Sick Fish

severum23

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Hello all!


Recently I have found my fish hovering at the top of my tank which is 45 gallons.
two of my blue ramz fish unfortunately died whilst the angel fish and severum were very slow and look to have the same fate.
I quickly chose to change some of the water in the tank and it helped a little, I know it may be Amonia levels in the tank.. Are there any other ways of helping this situation as my severum do not look happy at all.
The Severums do not seem to move as well and also change colour more frequently to a dark colour. Any help would be awesome :)
 
What you've posted implies that you don't have your own test kit - is this right?

How much water did you change? How long has the tank been running for? How did you cycle it?
 
Do a 90% water change immediately, leave just enough water in the tank so the fish can swim upright. Then go out and buy an API or other good liquid test kit and test the water.

Then answer the questions above.
 
What are your water parameters and what exactly do you mean by "I know it may be ammonia levels in the tank"?

Ammonia and nitrite are toxic to fish in amounts are test kits can't measure (the extent depends on the species), but any readable amount of ammonia can cause long term damage to the fish or even death. What are your tap water ammonia and nitrite parameters after dechlorination?
 
I have a PH test kit I do not have a full test kit. I have changed it twice in the last few days.The first day did a 50 percent water change and then a 30 percent water change. I will go out and buy a full kit tomorrow as I was never aware of these issues as I have just started with my tank. It has been running for a month but then had to change the tank from gravel to sand. I then bought a new filter which is a fluvial 305. I have 2 angel fish 2 severum 5 schooling fish and 4 blue ramz in my tank. The issue is that the fish seem to be gasping for air at times at the top of the tank. One of the other symptoms I had was spontaneous swimming behaviour so the fish would swim and then stop moving and then radically start swimming again.
 
The symptoms you're describing are very likely ammonia poisoning. When you got the new Fluval 305 did you put the old filter media in it? If not, as I suspect, you then began a cycle from the very beginning. What are schooling fish?
 
I agree with Spouse, ammonia poisoning causes the gills to burn, consequently the gills do not absorb oxygen at full efficiency. THere is also nitrite poisoning (your filter bacteria will turn the ammonia produced by your fish into nitrite), whereby the nitrite inhibits the haemoglobin's ability to carry oxygen.

In both cases, the fish are being deprived of oxygen and therefore gasp at the surface. Many people mistake this for a lack of oxygen in the water.

I would seriously recommend getting that test kit today, if at all possible. Are you in the UK? If so, Pets@Home are open until 8 tonight. I'd suggest you don't get the paper strip tests, as they are notoriously inaccurate. If you can't afford the Master Kit at £33, then get the Ammonia and Nitrite tests at £10 each.
 
I'm sure I've read that you can pick up an API test kit for around 20 pounds in the UK on ebay if you're worried about cost. Just don't get the strips, as lock-man said. But in the meantime, do a large water change immediately, then one every day to keep the ammonia and nitrite in check. Read up on the fish-in cycle.
 
I'm sure I've read that you can pick up an API test kit for around 20 pounds in the UK on ebay if you're worried about cost.

Sev23, Spouse is correct, on Ebay they are £20 and less, but obviously these will take a few days to be delivered. Until that time, you won't know how bad your problem is. If we are right, and you have significant ammonia (and nitrite) in your tank, the sooner you know how bad the problem is, the better. That's why I recommend getting the kit ASAP. The cost of replacing "2 angel fish 2 severum 5 schooling fish and 4 blue ramz" will be much more than the £10-£15 you save by buying online.
 
Thanks guys well its 2:14am here so as soon as they open shall purchase one will keep everyone informed.. Shall change water again now. Thanks again for the help.
 
Thanks guys well its 2:14am here so as soon as they open shall purchase one will keep everyone informed.. Shall change water again now. Thanks again for the help.

So that's a "No" to being in the UK, then, is it? :lol:

Seriously, though, mate, wherever in the world you happen to be (Aus? NZ? Just cos I'm a nosey git), get out to your LFS first thing tomorrow, and get those tests. Post up the ammonia and nitrite ones, and there'll be plenty of people to give you advice. :good:
 
Since your tank has only been up a month, and you've made filter and substrate changes in this month, I'd say your filter is not cycled. Take all of the advice above to heart. You are now doing a fish in cycle. These can be very hard on your fish. You need to do very large water changes every day, maybe twice a day, to keep ammonia and nitrite levels below 0.25ppm. 0 is your goal! To do this, you either need a test kit or take a water sample to your lfs everyday(they may frown on that).
 

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