My Platies Dying

[Loobie]

Hi

Need some advice as I think I know why it is dying. It's fins are clamped and it's sat on the bottom of the tank, looking very sad. The other two are fine and seem to be swimming fine.

My ammonia is 1 and Nitrite is 0.5 so I know they are being poisoned, I did a 20% water change sat and put in some safe guard and safe water. I'm a bit confused as the instructions said 1 pippet for 9litres of water, is that of the overall tank or just the water you are putting in???

I'm thinking of doing a 30% water change this morning, should I do smaller ones and often or larger one every other day?

Any advice would be gratefully received as I don't want the little things to die!!!

 

[WILDER]

Carry on with the water changes small ones are best, as clamped fins are a sign of stress, how many gallons is your tank, as i piplette to 9 litres say your tank is a 10gal then you would add so many piplette to your tank litres.

 

[Loobie]

Hi

It's a 30 litre Biorb I did a small water change this morning and put in some Safe Water and Safe Guard and did double the amount of the Yakulty one (friendly bacteria!) It put in the amount for the overall litre of the tank (30litres!)

The fish (Chloe) has ventured from the bottom of the tank but is still swimming in a vertical position with it's top and bottom fin clamped. I've done another reading from the tank and the ammonia doesn't seem to have droppedsince this morning, it's still at 1 and the Nitrite is between 0.25 and 0.50. Am I testing too early does the friendly bacteria have to filter through?

 

[WILDER]

Your ammonia rises, then your nitrites will raise which turn into nitrates, look at the cycling pinned topics on the forum.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showforum=58

 

[Loobie]

I've read the articles thanks......

So basically small water changes and often. By doing the water changes tho should my reading reduce immediately or does the bacteria have to filter through.

I don't want to be putting this fishy through unnecessary torcher, don't like seeing it sad

I think I'll see if it survives the night and do another water change tomorrow.

 

[WILDER]

Keep checking stats and watch the fish, small water changes or it will take forever for the tank to cycle, good luck.

 

[Loobie]

Had a fish fatality this morning, (the one that was swimming on vertically with her fins clamped.) I scooped her out this morning, but was unsure how long it had been in that state.

I checked my water this morning and ammonia was still at 1 and nitrites at 0.50, I keep doing the water changes and nothing seems to be happening. I phoned the lfs and he recommended ammo lock? I've put some of that in and the lfs said it should work immediately, I've checked my water just now and nothing seems to have changed.

I'm really worried that the other two are going to go the same way, they seem a little lathargic. How long can they go on living in such toxic water?

 

[WILDER]

Sorry R.I.P. There are no guarantees that a fish will make it through a cycling of a tank as it takes it toll on them, what fish do you have in the tank as salt will help them if you have no scaless fish in the tank.

 

[Loobie]

Hi

I've got 2 other platys. Have you used ammo lock, does it really work that fast? I think it's too good to be true, otherwise everyone would just use that, surely!!

 

[WILDER]

Never used ammo lock so can't comment on it, but i would add the salt, one tablespoon to every 5gal, but add it gradually rather than one big dose, good luck.

 

[Loobie]

Hi

Thanks for the advice, just wanted to check, is it ok to add salt if it's a tropical tank? That probably sounds so stupid but just thought I'd check. What will the salt do? (Just so I know for future)

 

[WILDER]

If you only have livebearers in the tank it's fine to add the salt, good luck.