Ammonia Or Nitrite Poisoning!?

[Geoff1991]

2 Mollys were used for a fish-in cycle (not my fault)

All of a sudden they just wont move from behind the filter.

They either float at the top But, when the lights are on they hide behind the plants at the bottom.

They're fins aren't clamped but their dorsal fins are down.

My water stats are

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20
pH 7.6

 

[WILDER]

How many gallons or lites is the tank.
How many fish and which type.

A cycle takes it toll on fish as it burns there skin and gills, and the blood dosn't flow well through the blood vessels. The stress weakens there immune system.\
How long did the cycle take.
Any excess mucas on the fish body or gills.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing.
Do the fish look pale or darker in colour.
Any the fish resting on things in the tank.

 

[Geoff1991]

Id answer that, but i got impatient, bagged them up and took them to my LFS. The manager confirmed that it was nitrite poisoning and said i shouldve done a fishless cycle. I then explained it was his staff that advised me to buy fish.

He then gave me two options

Try to sort it out myself.

Or straight swap for 3 new mollys. And he'd put them in his quarantine tank

I chose the swap as i just didnt know what to do...

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
So the mollies are now at the lfs in a quarantine tank.

 

[Geoff1991]

Yeah. My tank has jsut finished cycling and ive got 3 new mollys that are less likely to have been subjected to high levels of ammonia and nitrite.

Im kinda happy because of this, but also... I liked those mollys

 

[WILDER]

Lfs should encourage a fishless cycle as it takes it's toll on them. It's awful watching them suffer.

 

[Geoff1991]

Yeah. I had to take them in. It was upsetting sitting here refreshing the page while they were lifeless occasionally gasping for air...

Thats the shortened down story... i posted the full story in tropical discussion if you want to take a look