Sick Angelfish

[cruzer]

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Tank size: 55 gal
pH: 6.5
ammonia: 0 ppm
nitrite:0 ppm
nitrate: 30 ppm
kH:
gH:
tank temp: 81

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): For 2 days it had been at the top as if it was feeding then it sits on the bottom since then behind the filter pickup. If I touch it it swims normally and then goes back to the bottom.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: every 10 days vacuum gracel and 25% change with RO water. 3 emperor 280 filters

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: none

Tank inhabitants: 4 angelfish, 3 pink kissing gouramis, 2 clown loaches, 2 pygmy frogs

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):none

Exposure to chemicals: none

Digital photo (include if possible):

 

[KittyKat]

How long have you been doing water changes with RO water only? This could be causing the problem because you are removing all the salts from the water which is making it difficult for the fish to retain them in their blood.

 

[cruzer]

I have never used anything but RO in 10 years. Should I add salt?

 

[KittyKat]

Not salt in the sense of marine or table salt, but salt in the sense of minerals. The easier option is to mix in some dechlorinated tap water at water change time.
 
How long have you had the angelfish for? Have you fed any live or frozen foods recently?

 

[cruzer]

angelfish are about 2 years old. I have soft water, will that work?

 

[KittyKat]

Yes, soft water is fine. In extremely basic terms, RO water is extra soft water. Unless you plan to breed them (for which you'd need another tank anyway), even neutral water would be fine for your fish.
 
I'm not sure if this is the cause of the problem, but I wouldn't rule it out.

 

[cruzer]

Too late. He died