Stumped as to problem (resolved)

[HoldenOn]

clap clap

What does that mean? He tried to get some of the most knowledgable people on this forum in on the subject.

I am wondering if the plastic is leaching into the water.

We already talked about this. A lot. Before smashing on other people check your own reply.

 

[corylover5]

clap clap

Huh?

 

[CassCats]

I removed as much of the coral as I could by hand, the rest will be removed via siphon, but observing the fish still. If by chance it is a pH issue or GH issue, I also don't wanna remove it all at once to cause the same issue in reverse.

Ive got them some sand, but I gotta get the coral out first before I add it in.

But fish seem active during the day, only the one guppy is still inactive. But still I'm seeing decent improvements at least.

 

[mellen]

Okay, so 5 days ago suddenly all my fish in one tank immediately sat on the bottom not moving. Just laying down not moving, not even for feeding time.

Tank size: 50 gallons
Stock: 2 baby goldfish, 3 guppies, 1 platy, 1 apple snail, couple of nerite snails and ramshorn snails.

1) I tested my water and did an immediate 90% water change.
Water results:
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20
GH 180
KH 40
pH 8
Before the water change.

Still, no change in behavior.

2) I thought maybe they were too cold. I got them a heater and the tank increased to 74F. Waited another day. No difference in behavior.

3) couple of the guppies are showing red around the eye socket and one showing slight pop eye. Given the absence of ammonia and such, I dont think its a water quality issue.
I dosed aquarium salt, 3 tablespoons for the tank. The fish are freaking out now about the salt, swimming frantically and shaking their heads and flashing as soon as I dosed the salt.


I really don't know whats going on at all.


I have the following medicines on hand, but I'd rather only use them if absolutely needed, because meds aren't easy to get ahold of so what little I have is immensely valuable.

Malachite green + acriflavine (acriflavine is an antibacterial agent)
Plain Malachite green
Melafix
Pimafix
Neomycin+meth blue+Malachite green combo, but such a small small amount.
Flubendozole

For the first time I tried a salt bath with one of my fish that was definitely stressed. He is 95% better and I now can go to bed not being afraid he will be die during the night! It was scary, but as a retired ICU nurse, I felt I could closely monitor my little friend for 30 minutes!

 

[Designer14]

Okay, so 5 days ago suddenly all my fish in one tank immediately sat on the bottom not moving. Just laying down not moving, not even for feeding time.

Tank size: 50 gallons
Stock: 2 baby goldfish, 3 guppies, 1 platy, 1 apple snail, couple of nerite snails and ramshorn snails.

1) I tested my water and did an immediate 90% water change.
Water results:
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20
GH 180
KH 40
pH 8
Before the water change.

Still, no change in behavior.

2) I thought maybe they were too cold. I got them a heater and the tank increased to 74F. Waited another day. No difference in behavior.

3) couple of the guppies are showing red around the eye socket and one showing slight pop eye. Given the absence of ammonia and such, I dont think its a water quality issue.
I dosed aquarium salt, 3 tablespoons for the tank. The fish are freaking out now about the salt, swimming frantically and shaking their heads and flashing as soon as I dosed the salt.


I really don't know whats going on at all.


I have the following medicines on hand, but I'd rather only use them if absolutely needed, because meds aren't easy to get ahold of so what little I have is immensely valuable.

Malachite green + acriflavine (acriflavine is an antibacterial agent)
Plain Malachite green
Melafix
Pimafix
Neomycin+meth blue+Malachite green combo, but such a small small amount.
Flubendozole

Do you have a bubbler to add more oxygen. Are they swimming at all? I am wondering if the snail brought any bacteria into the tank. I have a Angle Fish that has pop eye in both eyes, but she is acting normal. Unless they die, I would keep trying what is suggested. Good Luck. Stay safe!

 

[CassCats]

The apple snail has been with them since the start no issues and had been with other fish even before.

And yes I had a bubbler going in the tote pond too.

 

[Designer14]

The apple snail has been with them since the start no issues and had been with other fish even before.

And yes I had a bubbler going in the tote pond too.

I think we all are stumped. Keep us updated.

 

[Craycray]

Can I ask why you have goldfish in with tropical fish? Their needs are so different. Idk if that has anything to do with but the variety of things in this tank has a variety of needs. Goldfish tolerate cooler water easily but not tropical fish.
sounds like something big is going on here. When my fish are less active it’s because the water is too cold. Staying close to the bottom is a clue but I’m not experienced enough to diagnose it.

 

[FishGuest5123]

What does that mean? He tried to get some of the most knowledgable people on this forum in on the subject.

We already talked about this. A lot. Before smashing on other people check your own reply.

No rudeness. Respect other members!

 

[FishGuest5123]

The goldies wouldn’t be affected by the colder water. I notice in pics that some fish were gasping. Do you have an air stone? Sorry, I haven’t been on as much last few days. Sterlite should be fine. Goldies shouldn’t be in with guppies and platy’s.

 

[FishGuest5123]

From Living Reefs...

peaking as a chemist who interned in a water testing lab while he was in college many, many, many, many moons ago...

Both food grade and non food grade plastics will leach chemicals into the water. There is absolutely no way to stop this. Water soluble or not, everything has an exceptionally limited water solubility and it will eventually leach from the container into the water the container holds. This process will take a few months.

Can you test for this at home? Absolutely not. There is no way to test for a plethora of plasticizers by a simply titration or any other colorametric test. For this you need highly sophisticated analytical equipment on the order of $30,000 (gc/fid) to $400,000 (gc/ms, gc/ms/ms, lc/ms, or lc/ms/ms). Plus the chemicals and gasses required to run the analytical instrumentation. So you see, it's a little cost prohibitive

What to do? Buy cheap 2.5 gallon or 5 gallon plastic containers and replace them about every three months.

However, the question that still needs to be asked is are the plasticizers that leach into the water toxic to fish? Well, everything, even water, is toxic at high enough levels (if a hooman drinks enough water, we will throw our electrolytic balance off and die --- no joke).

So, the question then becomes, are the plasticizers soluble enough in water to become toxic to fish, inverts, and/or coral? Unfortunately, for that I do not have an answer...

Last edited: Jul 6, 2013

 

[CassCats]

Can I ask why you have goldfish in with tropical fish? Their needs are so different. Idk if that has anything to do with but the variety of things in this tank has a variety of needs. Goldfish tolerate cooler water easily but not tropical fish.
sounds like something big is going on here. When my fish are less active it’s because the water is too cold. Staying close to the bottom is a clue but I’m not experienced enough to diagnose it.

Check Seriouslyfish on the guppies and platies, they share a temperature range with goldfish and are commonly used as pond fish in some areas

The goldies wouldn’t be affected by the colder water. I notice in pics that some fish were gasping. Do you have an air stone? Sorry, I haven’t been on as much last few days. Sterlite should be fine. Goldies shouldn’t be in with guppies and platy’s.

Yes there was an airstone. Which photos posted? I haven't seen any gasping, but some photos show them begging for food or eating which is when they're most active. Last couple of days they've been more active than not and its in the evening they go to lay down more.

I know you advised against the guppies, but I tried it out and removed any individual who stirred trouble and kept the ones who get along well.
And Seriouslyfish does state their temperature ranges can dip into the 60s for the guppies and platies.

 

[Lajos_Detari]

Usually when many fish are affected at the same time, it should be some serious chemical/ toxic, etc.

But the difficulty is in finding which object/item that bring in the chemical/toxic in such a short period.

If the fish are gasping, then something could have suffocated them. Could be some toxic chemical.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Okay heres a far fetched thought.

My lucky bamboo.

I noticed yet again foam building up in my tank. Especially surrounding ONE of my lucky bamboo stems.

Pulled it, its black and hollow at the base. I smelled it, it smelled a bit moldy. I smelled the others, they smelled earthy-grassy.

I know lucky bamboo is supposed to be fish safe, but its toxic to cats and dogs.

Now... id have thought to see an ammonia or such type reading, but if its been rotting and enough to smell moldy, could this be my problem?


(I didn't check the bamboo when I grabbed it. Now that I'm thinking of it, my last one had a rotten stem on one too)

This seems a likely culprit, you've removed it all now, right?
Maybe it's fish safe when it's intact, but something rotting and releasing yak into the water is never going to be good, and who knows what tests have really been done on whether it's toxic to fish, you know?

I hope this has solved the mystery and that they are back to normal soon!

 

[CassCats]

This seems a likely culprit, you've removed it all now, right?
Maybe it's fish safe when it's intact, but something rotting and releasing yak into the water is never going to be good, and who knows what tests have really been done on whether it's toxic to fish, you know?

I hope this has solved the mystery and that they are back to normal soon!

They've been more and more normal since I've removed the lucky bamboo. I'm really hoping this was the problem and that its done with it now.