Is This Swim Bladder?

[Musahi]

Hi there. I don't know what's going on. I've had my tropical tank for about 5 months, the fish have all been very happy and colourful. Yesterday my filter (Eheim Pickup 2008) packed in, so I had to rush out to buy a new one. I got a Fluval U2. Anyway, today when I woke up, they were all fine. I fed them their usual morning feed which is Tetra Mini. They all ate, seemed happy...but then a few hours later all my tiger barbs (3 tigers, 3 green) started floating upside down, on their side, gasping for air. They didn't look fat/swollen, their colours were bright, I can't see red gills, white spot, dusting marks, velvet...nothing! Just they started doing this. 4 have died, there's only a tiger and green left. But the tiger is now doing the same. And I think the green will follow shortly. My other fish all seem happy and healthy. My Odessa Barbs are swimming around happy and all bright, my Neons are fine, my Mollies are fine and my Pleco is fine. I did a water change in case it was a water quality problem. Sorry, I don't have any water quality tests at the moment, I find them too expensive. But does anyone have any idea what is going on? Could the new filter have done this? What is actually wrong with them???

Thanks!

 

[bristlenoseitplecoman]

you needed to cycle your new filter or you could have put in your old filter media. the smar happend to my tetras when I didn't cycle. ( I didn't know the first thing about fish). THis means you probably have high ammonia and later it will be high nitrite.

 

[Musahi]

How do you cycle a filter? My old filter media wouldn't fit in the new filter as they're different filters completely.

 

[bristlenoseitplecoman]

when cycling a filter you have no fish in the tank. you need to let bacteria establish in the filter to get rid of ammonia and nitrite. you actually need to add ammonia at first for the bacteria. ammonia is toxic and so is nitrite. you need to let your tank cycle for a month at least. 6 weeks is safer. I didn't know about cycling at first either and all my fish died except for my bristlenose pleco. My friend did the same thing even though I told him about cycling and he has only lost half his fish. some people are lucky and only lose a few fish. I hope you are one of the lucky ones. let the tank go through its stages for the next few weeks and don't add any new fish. the current living ones will provide enough poo that will create ammonia for the bacteria.

 

[Musahi]

Ok, I understand that, but my tank was established (cycled) and I had to get a new filter because mine broke down. I already had fish in there. I don't have another tank to put them in. So what are you supposed to do in a cycled tank when you need to put a new filter in? I've just added a dose of filter start, maybe that'll help.
I would have thought there'd be enough established bacteria in the gravel, plants, ornaments etc already...

 

[bristlenoseitplecoman]

I know it was established but a new filter will mean new bacteria needed because the bacteria do not live in the water, they only can live in the filter and when you changed the filter it needed to recycle. It may take less time to cycle but your tank is no longer established for a few months now.

 

[Musahi]

Ok, I understand. Is there anything I can do to help in the meantime? Obviously I don't want to put ammonia in the tank because I have other happy fish in there. I have done a 50% water change and I have just added filter start. Maybe I shouldn't feed them for a few days or something?

 

[Musahi]

Also, I don't understand if this is the case, why it's only affected the tiger barbs?

 

[bristlenoseitplecoman]

you don't have to add ammonia because your fishs poop will create enough for the bacteria. tiger barbs are just very temperate and need everything to be perfect. don't worry and just keep doing things normally and it will go back to normal.

 

[Musahi]

Ok. Thank you so much for your help. Appreciate it!

 

[fluttermoth]

How do you cycle a filter? My old filter media wouldn't fit in the new filter as they're different filters completely.

There's always a way of getting old media into new filters, even if it means cutting it up.

You're now in a fish-in cycle and need to get yourself some test kits (the liquid or tablet ones, with a test tube, NOT dip strips) for ammonia and nitrite. Test every day, and if either ammonia or nitrite reads above zero, do a large water change (warm, dechlorinated water); you may need to do 80 or 90% or multiple changes to reduce the levels back to zero.

In the meantime, 50% water changes daily should keep your fish safe until you get sorted with test kits, but any sign of unusual behaviour or distress in the fish and you'll have to do another one.

I don't sauppose there's any chance that you still have the old filter, with the media still wet in it, is there?