Sick Cichlids?

[mjx2]

We have a blue acara and a gold cichlid and they seem to be "gulping" at the surface. A low DO problem maybe?? But i can't see how this is the case - everything seems to be running fine.

 

[DiscusAngel]

1, Whats a "Gold cichlid i need Scientifc names please"
2, sounds like you dnt have enoughoxygen in the water add a Bubble machine or put a spray bar in there.

now fill out this as it will help.


Tank size:
pH:
ammonia:
nitrite:
nitrate:
kH:
gH:
tank temp:

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):

Volume and Frequency of water changes:

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:

Tank inhabitants:

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):

Exposure to chemicals:

Digital photo (include if possible):

 

[WILDER]

Fill the form out, nobody can help you as there no information to go on to tell you whats wrong.

 

[mjx2]

Tank size: 5gal/20L
pH: 6.8 - which I know is probably a little low but we have had a heap of trouble getting it down and now that we have its gone in the opposite direction
ammonia: The water looked a little cloudy this morning (I'm in Aust.) so I added 5mL of "ammo lock"
nitrite: not sure
nitrate:not sure
kH: not sure
gH: not sure
tank temp: 24.7 degrees cellcius

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): The fish are swimming near the surface and appear to be "gulping"

Volume and Frequency of water changes: The tank is only relatively new and in the last week lots of water changes of varying volumes have taken place as we had a pretty major fish kill (which happened to be a second) where they all died except Aequidens pulcher and we were trying to rectify the problem.

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: "Ammo lock" this morning and on Saturday a pH 7.0 sachet. A new Carbon Floss Cartridge on Saturday also.

Tank inhabitants: Melanochromis Auratus and Aequidens pulcher (1 of each)

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): The Melanochromis Auratus is the most recent addition 2-3 days ago

Exposure to chemicals: none that I know of

Digital photo (include if possible): I can get one up when i get home from uni - in about an hour and a half

 

[Christine1014]

Hmm.... it doesn't sound like you cycled the tank.
Check out the pinned topics on cycling in the beginner section.
The quick overview is that fish produce ammonia. Ammonia kills fish. NitrItes eat ammonia. But Nitrites also kill fish. NitrAtes eat NitrItes. Nitrates don't kill fish. You have to cycle the tank to build up this beneficial bacteria. What you're going through right now is considered cycling with fish -- which as you're discoving is a very costly mistake. Most fish can't handle the ammonia and nitrite spikes that you get while cycling.

Have a read of the pinned topics, and let us know what questions you have.

 

[Ferris]

The problem is almost certainly that both of those species are way too big for that tank and are also not compatible with each other. Both need something like a 4 foot tank and have very different water and dietary requirements.

Your best bet would be to return both fish and get something more suited to a 20 litre tank or you will probably lose both of them i'm afraid .

 

[mjx2]

I don't think that the shop would let us return them. . .

 

[iairj84]

Any reputable shop will return them. If not post on the boards here, you should be able to find a good home somewhere.

 

[mjx2]

I can only find a pinned thread for fishless cycling. Is there one for with fish ??

 

[mjx2]

And, what would be suitable for this tank? or is it useless?

 

[DiscusAngel]

ok there illl because its overstocked so either reurn to the fish shop or any other fish shop. also you could house a siamese fightng fish there (betta) or a dwarf puffer. this is the reason why. and befoe you get another fish please cycle your tank it takes about 4weeks ROUGHLY some quicker/slower than others.

 

[mjx2]

So only put 1 fish in it ?

 

[DiscusAngel]

yes its to small for anything else. you may have around 6 galaxy rasboras

here they are

PIC FROM PFK.

 

[Christine1014]

I can only find a pinned thread for fishless cycling. Is there one for with fish ??

Well, not really, because no one recommends that you cycle with fish. The best thing to do is re-home the fish, and then do a fishless cycle. Basically, what you're doing with fish in the tank is the "add daily" method... except the ammonia is coming from your fish (fish waste) instead of from a bottle - and your fish are slowly being poisoned. The people who have cycled with fish typically have done so accidentally (don't worry; LOTS of us fell into that category with our first tank) or will buy a hardy fish like a danio or something, just for the purpose of cycling, but I think that's a little cruel for the fish... But as others have pointed out, you're so overstocked that you're best bet is to get rid of the fish (your fish store might not give you your money back, but at least your fish would be returned to half decent water), cycle the tank, and then get yourself a couple of tiny fish, or a single beta. (just a word of caution -- I do say SINGLE beta because most of the betas you see in the little cups in stores are male -- they're typically the ones with the long pretty fins. They're extremely agressive and you definitely cannot, in any "normal" sized tank, keep two males together. But I digress...)

Good luck!