Help

[Rattler71]

I woke up this morning to find all of my fish at the top of the tank acting as if they are gasping for air. It is a heavily planted 55 gallon established for a about a year. Also the water got extremely cloudy overnight(grayish/white)

I recently put in a new filter( rena xp) about a month ago.

Please help!


P.S. I also just noticed that one of the fish produced eggs last night. The eggs are all over the edge of the tank. Could they be up there finding loose eggs to eat? And would that make the water cloudy?



Scott

 

[glolite]

Sounds like oxygen depletion if they're gasping at the surface. I would do a partial water change. Have you tested for ammonia and nitrites, I'm just thinking maybe the new filter has worked too well and got rid of your beneficial bacteria causing the tank to uncycle? You could get and airstone with airline to help oxygenate the water in future but definately do a water change. Hope this hlps, good luck.

 

[iggy01]

I agree with glolite, seems like your filter may have crashed .......do a water change!
Good luck!

 

[The-Wolf]

try this site
http/www.fishdoc.co.uk/disease/clinicalsigns.htm

 

[Rattler71]

I just ran the only 2 test that I have. The ammonia is 0. However the Ph which normally has been a bit high, is now very low ,almost non existent. I will get a nitrate tester today. What would the sudden drop in Ph tell you?


Scott

 

[Rattler71]

I agree with glolite, seems like your filter may have crashed .......do a water change!
Good luck!

What do you mean by the filter has crashed?

Scott

 

[The-Wolf]

he means that the bacteria in the filter have all died, making the tank start its cycle again.

 

[Joviella]

This happened to me a few years ago........It turned out to be caused by massive nitrite readings.....Luckily,with large water changes and a spare tank for some of the fish,I didn't lose any fish.
Good luck.xx.

 

[Rattler71]

Ok, I have done a partial water change. Will get a nitrate tester today. There were a lot of eggs in the tank. The fish seem to be swimming normally now.


Scott

 

[Rattler71]

Was going to do a filter carbon change today. Should I do that or wait until things have stabilized in the tank?

Scott

 

[iggy01]

Ok, I have done a partial water change. Will get a nitrate tester today. There were a lot of eggs in the tank. The fish seem to be swimming normally now.


Scott

Hi Rattler, it's a nitrite test kit you need, not nitrate. Very confusing I know! Nitrite is very harmful to fish, where nitrate is only harmful in high quantities. Keep an eye on your fish and your ammonia level too, as you may need to do frequent partial water changes.

How long has your carbon filter been in?

An interesting article on carbon in aquariums!Carbon

 

[Rattler71]

Ok, I have done a partial water change. Will get a nitrate tester today. There were a lot of eggs in the tank. The fish seem to be swimming normally now.


Scott

Hi Rattler, it's a nitrite test kit you need, not nitrate. Very confusing I know! Nitrite is very harmful to fish, where nitrate is only harmful in high quantities. Keep an eye on your fish and your ammonia level too, as you may need to do frequent partial water changes.

How long has your carbon filter been in?

An interesting article on carbon in aquariums!Carbon

The fish are back to swimming on the top again and gasping for air. I have got a nitrate and nitrite tester and am doing the test now.

The filter was installed last month with all nre filter material.


Scott

 

[toggle]

whats your results?

 

[Rattler71]

whats your results?

All the parameters were perfectly normal except for Ph which is very low.


Scott

 

[iggy01]

Rattler... how low is your PH? can you think of anything that would make your PH drop suddenly? Have you added anything new to your tank recently? Is the PH in your tap water ok?