sick fish

[NetMax]

I agree with Justin, however I think the nitrite spike tends to be longer
than the ammonia spike (the cases I've seen), and I'm not certain if
doing regular water changes would have any influence on the time it takes
for a tank to cycle. I think it takes very small amounts of NH3/4 and
NO2 for the bacteria to start multiplying. Water changes will keep the
total 'toxic' peak from frying the inhabitants, but I don't think you
could reduce the NH3/4 or NO2 enough to slow the cycling process down.
In theory, the bacteria is racing to consume a concentration which
corresponds to a much higher fish-load than you actually have (because
the toxins have been accumulating), so doing regular water changes would
result in the tank cycling to a level which was closer to the real
fish-load (I think).
--
www.NetMax.tk

"Justin Boucher" > wrote in message
news:7So0d.52$%O5.4@trnddc07...
> It would be easier to help diagnose a problem if you provided water
> parameter details such as ammonia, nitrite and pH readings. These
three are
> the big ones. Be sure to know the difference between nitrIte and
nitrAte.
> Your tank is quite possbily still cycling. Some sturdy fish can
weather the
> ammonia better than others, but nitrite is an open season. You may be
> having a nitrite spike. Symptoms can include rapid breathing and fish
> collecting at the surface "for air". Nitrite prohibits the gills
ability to
> absorb oxygen, which is why some fish behave this way.
>
> Since you have been changing 1/6 the water every week, your cycling
process
> has been not as severe, but longer than if no water changes were made.
>
> I would strongly recommend an ammonia, nitrite and pH test kit if you
do not
> have those yet. Do some tests and consider the results. A nitrite
spike is
> rather short (perhaps a few days to a week) but thankfully marks the
end of
> the cycling period.
>
> Justin
>
> "Michael Dauria" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I am new to having an aquarium. I bought a tank (System 6) about 2
months
> > ago. After setting up the tank and leaving it for about 3 days I went
out
> > and got some fish. I got two endlers and a little catfish. Everything
has
> > been going well for 5 weeks. I have noticed lately that the catfish
has
> been
> > getting a little sluggish. I have noticed that he was hanging out by
the
> > heater.
> >
> > Today I found my catfish sitting on the intake to the filter. He
seems
> sick.
> > He is laying at the bottom of the tank, it looks like he is breathing
> > rapidly. He sits at the bottom of the tank but then every so often he
will
> > swimming rapidly in circles for about 30 seconds and afterwards just
lay
> on
> > the bottom of the tank again.
> >
> > The tank is six gallons and I change a gallon once a week.
> >
> > I am still very new to owning an aquarium so I am not sure what is
wrong.
> I
> > have read that the ammonia will become high as the tank cycles, is
this
> > sound like whats wrong? What can I do for him?
> >
> > BTW: The endlers seem a-ok
> >
> >
>
>

[Michael Dauria]

I am new to having an aquarium. I bought a tank (System 6) about 2 months
ago. After setting up the tank and leaving it for about 3 days I went out
and got some fish. I got two endlers and a little catfish. Everything has
been going well for 5 weeks. I have noticed lately that the catfish has been
getting a little sluggish. I have noticed that he was hanging out by the
heater.

Today I found my catfish sitting on the intake to the filter. He seems sick.
He is laying at the bottom of the tank, it looks like he is breathing
rapidly. He sits at the bottom of the tank but then every so often he will
swimming rapidly in circles for about 30 seconds and afterwards just lay on
the bottom of the tank again.

The tank is six gallons and I change a gallon once a week.

I am still very new to owning an aquarium so I am not sure what is wrong. I
have read that the ammonia will become high as the tank cycles, is this
sound like whats wrong? What can I do for him?

BTW: The endlers seem a-ok

[Justin Boucher]

It would be easier to help diagnose a problem if you provided water
parameter details such as ammonia, nitrite and pH readings. These three are
the big ones. Be sure to know the difference between nitrIte and nitrAte.
Your tank is quite possbily still cycling. Some sturdy fish can weather the
ammonia better than others, but nitrite is an open season. You may be
having a nitrite spike. Symptoms can include rapid breathing and fish
collecting at the surface "for air". Nitrite prohibits the gills ability to
absorb oxygen, which is why some fish behave this way.

Since you have been changing 1/6 the water every week, your cycling process
has been not as severe, but longer than if no water changes were made.

I would strongly recommend an ammonia, nitrite and pH test kit if you do not
have those yet. Do some tests and consider the results. A nitrite spike is
rather short (perhaps a few days to a week) but thankfully marks the end of
the cycling period.

Justin

"Michael Dauria" > wrote in message
...
> I am new to having an aquarium. I bought a tank (System 6) about 2 months
> ago. After setting up the tank and leaving it for about 3 days I went out
> and got some fish. I got two endlers and a little catfish. Everything has
> been going well for 5 weeks. I have noticed lately that the catfish has
been
> getting a little sluggish. I have noticed that he was hanging out by the
> heater.
>
> Today I found my catfish sitting on the intake to the filter. He seems
sick.
> He is laying at the bottom of the tank, it looks like he is breathing
> rapidly. He sits at the bottom of the tank but then every so often he will
> swimming rapidly in circles for about 30 seconds and afterwards just lay
on
> the bottom of the tank again.
>
> The tank is six gallons and I change a gallon once a week.
>
> I am still very new to owning an aquarium so I am not sure what is wrong.
I
> have read that the ammonia will become high as the tank cycles, is this
> sound like whats wrong? What can I do for him?
>
> BTW: The endlers seem a-ok
>
>

[Michael Dauria]

PH is about 7.0
Nitrite is 0
but ammonia is super high, 8ppm

I bought some stuff called cycle that is supposed to put in bacteria to
reduce the ammonia. Is this the right way to go?

"Justin Boucher" > wrote in message
news:7So0d.52$%O5.4@trnddc07...
> It would be easier to help diagnose a problem if you provided water
> parameter details such as ammonia, nitrite and pH readings. These three
> are
> the big ones. Be sure to know the difference between nitrIte and nitrAte.
> Your tank is quite possbily still cycling. Some sturdy fish can weather
> the
> ammonia better than others, but nitrite is an open season. You may be
> having a nitrite spike. Symptoms can include rapid breathing and fish
> collecting at the surface "for air". Nitrite prohibits the gills ability
> to
> absorb oxygen, which is why some fish behave this way.
>
> Since you have been changing 1/6 the water every week, your cycling
> process
> has been not as severe, but longer than if no water changes were made.
>
> I would strongly recommend an ammonia, nitrite and pH test kit if you do
> not
> have those yet. Do some tests and consider the results. A nitrite spike
> is
> rather short (perhaps a few days to a week) but thankfully marks the end
> of
> the cycling period.
>
> Justin
>
> "Michael Dauria" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I am new to having an aquarium. I bought a tank (System 6) about 2 months
>> ago. After setting up the tank and leaving it for about 3 days I went out
>> and got some fish. I got two endlers and a little catfish. Everything has
>> been going well for 5 weeks. I have noticed lately that the catfish has
> been
>> getting a little sluggish. I have noticed that he was hanging out by the
>> heater.
>>
>> Today I found my catfish sitting on the intake to the filter. He seems
> sick.
>> He is laying at the bottom of the tank, it looks like he is breathing
>> rapidly. He sits at the bottom of the tank but then every so often he
>> will
>> swimming rapidly in circles for about 30 seconds and afterwards just lay
> on
>> the bottom of the tank again.
>>
>> The tank is six gallons and I change a gallon once a week.
>>
>> I am still very new to owning an aquarium so I am not sure what is wrong.
> I
>> have read that the ammonia will become high as the tank cycles, is this
>> sound like whats wrong? What can I do for him?
>>
>> BTW: The endlers seem a-ok
>>
>>
>
>

[Justin Boucher]

Using an over the counter cycling product such as you got has worked well
for some. I don't use them myself. Consider getting an ammonia reducing
agent such as Amquel. Adding a little of this will reduce the ammonia
levels in your tank to reduce the stress on your fish. You don't want to
eliminate the ammonia by doing this as it will only postpone the cycling of
your tank. You should also be albe to add that cycle product as well. 8ppm
is fatally high! I believe that using something like Amquel to reduce it to
at least 4ppm along with your cycle enhancing product will help stabilize
and mature your tank.

After the ammonia spike, a nitrite spike shortly follows. I don't know how
quickly or short that cycle is when using a cycle enhancing product, but
once the nitrite spikes and drops to 0, your tank is considered cycled.
Good husbandry and planning will bring you years of enjoyment hereafter.

Justin

"Michael Dauria" > wrote in message
...
> PH is about 7.0
> Nitrite is 0
> but ammonia is super high, 8ppm
>
> I bought some stuff called cycle that is supposed to put in bacteria to
> reduce the ammonia. Is this the right way to go?
>
> "Justin Boucher" > wrote in message
> news:7So0d.52$%O5.4@trnddc07...
> > It would be easier to help diagnose a problem if you provided water
> > parameter details such as ammonia, nitrite and pH readings. These three
> > are
> > the big ones. Be sure to know the difference between nitrIte and
nitrAte.
> > Your tank is quite possbily still cycling. Some sturdy fish can weather
> > the
> > ammonia better than others, but nitrite is an open season. You may be
> > having a nitrite spike. Symptoms can include rapid breathing and fish
> > collecting at the surface "for air". Nitrite prohibits the gills
ability
> > to
> > absorb oxygen, which is why some fish behave this way.
> >
> > Since you have been changing 1/6 the water every week, your cycling
> > process
> > has been not as severe, but longer than if no water changes were made.
> >
> > I would strongly recommend an ammonia, nitrite and pH test kit if you do
> > not
> > have those yet. Do some tests and consider the results. A nitrite
spike
> > is
> > rather short (perhaps a few days to a week) but thankfully marks the end
> > of
> > the cycling period.
> >
> > Justin
> >
> > "Michael Dauria" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> I am new to having an aquarium. I bought a tank (System 6) about 2
months
> >> ago. After setting up the tank and leaving it for about 3 days I went
out
> >> and got some fish. I got two endlers and a little catfish. Everything
has
> >> been going well for 5 weeks. I have noticed lately that the catfish has
> > been
> >> getting a little sluggish. I have noticed that he was hanging out by
the
> >> heater.
> >>
> >> Today I found my catfish sitting on the intake to the filter. He seems
> > sick.
> >> He is laying at the bottom of the tank, it looks like he is breathing
> >> rapidly. He sits at the bottom of the tank but then every so often he
> >> will
> >> swimming rapidly in circles for about 30 seconds and afterwards just
lay
> > on
> >> the bottom of the tank again.
> >>
> >> The tank is six gallons and I change a gallon once a week.
> >>
> >> I am still very new to owning an aquarium so I am not sure what is
wrong.
> > I
> >> have read that the ammonia will become high as the tank cycles, is this
> >> sound like whats wrong? What can I do for him?
> >>
> >> BTW: The endlers seem a-ok
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>

[Antony]

Michael Dauria wrote:
> PH is about 7.0
> Nitrite is 0
> but ammonia is super high, 8ppm
>
> I bought some stuff called cycle that is supposed to put in bacteria to
> reduce the ammonia. Is this the right way to go?
>
> "Justin Boucher" > wrote in message
> news:7So0d.52$%O5.4@trnddc07...
>
>>It would be easier to help diagnose a problem if you provided water
>>parameter details such as ammonia, nitrite and pH readings. These three
>>are
>>the big ones. Be sure to know the difference between nitrIte and nitrAte.
>>Your tank is quite possbily still cycling. Some sturdy fish can weather
>>the
>>ammonia better than others, but nitrite is an open season. You may be
>>having a nitrite spike. Symptoms can include rapid breathing and fish
>>collecting at the surface "for air". Nitrite prohibits the gills ability
>>to
>>absorb oxygen, which is why some fish behave this way.
>>
>>Since you have been changing 1/6 the water every week, your cycling
>>process
>>has been not as severe, but longer than if no water changes were made.
>>
>>I would strongly recommend an ammonia, nitrite and pH test kit if you do
>>not
>>have those yet. Do some tests and consider the results. A nitrite spike
>>is
>>rather short (perhaps a few days to a week) but thankfully marks the end
>>of
>>the cycling period.
>>
>>Justin
>>
>>"Michael Dauria" > wrote in message
...
>>
>>>I am new to having an aquarium. I bought a tank (System 6) about 2 months
>>>ago. After setting up the tank and leaving it for about 3 days I went out
>>>and got some fish. I got two endlers and a little catfish. Everything has
>>>been going well for 5 weeks. I have noticed lately that the catfish has
>>
>>been
>>
>>>getting a little sluggish. I have noticed that he was hanging out by the
>>>heater.
>>>
>>>Today I found my catfish sitting on the intake to the filter. He seems
>>
>>sick.
>>
>>>He is laying at the bottom of the tank, it looks like he is breathing
>>>rapidly. He sits at the bottom of the tank but then every so often he
>>>will
>>>swimming rapidly in circles for about 30 seconds and afterwards just lay
>>
>>on
>>
>>>the bottom of the tank again.
>>>
>>>The tank is six gallons and I change a gallon once a week.
>>>
>>>I am still very new to owning an aquarium so I am not sure what is wrong.
>>
>>I
>>
>>>have read that the ammonia will become high as the tank cycles, is this
>>>sound like whats wrong? What can I do for him?
>>>
>>>BTW: The endlers seem a-ok
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
I think that since ammonia levels are so high, you sould also make a 25%
water change. You will see that the levels will drop. Any way, what
ever you do, you better do it quickly, because this level is lethal!!!