Hello. Having a bad time just now and would really appreciate some help.
Went on holiday a couple of weeks ago. Left instructions with neighbour for feeding our two tiny goldfish. These can't have been clear enough, because on our return, one of the fish was lying on the bottom of the tank, clearly very ill, and the water was filthy, with lots of uneaten food and general murk, so I assume they'd been very over fed.
Filled another smaller tank with treated water and quickly transferred both fish and filter media. But two sponges were so horribly clogged, i decided to rinse well under tap because assumed there would be enough reserve bacteria in the unrinsed media. Emptied first tank and refilled with tap water, then treated this - I now realise I must have killed all bacteria in the gravel before putting the dechlorinator in.
Maybe you can tell where this is going. Transferred fish back. No improvement in ill fish and two days later he died. Tested water - ammonia 0.5 ppm. No nitrites. Think I must have killed most of the bacteria in trying to save the fish and now the tank is cycling.
Other fish now ill. Spends 80% of time lying almost immobile on floor of tank looking near death, but is eating and sporadically active. Am doing 40% water changes daily (80 litre tank) to keep ammonia as low as possible. Yesterday was nitrite spike at 0.25 ppm, ammonia 0 ppm, nitrate 10 ppm. Today ammonia is 0.25ppm and nitrite 0ppm. Nitrate still 10 ppm.
What is going on? How long will it take the tank to cycle and am I doing the right thing by changing the water so much, or prolonging the process and thus causing more pain for the fish? I don't know if he'll get better but I don't want to make him suffer any more than I have already.
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Nightmare!
5 replies
EmmaBemma · 28/06/2012 19:06
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