Ill Gourami

[max1]

I just did a major overhaul on my 10G tank and started to re-cycle it yesterday. I'm cycling the traditional method(due to events and past experiences). Pease do not try and change my mind yet.

I introduced a dwarf gourami to tank Saturday night and yesterday night he started showing signs of stress. He seems to be lethargic although he keeps returning to the surface to breathe. When on the bottom he is breathing quite rapidly. The tank was quite bare still, so I added a large piece of driftwood. When I woke up this morning he was resting on the top of the driftwood right under the water level. From there he went to rest on the top of my filter which is alsojust beneath the water surface. My guess is he is doing this to be able to breathe easier.

To me this sounds like a reaction to ammonia, but so soon? When I get home from school I will do a water change.

NO2 : 0
NO3 : 15 mg/l
ph : 7.4
I use a test strip that only tests NO2,NO3,GH,KH,ph. I will obviously purchase an ammonia test kit shortly.

What do you think?

 

[Spooky76]

Firstly the test strips are crap, they wont show low ammonia levels or Nitrites. Could easily be ammonia poisoning.

You have N03 readings.....you have already had Ammonia and Nitrite readings if that is a new tank / filter.

Personally I would get a liquid based test set. Without it you wont have a clue when you need to change your water. I would do a 25% - 30% water change and then re-test the water. Is it being aerated enough ?

When fish lay on objects like that its not usually good, they normally end up dying, but I hope not.

I would add some filter start (API stress syme), get a water change done, and get a liquid test kit, it last for 100's of tests and will actually give you some useful indications.

 

[max1]

I just got home from school to find the gourami dead.

R.I.P.

 

[WILDER]

R.I.P.

 

[rowdyburns21]

I know you said you aint gonna change our mind about fishless cycling (this little thread shows why you should) but if you are gonna cycle with fish at least use a platy or zebra danio, gouramis are no good to cycle tanks.

 

[Spooky76]

Very true. Also gouramis are very susceptable to bacterial infections at the moment, if im not mistaken there is some desease killing alot of them at the moment, so probably a bad choice of fish to use too.

By the way - this whole fishless cycling is incredibly easy, I didnt used to do it, but did it with my breeding tank and its fantastic. Because usually theres no fish in it until ones ill or something, then of course I start a cycle in a tank that has an ill fish in it, not good. This way I keep the tank cycled without fish

Give it a go

 

[max1]

Yeah, this experience finally convinced me. When I first cycled my tank I looked for help on another forum where the majority of the members cycled with fish. That's how I was told to do it. I lost so many fish, it was so depressing. I just thought that fishless cycling was alot more trouble; or so it seemed to me.

The first thing I'll do is purchase a proper test kit. Then I think I'll just do a 100% water change just to be extra careful in case there was anything toxic other than NH3 in the water. Then I'll refill and do the ammonia fishless cycle doing the add&wait method. Hope all goes well.

I'll probably start a new post to keep my water paremeters posted just to make sure I do things right!

Thx for your replies.

 

[Spooky76]

Sounds like you know what your doing
If you need any help just post away.
Good luck