My (second to) smallest Oranda Annie has developed some nasty SB problems over the course of 12 hours. Last night she was acting the way she usually does; rest on bottom of tank until food time, swim around a bit with tank mates, return to corner. (Resting on the bottom is another one of her problems, her two other tank mates NEVER rest on the bottom) When I went in this morning I saw her floating at the surface... I was quite alarmed as I recognize fish-at-the-surface to be dead. I scooted one yank down to face her but she perked up right away and gave an honest effort to swim normal. She can still make it to the bottom (when she tries her hardest) and isn't showing any other symptoms really. Just goes to the surface to gulp air for no apparent reason.

If anyone remembers, I have the tank-from-hell that won't cycle so of course my;

Nitrates = 0
Ammonia = 0 (which is odd as there usually IS some ammonia)
Nitrites = 0

I have dinky little Whisper 20i on the tank which is 20 gallons.
I try to change water every day but I'm not the best with it, so I really aim for every other day. I do about a 50% water change. Between 50%-70%
3 fish, 2 are about 2.5 inches the sick fish is largest at about 3.5 inches.
I started using a new water conditioner by API.
No meds in tank
One new fish. Added a couple of days ago.. (I don't know if this helps any but this new fish has a rather smashed in face, it's not an 'open' wound, appears to be completely healed but it looks like at one point it probably was an open wound.
I feed the Orandas (the newest fish and the sick one) Hikari Oranda gold (the floating kind, but I let it soak for a looong time then also smash it with my finger so it actually does sink), the fantail gets some Tetra brand sinking mini sticks.
No unusual findings other than bottom resting and the sudden floating at the surface.

What type of test kit are you using for water params?
Since your Nitrates are reading 0,it can't be them irritating the fish.How much food do you actually feed them per day,and have you tried doing smaller portions at feeding time? What does her poop look like-normal little break-away chunks,or long thick pieces?
Do you have any sort of Airstone or Bubble wall running for extra aeration?
It was really not wise to add another fish while trying to get the tank cycled,that could start up a whole lot of new problems for you,besides the fact that you didn't quarrantine your new fish before you added him.
You may also want to look into a stronger filter also.

It's a freshwater master test kit by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals.
I feed (the sick fish) between 2 and 4 pieces twice a day. I feed peas on the weekends (with regular food)
I have not seen any poop from her in a looong time. Though I may just be missing it.
Yes, I have an airstone.
I have room to put her by herself if need be. There would be zero filtration but I have another air pump.
I better filter is something I'm looking into.

Hi, sorry to ask but do you shake the second bottle of nitrate test solution for 30 seconds? I use to think i had no nitrates until someone asked me the same question.


karla

Yes, I shake the bottle good and long.

I just wanted to say that I have the Whisper 20i also and there is not a lot of great places for bacteria to grow. How often are you changing the filter floss? Are you rinsing the sponge at all? You want to leave the sponge alone unless it gets so mucky that you have to rinse it out, and then just swish it around in used tank water, never anything with chlorine. Same goes for the cartridge, only change it when it is falling apart, and when it gets mucky swish it around in used tank water to get some of the guck out.

Since it only does 125 gallons per hour you may want to get a stronger one or add a second filter anyway, but I added some ceramic cylinders to the back of the filter and since then my cycle has been more stable.

I was going to ask you about the nitrates test too, making sure you were shaking the second bottle for 30 seconds, then shaking th test tube for a full minute once everything was added-I messed that up a few times myself, so glad you are doing it correctly!

Good luck with your fish!