Whats Happened?

[noodles]

ok, yesterday went and bought 2 honey gourami's and a spray bar for my fluval internal filter. Set it up, meant moving a few things around including the heater, and put the new fish in with the others. Watched them all evening, everything fine.

Look at the tank this morning, and its like a scene from hell! all 3 gourami's (original one included) are either hanging at the surface or flopping on thier sides at the bottom. One of my rocket panchax is missing, and the other two are barely alive! The tetras and otto's are all fine.

I have done a 40% water change this morning, but I have 2 theories.

1. The gourami's have some sort of disease that has attacked the other fish. (feel this is a bit rapid though for what has been about 12 hours and I put a splash of melafix in just in case)

2. When I fitted the spray bar I moved the heater. This morning it seems that the thermostat may have changed. Before it was set to approx 22 deg and the thermometer had the temp spot on 24 deg. Today it seems that by turning up the heater to 24 deg, the water is now at 24 deg... Has anyone had this happen before when moving the heater? Once chilled can fish be thawed out successfully?

If the cause is 2, then for the night the water temp must have been about 2 deg lower than it should have been. (especially as the light was off too).

What can I do to try and save all the fish? And any other ideas what could have happened?

 

[noodles]

ok, update for you.

Temperature seems fine, fish behaviour has changed slightly.

All gourami's are not hovering at the surface occaisionally gulping air, but seem slightly better. Same for the rockets (missing one has come back as well).

Everyone else still fine.

Have removed spray bar incase it was creating pockets of cold water (as everyone was gathered around the heater).

No idea what is going on. Just have to wait and see.

 

[Courtney]

What are your water parameters? Fish will hang at the surface if ammonia is present in the water.
What are the rest of your fish in the tank? Gouramies can be aggressive. It sounds like some sort of contamination. I agree, it does sound to sudden for an illness to break out. I would keep doing water changes daily.

 

[steelhealr]

Need more info..is it possible the new equipment was not cleaned and containted chemicals? SH

 

[noodles]

What are your water parameters? Fish will hang at the surface if ammonia is present in the water.
What are the rest of your fish in the tank? Gouramies can be aggressive. It sounds like some sort of contamination. I agree, it does sound to sudden for an illness to break out. I would keep doing water changes daily.

Not got a water test kit at the moment, rely on regular water changes, and by assuming that everything has been great for a good few months, and then suddenly changing over night, I assume the water conditions were ok. Will buy one today and give you the information.

Will keep you updated and keep changing the water.

Updated: Still the same behaviour this morning, but no deaths. Will get the test kits today and change the water again tonight. I have also put some carbon in the filter to hopefully try to neutralise any poisons. Its a real shame tank was spot on...

 

[noodles]

ok, done half the tests, the kit I bought was missing half the bottles! not a good start.

pH = 8
Ammonia = 0

any help? will get the rest of the tests done tonight.

Did another water change last night as well to be safe.

Update: Just called home and apparently everyone is swimming around fine again except for the male gourami, who is considerably better than before. strange...

 

[noodles]

ok, done half the tests, the kit I bought was missing half the bottles! not a good start.

pH = 8
Ammonia = 0

any help? will get the rest of the tests done tonight.

Did another water change last night as well to be safe.

Update: Just called home and apparently everyone is swimming around fine again except for the male gourami, who is considerably better than before. strange...

ok last test results just in:

Nitrites = <0.1
Nitrates = 50-110

So only really high pH and highish nitrates. And fish seem to be on the mend. Only 2 gourami's are not quite back to full proper fishy movement yet.

What should I do?

 

[WILDER]

Another water change as you have a slight nitrite reading, plus the nitrate reading is high.

 

[noodles]

Another water change as you have a slight nitrite reading, plus the nitrate reading is high.

just dont want to mess the fish around too much thats all. and the nitrites was erring on the side of over estimating, detected a slight tinge of colour maybe!

 

[WILDER]

I think the fish will apreciate a way change with a nitrie reading.