Hello, just found this site; hope you can help us. We have a ten gallon tank, have had one Ryukin and one Oranda in it for about two years. Both came from same tank at pet store, have been fine with only minimal water changes filter changes. I have a penguin 100 filter unit in tank. Unfortunately, I was neglegtful in cleaning the tank, last night the bigger one with the head growth (Ialways forget which is which!) was lying down on one side at bottom of tank, unable to get up other than circles on his side. I did some research online, appears to maybe be nitrate/nitrite/ammonia reaction? This a.m. I did a drastic-80%-water change and sent hubby to store where he purchased test strips for ph,hardness, alkalinity,Nitrite and Nitrate.
Test results after water change are as follows:
Nitrate high,unsafe 160ppm
Nitrite caution 0.5ppm
hardness very hard 300gh ppm
total alkalinity very low 0
ph neutral 6.8
After initial testing I added 1 gallon bottled spring water and 1 teaspoon Amquel+ (as per instructions to reduce nitrate/nitrite/ammonia). Second test results read almost the same, with Nitrite readings maybe a little lower. Since what I read earlier seems to indicate fish will starve before dying of this condition, I gave him 2 frozen peas earlier today which he LOVED-had never had before. He is still lying on his side but color seems better, less red in tail/fins. The other fish- fantail type-seems fine. Other than wait, is there anything else I can do? I live way out in the country, so getting to the fish store is not always easy- but my fish have never been much work before. I sure would hate to lose King Neptune, though, he is my daughter's favorite. Much thanks in advance for any help you can give,
Mapgirl7[/b]
Test results after water change are as follows:
Nitrate high,unsafe 160ppm
Nitrite caution 0.5ppm
hardness very hard 300gh ppm
total alkalinity very low 0
ph neutral 6.8
After initial testing I added 1 gallon bottled spring water and 1 teaspoon Amquel+ (as per instructions to reduce nitrate/nitrite/ammonia). Second test results read almost the same, with Nitrite readings maybe a little lower. Since what I read earlier seems to indicate fish will starve before dying of this condition, I gave him 2 frozen peas earlier today which he LOVED-had never had before. He is still lying on his side but color seems better, less red in tail/fins. The other fish- fantail type-seems fine. Other than wait, is there anything else I can do? I live way out in the country, so getting to the fish store is not always easy- but my fish have never been much work before. I sure would hate to lose King Neptune, though, he is my daughter's favorite. Much thanks in advance for any help you can give,
Mapgirl7[/b]