Disaster Please Help!

[LolaLouie]

I don't understand what is going on in my tank... This is what's happening:

Dwarf Gourami: Slightly bloated, erratic swimming, flicking (not constantly but about 3 times), darting to the surface for air around every 10 seconds.
Oto: Darting to the surface for air every minute, swimming around the whole tank whereas normally he's settled on glass or plant.
Angels: Both look quite bloated and are hanging right at the surface and not swimming
1 Neon: Very bloated (but possibly egg ladened)
Male Krib: Hiding in thick plant, hasn't come out all day

I really don't understand what is going on.

Just tested water... Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20 (30-40ppm in tap), pH 7.6-7.8, temp 26 C

This morning I fed beefheart and peas. Wilder informed me this morning that beefheart is not good but they have had it before and only the Kribs and Neons ate it.

No new fish added. Removed 6 cherry barbs and a Cockatoo Cichlid yesterday though. Also did a large water change (30%) yesterday. When i did the water change I added cold water (usually I use kettle water to warm it 1st) but they were fine yesterday and I know many people use cold water so I don't think it's that.

Any suggestions?!?

Thanks

 

[LolaLouie]

Arrggh now my new angel has a prolapse like my last one.... WILDER I NEED YOU!!! Is this a bacterial thing?!? Could the beefheart have caused it?!?

 

[LolaLouie]

 

[LolaLouie]

Sorry to keep adding... but the prolapse turned out to just be the wierdest poop i've ever seen a fish do... but he's still very bloated and they're still hanging at the surface not moving. Male krib has now come out but is just still in 1 corner, oto still darting, DG looking bloated but no longer rushing to the surface.

 

[Larissa]

How much surface agitation do you have? Has your flow reduced from your filter causing the the water to be stiller. If so, maybe they are not getting enough oxygen. (I am really bad at diagnosing problems though so sorry I can't help much.)

 

[Sofia]

My first guess would also be a lack of oxygen but I don't see why they would be bloated. Are the filters clogged? is there enough water agitation?

 

[MartinD]

Sounds like a lack of oxygen. I've had this problem before, too.

Try increasing the flow of your filter to increase surface agitation. Do you have an airstone/air pump? If not, maybe invest in one. It doesn't
have to be expensive or massively powerful, as long as you're getting plenty of oxygen into the water.

The fact that they're all heading for the surface shows they're having problems with oxygen. quick fix at the moment is to increase
surface agitation.

Do you have a planted tank?

 

[WILDER]

Sorry I couldn't be here to help but not been to good myself.

Have you tested the water with the fish darting about, laboured breathing, and other fish hiding.

If fish keep bloating up and I remember the prolapse I think I would use an internal wormer.

Check the fish over to see of they look opaque in pale in colour, any excess slime.
How often are the fish flicking.

 

[LolaLouie]

Ok so I have a Fluval 305 (designed for up to 300l) running on a 200l tank so should be enough surface agitation. I have a fairly heavily planted tank and just bought 2 more plants for it. In total I have about 12 large plants in a 50 gallon so that with the filter should supply enough oxygen right?

Water states are fine but I did a 25% water change this morning just to give them some fresh clean water.

Fed flake this morning (which normally they love) but they didn't even swim to the top when i opened the lid and they barely ate. Tomorrow is their starve day so maybe that will help.

All much less bloated this am, they were hanging at the surface but since doing the water change they are swimming as normal again, I guess that does mean something wrong with the water quality. I just don't know what. Will have to see how they are this evening.

I dont think the prolapse was a prolapse, I think i'm just overly paranoid after my last angel!!

Fish seem fine in every way. Could it be that at lights out all those plants are causing too much CO2?

Maybe I do need to invest in an air pump?

Thanks for your help!

Oh and Wilder can't seem to find wormers anywhere... can you get them in the uk??

 

[WILDER]

If there not hanging near the surface now you have done a water change it sounds like bad water quality.
The beef heart could of made the water quality bad, how long was it in before the fish ate it.

To be honest it wouldn't do any harm to worm them anyway.
http/www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/php/detail62_45492.php

 

[LolaLouie]

Beefheart was in half a day, I should of removed the left overs but I had a busy day yesterday and they did eat most of it.

Is that wormer ok for any fish? Do you just put it in the tank like normal meds or do you have to feed it?

Thanks

 

[WILDER]

Half aday enough to send the ammonia and nitrite readings up.
Never leave uneaten food in the tank, veg different aday.

Yes the meds goes into the tank water, not food.

 

[LolaLouie]

Reading were fine which was my confusion

Anyway beefheart is gone never to be fed again so thank you for that. Also bought the wormers so thanks again for that.

Always helpful

 

[WILDER]

Good luck.