Please Help. No Ones Answered From This Morning And Fish Worse!
- Thread starter fergiesek
- Start date
Its me again! Sorry to be a pest but I have more questions and would like you guys opinion as I am completely confused after talking to the aquarium shop I go to?!!!!!!!!! b This is quite long so I apologise in advance 
My other poor wee gold gourami died this morning. ( RIP) Mouth was white and last night she was swimming and eating but I noticed her left fin had a small white line and she seemed to be clamping it to her side and not using it. Was going this morning to get that hospital tank too
I phoned the shop and said the 2 gouramis I got last week had both died ( all my other fish seem fine and 2 otocinclus and 2 cory cats I got last week fine)
As well as them I have 2 blue gourami's, 5 serpa tetras, 2 black mollies and 2 dalmation mollies ( and 4 baby mollies in a nursery holder in the tank) Tank is 180 litres.
Lady said all her gouramis are fine so no prob with shop stock and asked my water stats and what decoration I had in the tank.
Water stats are ph 7.6, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 5. Have 2 rocks, resin cave, 2 plants and gravel on bottom. All washed thoroughly etc before being put in ( baby tank in also) Did have bogwood in but staining water so removed.
She said ph far too high and she's surprised my 2 blue gourami's still alive. (ph has been 7.6 since initial set up even when wood in) She concluded they must have just 'adjusted'.
I explained we do a water change - 25/30% and hoover weekly and asked if I should do maybe a 50% change this week and if I should carry on adding Melafix fror the remaining 4 days even tho my gold gouramis now gone.
She said 50% water change way too much and might make things worse, and asked if I do water change same day each week. I said we normally do on sunday. She said to test the ph of the water coming out the tap as some areas have high ph one day a week and may be high due to that? And changing the day we do the change may help? What's everyones opinion there?
She also suggested putting in wood that has a plant on it to bring the ph down ( not bogwood as I said we dont like that as it stains a water)
She also said my test kit ( API liquid and test tubes) may be faulty so to bring her a water sample? Whats the likelihood of a faulty kit?
She never answered about the Melafix and by this time I must have forgotten to ask again! so can anyone please answer me on that? Is there any point in still adding for the remaining 4 days of the 7 day treatment if the other fish appear ok?
I came off the phone and when I was re iterating all to my husband my head was spinning!! I am pretty confused now as you can imagine.
Tank was cycled and shop tested water and got first fishes beg Feb.
Apart from the 2 gold gouramis, we had 1 sepa tetra died on day 3 of getting it ( first fish with the mollies). Rest of fish look happy and healthy( long may that remain) We're scrupulous with the water changes, hoovering, what we're putting in... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously, can anyone help with my numerous questions. Really grateful as ever.
Fergie
XXX
PS If I should have added a new post or something please tell me. Remember I'm a newbie to this forum ;-)
My other poor wee gold gourami died this morning. ( RIP) Mouth was white and last night she was swimming and eating but I noticed her left fin had a small white line and she seemed to be clamping it to her side and not using it. Was going this morning to get that hospital tank too
I phoned the shop and said the 2 gouramis I got last week had both died ( all my other fish seem fine and 2 otocinclus and 2 cory cats I got last week fine)
As well as them I have 2 blue gourami's, 5 serpa tetras, 2 black mollies and 2 dalmation mollies ( and 4 baby mollies in a nursery holder in the tank) Tank is 180 litres.
Lady said all her gouramis are fine so no prob with shop stock and asked my water stats and what decoration I had in the tank.
Water stats are ph 7.6, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 5. Have 2 rocks, resin cave, 2 plants and gravel on bottom. All washed thoroughly etc before being put in ( baby tank in also) Did have bogwood in but staining water so removed.
She said ph far too high and she's surprised my 2 blue gourami's still alive. (ph has been 7.6 since initial set up even when wood in) She concluded they must have just 'adjusted'.
I explained we do a water change - 25/30% and hoover weekly and asked if I should do maybe a 50% change this week and if I should carry on adding Melafix fror the remaining 4 days even tho my gold gouramis now gone.
She said 50% water change way too much and might make things worse, and asked if I do water change same day each week. I said we normally do on sunday. She said to test the ph of the water coming out the tap as some areas have high ph one day a week and may be high due to that? And changing the day we do the change may help? What's everyones opinion there?
She also suggested putting in wood that has a plant on it to bring the ph down ( not bogwood as I said we dont like that as it stains a water)
She also said my test kit ( API liquid and test tubes) may be faulty so to bring her a water sample? Whats the likelihood of a faulty kit?
She never answered about the Melafix and by this time I must have forgotten to ask again! so can anyone please answer me on that? Is there any point in still adding for the remaining 4 days of the 7 day treatment if the other fish appear ok?
I came off the phone and when I was re iterating all to my husband my head was spinning!! I am pretty confused now as you can imagine.
Tank was cycled and shop tested water and got first fishes beg Feb.
Apart from the 2 gold gouramis, we had 1 sepa tetra died on day 3 of getting it ( first fish with the mollies). Rest of fish look happy and healthy( long may that remain) We're scrupulous with the water changes, hoovering, what we're putting in... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously, can anyone help with my numerous questions. Really grateful as ever.
Fergie
XXX
PS If I should have added a new post or something please tell me. Remember I'm a newbie to this forum ;-)
She been telling you lies.
http
/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/hdcolumn.htm
http
/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/hdcolumn.htmscooterchick
Fishaholic
Hi
Some of what she says is true, tap water PH can vary from day to day but never usually enough to cause illness in fish. IF your PH is 7.6 it's at the upper end of the scale of what gourami's like, but again, I don't think it's enough to cause death, if that was the case then surely your other gourami's would have died rather than adapt?
get her to test your water anyway, I doubt you have a faulty kit but they are very sensitive and you have to do them very carefully, and shake the test bottles vigorously, although the PH test is straightforward so 7.6 is probably accurate. Gourami's like 6.5-7.5PH, so it's not 'way too high', maybe on the high side but like I said not enough to cause death.
I didn't actually realise you just bought the fish, I'm very guilty of skim reading. Sounds like the lfs may be trying to shirk their way out of replacing the fish who may not have been healthy to begin, and the gourami's she has left which are fine, may not even be the same batch.
Let us know how you get on.
Some of what she says is true, tap water PH can vary from day to day but never usually enough to cause illness in fish. IF your PH is 7.6 it's at the upper end of the scale of what gourami's like, but again, I don't think it's enough to cause death, if that was the case then surely your other gourami's would have died rather than adapt?
get her to test your water anyway, I doubt you have a faulty kit but they are very sensitive and you have to do them very carefully, and shake the test bottles vigorously, although the PH test is straightforward so 7.6 is probably accurate. Gourami's like 6.5-7.5PH, so it's not 'way too high', maybe on the high side but like I said not enough to cause death.
I didn't actually realise you just bought the fish, I'm very guilty of skim reading. Sounds like the lfs may be trying to shirk their way out of replacing the fish who may not have been healthy to begin, and the gourami's she has left which are fine, may not even be the same batch.
Let us know how you get on.
shelaghfishface
the one and only
i cant help you on this PH issue, but i wish you tonnes of luck getting to the bottom of it, but i would be inclined to agree with scooterchick,in that she is trying to get away with replacing them. im not sure if you need to be using the melafix if the fish are gone now,but i would( not to say you should-before REAL advice)then when the course is complete do the 25-30% change and then go back to your usuall routine, i really dont see that the continuing it would harm anything( for the remainder of this course) BUT AS I ALWAYS SAY - take more advice as im new to this too and am very interested to see the replys you get,so that i can benefit from them too,
shelagh xxxx
ps i hope you are feeling much better healthwise,i know all this wont be doing much to help your stress levels tho, but think of it as learning not losing xxxxxxxxxxxx
and am very interested to see the replys you get,so that i can benefit from them too,shelagh xxxx
ps i hope you are feeling much better healthwise,i know all this wont be doing much to help your stress levels tho
, but think of it as learning not losing xxxxxxxxxxxx
LauraFrog
Fish Gatherer
I have small tanks, some of which are overstocked, and I normally do 50% water changes every week. All of my fish are fine.
Faulty test is unlikely. If you get her to test your water, ask to see the actual results. Don't believe everything she tells you. A plant will probably not have much effect on pH, bogwood releases tannins which may make it more acidic though. Test the pH of tapwater before you add it if you are in a region with fluctuating pH. Most fish can handle a pretty wide range of pH, but not sudden changes.
Problem may well have originated in her tanks. Columnaris sucks, I have had it three times and never once been able to fix it. It's brought on usually by stress or poor water quality. Keep an eye out for tanks that contain sick fish.
Faulty test is unlikely. If you get her to test your water, ask to see the actual results. Don't believe everything she tells you. A plant will probably not have much effect on pH, bogwood releases tannins which may make it more acidic though. Test the pH of tapwater before you add it if you are in a region with fluctuating pH. Most fish can handle a pretty wide range of pH, but not sudden changes.
Problem may well have originated in her tanks. Columnaris sucks, I have had it three times and never once been able to fix it. It's brought on usually by stress or poor water quality. Keep an eye out for tanks that contain sick fish.
Hello again! Here's the next chapter ( hopefully the last you'll all be saying ;-)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(lol)
Did usual weekly hoovering and water change yesterday ( bout 25/30%) Tested water and ph down to 7.2.
Took water sample to shop and they tested - while I stayed at the desk and watched ( cheers for that tip!):
ph - said was between 7 & 7.2. They said my water change would have helped bring it down
ammonia - 0
nitrite - 0
nitrate - 5
They knew by now we do weekly water change so said to test the water BEFORE the change next week and if nitrite still at 5, do NOT do the water change next week and leave another week. They said nitrate safe to go up to 10 and then do a water change? What do you guys think?
Said allowing the nitrate to go up will help bring/keep the ph down.
Fishes all look happy and healthy - thank goodness and long may it continue.
Wilder - got the meds you advised me on - just in case for the future - but I hope I don't have to ever use!
Interested to see what you experienced folks think bout the nitrate and then this one can be closed
( at last)
(FYI - bought a piece of wood with a live plant on ( wood that won't stain the water) and the lady I spoke to on the phone said to the girl to take £4 off ( cost of the 2 gold gouramis) We weren't bothered bout the cost to be honest but I guess that was the responsible thing for her to do as the owner)
Thanks again
Fergie
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I go to see my consultant for pre op check tonite and if my blood pressure is up I'm gonna be telling him this story!!!! ;-)
Did usual weekly hoovering and water change yesterday ( bout 25/30%) Tested water and ph down to 7.2.
Took water sample to shop and they tested - while I stayed at the desk and watched ( cheers for that tip!):
ph - said was between 7 & 7.2. They said my water change would have helped bring it down
ammonia - 0
nitrite - 0
nitrate - 5
They knew by now we do weekly water change so said to test the water BEFORE the change next week and if nitrite still at 5, do NOT do the water change next week and leave another week. They said nitrate safe to go up to 10 and then do a water change? What do you guys think?
Said allowing the nitrate to go up will help bring/keep the ph down.
Fishes all look happy and healthy - thank goodness and long may it continue.
Wilder - got the meds you advised me on - just in case for the future - but I hope I don't have to ever use!
Interested to see what you experienced folks think bout the nitrate and then this one can be closed
( at last
)(FYI - bought a piece of wood with a live plant on ( wood that won't stain the water) and the lady I spoke to on the phone said to the girl to take £4 off ( cost of the 2 gold gouramis) We weren't bothered bout the cost to be honest but I guess that was the responsible thing for her to do as the owner)
Thanks again
Fergie
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I go to see my consultant for pre op check tonite and if my blood pressure is up I'm gonna be telling him this story!!!! ;-)
shelaghfishface
the one and only
awww, im glad you sorted it out
i certainley hope your BP is not up,this is supposed to be a realxing hobby lol,i wish you all the best for tonite and hope everything goes in your favor, take care
shelagh xxxxx
i certainley hope your BP is not up,this is supposed to be a realxing hobby lol,i wish you all the best for tonite and hope everything goes in your favor, take care
shelagh xxxxx
scooterchick
Fishaholic
Hello again! Here's the next chapter ( hopefully the last you'll all be saying ;-)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(lol)
Did usual weekly hoovering and water change yesterday ( bout 25/30%) Tested water and ph down to 7.2.
Took water sample to shop and they tested - while I stayed at the desk and watched ( cheers for that tip!):
ph - said was between 7 & 7.2. They said my water change would have helped bring it down
ammonia - 0
nitrite - 0
nitrate - 5
They knew by now we do weekly water change so said to test the water BEFORE the change next week and if nitrite still at 5, do NOT do the water change next week and leave another week. They said nitrate safe to go up to 10 and then do a water change? What do you guys think?
Said allowing the nitrate to go up will help bring/keep the ph down.
Fishes all look happy and healthy - thank goodness and long may it continue.
Wilder - got the meds you advised me on - just in case for the future - but I hope I don't have to ever use!
Interested to see what you experienced folks think bout the nitrate and then this one can be closed
( at last
(FYI - bought a piece of wood with a live plant on ( wood that won't stain the water) and the lady I spoke to on the phone said to the girl to take £4 off ( cost of the 2 gold gouramis) We weren't bothered bout the cost to be honest but I guess that was the responsible thing for her to do as the owner)
Thanks again
Fergie
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I go to see my consultant for pre op check tonite and if my blood pressure is up I'm gonna be telling him this story!!!! ;-)
Hmmm, not qute sure about that. They said the water change you did would have helped bring PH but then they advised you not to do another water change until the nitrate went up to 10 as that would help keep the PH down??? That's conflicting advise as far as I can see. The PH is likely to be going up because of something in your tank, do you have shells in it? What decor do you have? The wood will help bring the ph down for def.
As for the water changes, I'm of the opinion you can't do too many and if your tap water PH si lower than your tank water then a water change can only bring it down!
Hello again! Here's the next chapter ( hopefully the last you'll all be saying ;-)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(lol)
Did usual weekly hoovering and water change yesterday ( bout 25/30%) Tested water and ph down to 7.2.
Took water sample to shop and they tested - while I stayed at the desk and watched ( cheers for that tip!):
ph - said was between 7 & 7.2. They said my water change would have helped bring it down
ammonia - 0
nitrite - 0
nitrate - 5
They knew by now we do weekly water change so said to test the water BEFORE the change next week and if nitrite still at 5, do NOT do the water change next week and leave another week. They said nitrate safe to go up to 10 and then do a water change? What do you guys think?
Said allowing the nitrate to go up will help bring/keep the ph down.
Fishes all look happy and healthy - thank goodness and long may it continue.
Wilder - got the meds you advised me on - just in case for the future - but I hope I don't have to ever use!
Interested to see what you experienced folks think bout the nitrate and then this one can be closed
( at last
(FYI - bought a piece of wood with a live plant on ( wood that won't stain the water) and the lady I spoke to on the phone said to the girl to take £4 off ( cost of the 2 gold gouramis) We weren't bothered bout the cost to be honest but I guess that was the responsible thing for her to do as the owner)
Thanks again
Fergie
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I go to see my consultant for pre op check tonite and if my blood pressure is up I'm gonna be telling him this story!!!! ;-)
Hmmm, not qute sure about that. They said the water change you did would have helped bring PH but then they advised you not to do another water change until the nitrate went up to 10 as that would help keep the PH down??? That's conflicting advise as far as I can see. The PH is likely to be going up because of something in your tank, do you have shells in it? What decor do you have? The wood will help bring the ph down for def.
As for the water changes, I'm of the opinion you can't do too many and if your tap water PH si lower than your tank water then a water change can only bring it down!
OOPs , think I posted a blank reply there. Sorry folks!
Hi Scooterchick, thanks for replying.
Decoration in tank is:
gravel
2 rocks
2 'real' plants
resin cave
new piece of wood with 'real plant on - added on sunday.
Also plastic nursery tabk for baby mollies.
We do have snails? ( since adding 2 plants wks back. I posted at the time and from replies don't want to use chemicals so we just scoop them out with the net) They've lessened recently.
Bought every decoration from the same shop and thoroughly rinsed. Did the 'vinegar' test on the rocks before putting in.
The ph has come down ( btwn 7 & 7.2 shop had said and I tested again this morn and its the same) so I'm not as concerned - for now at least! Hopefully the wood will help.
Will letting the nitrate level rise do any harm before doing a water change? Thats probably the main question I have?
Many thanks again.
Fergie
XX
Hi Scooterchick, thanks for replying.
Decoration in tank is:
gravel
2 rocks
2 'real' plants
resin cave
new piece of wood with 'real plant on - added on sunday.
Also plastic nursery tabk for baby mollies.
We do have snails? ( since adding 2 plants wks back. I posted at the time and from replies don't want to use chemicals so we just scoop them out with the net) They've lessened recently.
Bought every decoration from the same shop and thoroughly rinsed. Did the 'vinegar' test on the rocks before putting in.
The ph has come down ( btwn 7 & 7.2 shop had said and I tested again this morn and its the same) so I'm not as concerned - for now at least!
Hopefully the wood will help.Will letting the nitrate level rise do any harm before doing a water change? Thats probably the main question I have?
Many thanks again.
Fergie
XX
scooterchick
Fishaholic
Shouldn't really. You don't want to let it get higher than 20, that's the kinda 'danger zone' for most fishkeepers. What kind of rock is it? Got any pics? Fish shops are notoriously bad for selling the wrong rock, I had marine rock in my tank at one point which was pushing up the PH.
Thanks again Scooterchick.
I'm gonna call the shop and see what they say bout the rock ( unfortunately not got pics)
Cheers! Really grateful for your help.
Fergie
XX
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