 ppm is bad.
What is the ammonia reading in the tank?
Changing all the filter media at the same time is not a good idea as removing the media means removing the filter bacteria. If the tank has a lot of live plants it is possible to get away with doing this, but in many cases changing all the filter media results in a mini cycle with both ammonia and nitrite showing up.
To help us help you, can you tell us please -
How big is the tank?
What fish are in there in total? You mention oscars but how many and any other fish?
How often do you do water changes, and how much do you change each time?
What filter(s) are used, and how much of the media did you change this time?
Did the ocscars start lying on the tank bottom before or after the water change? I've heard of oscars sulking after water changes and things being changed in their tanks.
What is the ammonia reading in the tank?
Changing all the filter media at the same time is not a good idea as removing the media means removing the filter bacteria. If the tank has a lot of live plants it is possible to get away with doing this, but in many cases changing all the filter media results in a mini cycle with both ammonia and nitrite showing up.
To help us help you, can you tell us please -
How big is the tank?
What fish are in there in total? You mention oscars but how many and any other fish?
How often do you do water changes, and how much do you change each time?
What filter(s) are used, and how much of the media did you change this time?
Did the ocscars start lying on the tank bottom before or after the water change? I've heard of oscars sulking after water changes and things being changed in their tanks.
You probably have an ammonia reading due to replacing the filter media/ materials.
Do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a couple of weeks. Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.
Established biological filters should be cleaned at least once a month. You squeeze out the filter media in bucket of aquarium water and re-use the media. The bucket of dirty water gets poured on the lawn or garden outside. However, if the filter is less than 6 weeks old (and yours will be because you just changed them), do not clean the filter until it has established (around 6-8 weeks).
Reduce feeding to a couple of times a week for the next few weeks. When there is 0ppm ammonia and nitrite for a week, you can increase feeding to every second day for a few weeks then up it to once a day from then on.
Do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a couple of weeks. Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.
Established biological filters should be cleaned at least once a month. You squeeze out the filter media in bucket of aquarium water and re-use the media. The bucket of dirty water gets poured on the lawn or garden outside. However, if the filter is less than 6 weeks old (and yours will be because you just changed them), do not clean the filter until it has established (around 6-8 weeks).
Reduce feeding to a couple of times a week for the next few weeks. When there is 0ppm ammonia and nitrite for a week, you can increase feeding to every second day for a few weeks then up it to once a day from then on.
Hi, nitrites this should say! Predictive texting ! They 2 large Oscar’s in a 600l tank with only 2 plants in there. I have had these fish for months and this happened before the water change. After the water change I added gravel and 2 plants to soak th
This is a 600l tank. There is 2 Oscar’s . I have been doing water changes every week but previous to this it was every few weeks. I have a large filter aswell as 4 sponge filters with air stones & a carbon filter. They are 2 plants. I always rinse out the carbon and sponge filters and the big main filter is change every month. Yes the Oscar’s were lying at the bottom before the water change. I have changed the water again & they are still the same . Are my fish dying ? I can’t get my head around this and I don’t want to lose them. What can I do? I have tried water conditioner and stress coat and no change
What is the ammonia level in the tank water?
If you don't have a test kit for it, take a glass full of tank water to a pet shop and ask them to test it for you. Write the results down at the time. If they say the water is fine, ask them for the results in numbers.
The fish is covered in excess mucous (cream coloured film over its body and fins). This is caused by something in the water irritating the fish. Do a 75% water change to dilute whatever is in the water.
If you don't have a test kit for it, take a glass full of tank water to a pet shop and ask them to test it for you. Write the results down at the time. If they say the water is fine, ask them for the results in numbers.
The fish is covered in excess mucous (cream coloured film over its body and fins). This is caused by something in the water irritating the fish. Do a 75% water change to dilute whatever is in the water.
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