Hi,

I was told to change the water daily in my 10 gal tank until I could get my 36 gal tank since my nitrite reading were so high (super pink on the test strip).

I have 2 oranda's. I changed 50% water and then added the amquel and stress coat. I have done this since last week. Today I fed my fish some dried shrimp and theylook ok. Now there eyes are clouded and the fins look like they have fungus--gray stuff. They really look bad, they are in a corner the red capped oranda's wen is spotted with graystuff. What do they have?
what did I do? Can they be saved? PLEASE HELP ME! should I have put the amquel in before adding it to the tank?


YOLANDA

What are your water params right now??

Does the cloudy stuff look like a fuzzy mold??

Post back soon!

Jenn

Hi,

the tails got fraid and there were splotches on the fins. they looked gray to me. now there's some white stuff whirling around in the tank.
nitrate 40
nitrite 0
total hardness 50
alkalinity 0
Ph 6.4

I want to post a picture but don't know how.
thank you for any help you can give me.
Yo

this white stuff is on the body and still attached to the body and floating,

Just a first aid, add non-iodized salt to the tank. About a tablespoon every 3 hours. Stop after you've done this 5 times.

Check back here when the experts have come back.

thank you, I hope they come back and read this

that is a low PH, sounds like they have ammonia poisoning. do you have ammonia tests?
or it could possible be a bacterial or fungal infection. what exactly does the gray (or is it white?) stuff look like?

It kinda looks like white cotton. When they swim fast some of it detaches and is floating in the water. The eyes have cleared up but the edge of the fins are still frayed and thick w/ this white stuff. I thought it could be a bacterial infection cause it happed super quick but I'm not the expert.
thank you
Yolanda

take a look at this link Link to pics/descriptions and see if it looks like any of the stuff on there.
-the frayed fins sound like ammonia poisoning, do you know your ammonia levels? what day did you change the water?

sound like a bacterial infection caused by high ammonia. a anti bacterial med will work . as well as doing regular water changes like you have been, if you have added the salt do a water cahnge asap. That is WAY to much salt int he tank the recomended dose is 1/2 a tsp per gallon. you will probly kill your fish adding that much.

amonia reads between 3.0 and 6.0. the last day I changed the water was Friday.
Hubby put in Tetracycaline and the cloudy eye has cleared up beautifully and the splotches have diminished. Now the water has Amquel+, stress coat and tetracycaline. Can the "instant conditioner & fish protector from Kordon" be used at this time for the amonia w/ everything else that's in there???
the fish look so much better.
What do you recommend???
Thankyou for the link, it proved invaluable but there were no pictures that really showed the frayed tail and the bold outline of the tail white in color.

Alright, do you want a quickfix? That water is bad.. I'd actually recommend getting them into a rubbermaid tub -- fix it up with the filter, and add amquel BEFORE you put in the fish.


How to transfer the fish:
1) put water from the tank in a ziplock baggie....remove a fish with the net, put it into the bag. DO NOT CLOSE IT. [[sorry for caps]]

2) hold the bag in the water, to adjust the temperature of the water in the bag, to the water in the rubbermaid. you've no time to let the water sit out all night to become room temp'd.

3) ...add in a bit of the water from the rubbermaid, to in the ziplock bag. Hold for a little while longer.

4) Repeat, with a bit more water.

5) ...Repeat, with a bit more water...and then, hold, for a few seconds...before pouring in the fish.

6) Do this as many times as you need to, to get all the fish into the rubbermaid.

7) catch all the fuzzies in the rubbermaid, that you can, with the net, and dispose of them.

That ammonia is horrible. Ammonia should never get over 2, or it can get dangerous for your fish.

Really, get those fish out of that water...how often do you change the tankwater?? I'm very concerned that your fish have ammonia poisoning.

You might also want to put in some strained water from their tank, but it sounds like you're really overdoing the chemicals.

Like you know...strain it to get out the fuzzy crap the best you can, put it in the rubbermaid with them as not to shock them. ...those poor fish. After that, I would recommend...completely recycling that entire tank, because it sounds like that water is pretty defunct

and if you do recycle, then leave the fish in the rubbermaid. Something like an old window screen would be fine if you're worried about a top 'er somthin.

wow! ammonia is realy high you should do water chages intill it is 0. you probly will have too start your cycle over, that sucks but im the mean time wile you are medicating just keep the levels down and worrie about cycling after they are better.

yes, i agree, that ammonia is REALLY high, i'm suprised the fish aren't dead with it being so high. an immediate, big water change is needed ASAP!

This is definitely ammonia problems Hun.......How long has this tank been up? Sorry if you already answered this just wondering.

Also what kind of filters on this tank? How often are you feeding? How big of a tank?


My suggestion is to do water changes of 20% every day until you get it to the 0-1 this way the fish will be able to handle it and the cycle of the tank will catch up to the ammonia levels.......

Red fins are a good clue like you have of ammonia burns......Also once the ammonia is down then I would use Melafix this will help the fins to heal

This is definitely ammonia problems Hun.......How long has this tank been up? Sorry if you already answered this just wondering.
Also what kind of filters on this tank? How often are you feeding? How big of a tank?
My suggestion is to do water changes of 20% every day until you get it to the 0-1 this way the fish will be able to handle it and the cycle of the tank will catch up to the ammonia levels.......

Red fins are a good clue like you have of ammonia burns......Also once the ammonia is down then I would use Melafix this will help the fins to heal

Wow, I've had this tank for close to a year now. feeding 2x a day if that, usually only in the morn and hubby says I over feed cause the filter gets filthy.

I only have a 5 gal which I know is too small for my fish, a 36-38 gall is on the way as soon as I can help lift it to get it home w/ hubby's help. Water changes were what ruined my water to begin with. I forgot to add Amquel+ BEFORE putting in the clean water--dumb me. the fish are due for another dose of Tetracycline today.

My filters are: Cascade 100-Power filters. I always have a gallon of room temp water on hand cause I was changing water daily to bring down the nitrites which were super dark pink on the test strips.

Thank you attaching sick fish's jpg. (see message above)I really appreciate all your help. The red fins have small red (looks like) veins going thru them and I thought this was ok. This pic didn't really catch the thick white outline of the fins which is almost gone today and they are active. I will test the water at lunch and report back here.
Thank you ALL for all your help in this matter,
There is more than just putting in water for fish.

What size rubbermaid tub???

No, definately not ok for red veins to be seen in the fins. My fish looked like that before he died (of ammonia poisoning).

I'd say do big water changes daily (which you already said you have been) If that is not bringing your ammonia down, you should get a rubbermaid tub. They sell large ones at wal mart for like $5 or $6! You could just hook your filter up to that until you get your 36 gallon tank.

just make sure you wipe it and rinse it out before putting fish in it

well tap water has 0 amonia. This weekend I'm hoping to completely clean out the tank and try not to over feed.
Everyone here has been totally great in helping me.
Thank you all!!!!!!!!!!