Cycling

IovaykInD

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Hi,
I am cycling my 29 gallon tank, and there are five danios in it. It has been one day that I have had the tank and the reading for ammonia is now .25 ppm. The danios are breathing really quickly and staying on the bottom of the tank. What is wrong with them? Are they suffering the affects of ammonia poisoining?

Thanks,
Isaac
 
A level of .25 isn't deadly and usually if fish are short on oxygen, they will be near the top, not the bottom. You say that you have had the tank one day. Does that mean you have had the fish in it for 1 day but the tank has been set up longer or that you set the tank up and immediately put the fish in?

Edit: Also, did you use dechlorinator?
 
I have had the tank for a week, with every set up and running. I did this so that the chlorine and stuff can dissipate. Then, I added the fish. They are danios, and the temperature of the water is 68. They should be able to stand this correct, thats what I learned, danios can stand low temperatures. Right now, I put a gallon of hot water into the tank(hot water in a gallon milk bottle, and put the bottle into the tank, so that it won't burn them, and make a big temperature change.)

Isaac

*EDIT*
So what could be the reason they are breathing so quickly?
 
just because danios can stand cycling and cold (although no tropical fish should be kept at 68 - the acceptable range is 72-78 IMO) doesn't mean they will enjoy it....i'm sure they are stressed from the cycling issue and now you increase the temperature rapidly (you should NEVER increase the temp more than 2 degrees per day) so they are even more stressed...

is there a reason you don't have a heater for tropical fish, or are you setting up a coldwater tank ...you shouldn't always take the advice of pet store people - you really need to purchase a heater and set it at 78F....and you also should be doing daily water changes of 20% or so to reduce the ammonia levels or the danios will suffer and die

EDIT: PLEASE read this article very carefully and read it all - it will make a world of difference

http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=10099
 
I would think the temp is the problem, especially with the large change. I'm not sure but that could possibly affect the oxygen level too. Someone else can maybe verify or discount that thought. I do know that at lower temps and lower pH, ammonia takes on a non toxic form so raising the temp also could be bringing the ammonia back into play.
 
Well,
I have read plenty of times that danios can be put in coldwater aquariums, which is what I am setting up. So, I took the bottle of hot water out, luckily because of the fast replies, the temperature has not changed.

The danios do not look sick, it is just that they are breathing quickly. I've read many times that they are top dwellers, why are they on the bottom? They are swimming actively too, just that they are on the bottom. Should I be worried?

Isaac
 
well breathing fast in particular is usually not a good sign...and yes my danios are always at the top unless they are scavenging for food...maybe you should adjust the flow or your filter or something...or just give them time to settle in - they are probably still stressed from the move
 
But they weren't like this yesterday, they were swimming on top and eating the food I was giving them. Now they are just swimming on the bottom and never coming to the top.

Isaac
 
chloramine poisoning. You said you did not use dechlorinator but that you let the water sit to let the chlorine dissipate. Well this did work but the problem is that water also contains heavy metals and some contains chloramines. Dechlorinator nuetralizes both of these. Go to you lfs and buy some stress coat,(or equivalant) put it in your tank as directed and your fish should perk up.
 
Chloramine doesn't dissipate? I have water conditioner but it says it makes the water safe for bettas. Will it also work? If it will help, and its the only way, then of course I will use it. As long as chloramine doesn't dissipate and must be conditioned then it will be done in one second :D
 
chloramine does not dissipate but even if it did there are heavy metals in the water that need to be taken care of. Look at the bottle. Does it say nuetralizes chlorine chloramines and heavy metals. If so then I would say it should be ok. I have never heard of water conditioner specifivally made for bettas but it should be ok. I do not know though.
 
No, It does not say that, and It is not even enough to treat 30 gallons :lol:
I'm going out tonight to get a bottle of Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Super Strength Tap Water Conditioner. It doesn't say anything about destroying chloramine, just ammonia and chlorine. Does it?

The danios have stopped breathing quickly and are only swimming on the bottom. If I see any signs of sickness, I will ask about it, but swimming on the bottom is alright, right? This is weird because I've never heard of danios swimming on the bottom.

Isaac
 
mine do it from time to time. What does it say about ammonia. I am weary about ammonia treatments because they may hinder your cycle. If it doesn't say it nuetralizes chloramines and heavy metals then I wouldn't trust it. I'd wait for a second opinion on this though because I am not positive.
 
Well, it says that it fixes ammonia too so I'm chaning my mind and switching to NutraFin Aqua Plus Tap Water Conditioner (Petco)

Check the link, and tell me if it's good? And also, are you sure it's chloramine poisoning? If it's not, then I'm not going to buy the water conditioner for nothing. They are not breathing fast anymore.

Isaac
 
yea with that big ol hot temp change it could of taken some dissolved oxygen out of the water and the top may be to hott for them (hott water maybe hasnt settled did you stir it around)
 

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