New Fish Tank Emergency

[AndyX]

On Monday I setup a new tropical fish tank. I added a new filter and heater which has been running since Monday. When adding my fresh clean tap water I used AquaPlus to treat the water. The heater is set to 25C.

Yesterday, as the tank seemed ok I added 6 new fish. Today 5 of the fish are swimming with their head touching the water surface and 1 fish swimming upside down at the bottom. I have noticed there is a oil on the water surface. This was not there yesterday before adding the new fish.

I have read up on the internet and it suggests using a paper towel to remove the oil. I have done this several times which has removed most of the oil but a small amount remains. I have not used any air sprays and always washed my hands before putting my hands into the water.

Why are the fish swimming on the surface?
What is the oil layer and how do I remove it?

What other advice do I need?

 

[juggernuts]

the fish are at the top after oxygen, this is likely due to no aeration in the tank plus the likelyhood of a ammonia spike is very high!


Seen as you already have fish in, i would suggest doing about a 40% water change, and if you can angle the filter so it is disturbing the top of the water, by this make sure it is definatly making bubbles by splashing back into the water. It may not sound the best but needs to be done as this is why your fish are at the top.

The chances are also the stats of the water have caused probably the most vulnerable fish to contract what sounds like swim bladder, which can be treated with anti swim bladder from any LFS (Pet shop) and follow the instructions carefully.

So as i said, do a 40% water change asap and get your filter aerating the water, and i would do a 20% water change each day if possible if not about 30% every other day.

Best of luck, sure someone with more detail should help on this!

 

[AndyX]

Thanks for the advice.

Since posting I now have two fish down with 1 more on its way. The 3 remaining fish are swimming on the surface. The filter is already blowing air directly into the water.

Is it possible to take the fish out of the current water and put them into new fresh water?

 

[SensesFail]

Thanks for the advice.

Since posting I now have two fish down with 1 more on its way. The 3 remaining fish are swimming on the surface. The filter is already blowing air directly into the water.

Is it possible to take the fish out of the current water and put them into new fresh water?

As long as the water is the correct temp and you have treated the water with aqua safe etc shouldn't be a problem. Is it another tank or bucket? If it's not a tank just make sure it's clean and it's had no soaps or chemicals used in it. Best off being a brand new bucket etc. You will need filtration ideally unless it's just for a short period.

 

[fluttermoth]

Hi Andy,

First of all, welcome to the forum and I'm sorry for your losses

Your problem is; fish produce ammonia, which is poisonous. In a well established tank, there are bacteria living in the filter which process this, first into nitrite (which is less toxic than ammonia, but still poisonous) and finally into nitrate, which is only dangerous to fish at high levels and which we get rid of through water changes.

As your filter doesn't have any of the good bacteria, you will have to remove this your self with water changes, every day for the next feew weeks.

Syphon the water out, getting any uneaten food or fish poo out of the gravel at the same time, and refill with warm, dechlorinated water. Make sure you switch your filter and heater off so they don't run dry, and you can take out as much water as you like, so long as you leave enough for the fish to swim in; an inch or two is plenty for the short time they'll be there until you refill.

The oil layer is just oil from the fish food and is nothing to worry about; if your filter is moving the water surface enough (which it sounds like it is)

Hope this helps.

 

[AndyX]

With being a new setup I am quite limited to equipment and tools. I have been out to buy two buckets and have managed drain the oily water down to about 2 inches and replaced it with new clean water. The new water has been treated with Aqua Plus and Cycle.

The fish still remain at the top of the water, is this normal?

 

[fluttermoth]

Oh...gosh; I haven't asked what kind of fish they are

Some fish, like danios and gouramis do spend most of their time at the top.

Oh, and very well done on the big water change. It's absolutely the best thing you can do for your fishes health

 

[AndyX]

They are Black Mollys.

Little bubbles are forming all over the tank, on the filter, heater, plants, gravel, and glass. Does this mean the water is well oxygenated and the fish should be ok?

 

[fluttermoth]

No, the bubbles don't indicate anything, but as long as your filter is giving some good surface movement there's really no need to worry about oxygen levels.

Mollies do normally swim near the suface; as long as they look happy and aren't gasping it's not a problem. Keep up the water changes (50% a day) and hopefully the fish will be fine.

How is the fish that was upside down doing? Hope it's looking better.

 

[AndyX]

My tank...

You can see the water movement from the filter and the black fish at the top.

Down to just 4 fish

 

[fluttermoth]

Nice looking tank; I hate to be the bearer of more bad news, but those plants aren't aquatic; you should take them out as they will only die off and pollute your tank.

Sorry!

 

[AndyX]

You suprise me because they were purchased from a Fish Specialist.

Do you know what they are?
Are they not ok to stay in?

 

[fluttermoth]

I'm afraid a lot of plants sold for tanks are not truly aquatic

They're a kind of Dracaena (there are a few different species, I can't tell which one!)

You could leave them in, but they will start to die off and rot fairly soon and as your tank is new, you really don't want the extra problems that rotting plants would give you! They'll make lovely house plants though...

 

[AndyX]

Ok thanks.

I'll report back tomorrow when I know more.

 

[AndyX]

Only three fish left now so I took a small water sample into a local fish shop for testing. Turns out the pH level was far too high which apparently is why the fish are at the top. I purchased a pH testing kit and took a reading at home, the reading looks to be between 8.5 and 9.0.

I have purchased this "API Proper pH7.0" to bring it down.
http/www.aquariumpharm.co.uk/Products/TechSheet.aspx?TechSheetID=58

I don't know how long it takes to work but I was told to add a little amount spaced throughout the day until it reaches 7.0.