Frustrated.. Loaches Not Doing Well.

[fshinggrl]

I changed out my water (75%) about a week ago. During this water change I took the filters out and swished them in the water to 'clean' them out a little bit. I also changed the 'rocks' in the filter as well. Winter is approaching so 'easy' water changes won't be available to me soon.. if not now. (I've been using the outside faucet brought in via hose.)
Well, on Friday night I noticed the yoyo loaches not doing so well. Flicking on rocks and not staying vertical like they should. The Zebra loaches are doing now as well. So, Saturday morning I did a 75-80% water change. The only thing I can think of is that I swished too hard and lost a lot of beneficial bacteria from the week ago water change. I just ran out of my water conditioner so doing another water change right now is out of the question. My ammonia is a little high (.50)and it seems that my test kit may be out of date. The words on the neck of the bottles of my API test kit says "lot 28B0409" I bought this kit in October/November of 2009. The Nitrate tested 0.

What can I do?

 

[walkers101]

you changed the rocks? so basically you took out all the media and changed it? bad move you now have an unseeded filter also go out and get some dechlor and do a water change

 

[fshinggrl]

There are two sets of 'filters' in the filter. One started out as blue and I just rinsed that out in old tank water. Then there are the two plastic containers that you put media into. Those are the rocks I changed out. Do they harbor good bacteria? I guess if so, I was unaware of that. There are also two biowheels on the filter as well. Those were not changed or cleaned.

 

[walkers101]

yes the "rocks" do have bactria growing on them and shouldnt be changed really

 

[fshinggrl]

yes the "rocks" do have bactria growing on them and shouldnt be changed really

Gee.. I feel bad. I did not know that.

 

[onebto]

I would suggest first you go and get some more water conditioner an absolute must and second do an 80% water change give it a couple of hours then do another 80% water change.

I would recommend you also get a new test kit ASAP.

By replacing the rocks in the filter were they like rings/hoops made of a ceramic type material?

Walkers101 is sort of correct in my humble opinion, you have in my opinion removed a large number of your beneficial bacteria but not all as they will also be on the filter sponges so what is left will help to recolonise the filter.

But until they have the only thing that is going to protect your fish from the Ammonia is you and regular large water changes so the conditioner is essential as is the test kit to help to identify when you need to do the changes.

I hope this helps and good luck

Regards onebto.

 

[fshinggrl]

onebto: Thank you so much for your very thoughtful post. I do appreciate it. I didn't know that the rocks harbor good bacteria.. I thought the water running around them took stuff off of the rocks hence them being effective. I'm putting the kids in the truck & hauling them off to the store to get some more water conditioner. Grr.. it takes me THREE Hours to do a 75% water change.

Thanks again for your thoughtful reply.

 

[walkers101]

its either water changes or lose your fish im afraid! do you have any other seeded filters in the house?

 

[onebto]

I used to change water using buckets and it took ages too

I followed the advice of some on here and got me some hose pipe and fittings and now water changes are ridiculously easy

But well done and good luck let us know how things get on.

Regards onebto

 

[fshinggrl]

its either water changes or lose your fish im afraid! do you have any other seeded filters in the house?

Yes, I know.. I made a quick (ok, three kids ain't quick to go anywhere) run to the local store and got more conditioner. Thanks! I'm trying to save them. I do have one tank with a lone fish that I could probably use for the time being... I assume you are asking me if I could put the fish in another tank for a little bit, right?

I used to change water using buckets and it took ages too

I followed the advice of some on here and got me some hose pipe and fittings and now water changes are ridiculously easy
Regards onebto

Yeah, I gotta figure out a better system, but my two 5-gallon pails sit by the tank and I fill them up with the hose water. I wish I could just spray the water directly into the tank, but need to put water conditioner in it first. It's just time consuming. And the water is cold that I am putting in, so I like to warm it up a bit. Suppose I could miss that step... right?

 

[onebto]

its either water changes or lose your fish im afraid! do you have any other seeded filters in the house?

Yes, I know.. I made a quick (ok, three kids ain't quick to go anywhere) run to the local store and got more conditioner. Thanks! I'm trying to save them. I do have one tank with a lone fish that I could probably use for the time being... I assume you are asking me if I could put the fish in another tank for a little bit, right?

I used to change water using buckets and it took ages too

I followed the advice of some on here and got me some hose pipe and fittings and now water changes are ridiculously easy
Regards onebto

Yeah, I gotta figure out a better system, but my two 5-gallon pails sit by the tank and I fill them up with the hose water. I wish I could just spray the water directly into the tank, but need to put water conditioner in it first. It's just time consuming. And the water is cold that I am putting in, so I like to warm it up a bit. Suppose I could miss that step... right?

You can!

A lot of us work out how much water we are putting in then just pipe the water in the tank then add the conditioner while the water is going in its okay for the fish, I worried about it when I first tried but honest its fine.


Regards onebto.

 

[walkers101]

no i dont mean to put the fish into the other tank i meant maybe take some media from the other filter to add to the filter you removed the noodles from 1 fish has a lot less bioload than the others

 

[fshinggrl]

no i dont mean to put the fish into the other tank i meant maybe take some media from the other filter to add to the filter you removed the noodles from 1 fish has a lot less bioload than the others

Oh good walker... I didn't do that. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[endlessendlers]

Hi. No need to change your API kit. It's still within date. The "0409" on the Lot Number indicates the month and year of manutacture. In this case April 2009. These will last for three years from manufacture date. Hope this helps in some way and hopefully saves you some money. I know this only because I recently bought one and had to ask for advice on where the use by date was!

 

[fshinggrl]

Hi. No need to change your API kit. It's still within date.

Thank you. That makes sense! I appreciate it!