Please Help

[SquishyFishy]

Can someone help me?
I had a shark catfish a week back who died now mi little gourami isn't doing well. about 2 weeks ago he got himself stuck in a hole in my cave decor. I got him out and he was fine but now he's swimming in circles and then pouting in the corner. I desperately wanna help him (once you help unstick a fish i guess you get a certain bond to him) and i can't find enough info on whirling disease to know if he truly has it or if its contagious and i really don't want my other fish getting sick. its not a filter or water problem cuz i just changed the cartridge a few days ago and the water last week.
Help please

 

[CherryNova]

When you say you changed the cartridge do you mean you changed all the filter media? If you got rid of all the filter media then you have uncycled the tank so the behaviour could well be from ammonia. How much water did you change? And how often do you change it? Hope your fish gets better soon!

 

[Ruskull]

Do you have a test kit? Test for ammonia & nitrite immediately

 

[SquishyFishy]

too late he died
RIP Kyoshi <3
none of mi other fish r acting weird they are all totally fine but I'm constantly worried about them. I just changed the cartridge (it says to change it every month) and i only do 20-25% water changes which is what is suggested. Thanks for your help regardless

 

[Ruskull]

It sounds like you changed the cartridge & all the good bacteria was on it. You've probably un-cycled your tank. It will recover but you should be testing & changing some water every day until the ammonia & nitrite read zero.

Almost all filter manufacturers rec. changing the cartridge every month but they're in business to make money. Keep that in mind. Most cartridges will last a very long time before they start to clog up. Even then you should only rinse them in used tank water from your water change.

When you change the filter cartridge you should cut off the felt part and place it back into your filter with the replacement cartridge. This helps establish the new piece and keep your cycle going. Without a test kit you can't be sure your not slowly killing your fish.

 

[SquishyFishy]

It sounds like you changed the cartridge & all the good bacteria was on it. You've probably un-cycled your tank. It will recover but you should be testing & changing some water every day until the ammonia & nitrite read zero.

Almost all filter manufacturers rec. changing the cartridge every month but they're in business to make money. Keep that in mind. Most cartridges will last a very long time before they start to clog up. Even then you should only rinse them in used tank water from your water change.

When you change the filter cartridge you should cut off the felt part and place it back into your filter with the replacement cartridge. This helps establish the new piece and keep your cycle going. Without a test kit you can't be sure your not slowly killing your fish.

Thank you! Will do