radu Posted February 5, 2006 Report Share Posted February 5, 2006 Hi could someone please try and shed some light on this? One of my larger fish, that has been well and healthy. Has suddenly started to go to the bottom of the tank and tends to put his head down a tad and his tail sits up head down tail up kinda thing. He swims around well for a while and then just lands down on the bottom of the tank like this. Have put aquarium salt/tonic salt in the tank but he has been doing this for around 24 hours. Was thinking about maybe giving him a salt bath, but a bit unsure of how much salt to put into the bucket for the bath. He seemed okay on Friday and yet last night started this weird behaviour. Water parameters are good but I do have a algae bloom that has made my tank really cloudy and no matter what I try it does not go. Have used water clarifier and also put in Bio chem zorb and carbon in my cannister filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted February 5, 2006 Report Share Posted February 5, 2006 Hi Radu, It's called "Head Standing" and it is a symptom caused by Intestinal worms, Kidney damage, toxic water (do immediate water change) female fish may do this when they become exhausted from the male's breeding attempts. My guess would be toxic water with the situation you described. Change your water. Lots of it. The carbon may help but it's a tough call on if it would be enough. Good luck and I hope your tank recovers. What kind of fish, by the way? Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted February 5, 2006 Report Share Posted February 5, 2006 I do have a algae bloom that has made my tank really cloudy and no matter what I try it does not go. Can you describe this "bloom"...? If it's green.. then it is indeed algae.. (commonly called green water) If it is foggy.. like a whitish cloud.. then it is a "Bacteria" bloom.. but as above.. both will require quite a few partial water changes. How hot is the tank..? Some fish linger on the bottom because it is cooler.. so check your temp. Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radu Posted February 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2006 Hi Well the next day he was fine, I kinda think that he might have swallowed a pebble, as he was also moving his mouth a lot as if he was trying to force something out. I gave him peas hoping that they would help move out what was in there, as I know they are a good bowel mover for fish. Over night something occured as he is back to good health. I do need help regarding the algae bloom though have tried water changes but nothing seems to lift it. When I take the water out there is definitely a green tinge to it. Fish are not suffering at all though which is always good. Can anyone out there please help me with getting rid of the green water it has been present for ages. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quack Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 the green water would be caused by to much light or phoshates or both. block out the light from the tank completly and do water changes every 2-3 days until its gone. how long do u leave your lights on for try and keep them on for about 10-12 hours a day and also how much do you feed your fish over feeding can cause the phoshate level to rise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radu Posted February 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Hi Thanks for the response about the green algae problem. Could you please expand on the block the light part. Do you mean cover the tank so that absolutely no light can get in for a few days or just leave the light off? I leave the tank light on for 12 hours each day and have the main light in the room on for a couple of hours longer. If I do cover the tank for a few days won't that make my fish suffer? maybe, sleep for long periods and get depressed in some way?? (might sound silly but I do wonder the effect it would have on them?) I notice when I turn off their light they do seem to quieten down and eventually go to sleep I guess. Could you also please tell me how much water should I take out every couple of days? yesterday I took out approx 40 litres and the tank is 200 litres. Also, are my fish suffering at all from this green algae water? they seem okay but I wonder if they can see each other very clearly too?? To date I have tried to leave the tank for a week with no water changes, water changes each day for around a week, the bio chem zorb, a new filter (with the old good bacteria in it so it is not cycling at all), extra carbon, water clarifier and nothing has worked. I even had a the guy from the Hutt pet centre come over (paid him $30.00) to help but even that has failed! I feel like giving a prize to the person that can actually give me the right idea to make it go away!!! I find it extremely frustrating and ugly to look at. Please someone help!! (But I also don't want to stress my fish out at all through the process!). THANKS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 hey i dont know alot about them but you could get one of those UV water thingy majigs off trademe.... p.s. whats the prize **EVIL** :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radu Posted February 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Hi Well I am happy to give a reward to thank the person that really helps me to eliminate this problem. If there is anyone out there that is really experienced in Fish keeping and would be happy to have a look at my setup and tell me what they think I would really appreciate it. If anyone is willing to assist please feel free to send me a private message. Don't know if it is okay to put this message here but would anyone in Wellington be willing to help out? I live in J'ville. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discusguru Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 yes , buy a UV filter and hook it up to your filter. You only need a 5watt UV and the water will be clear in a week. Make sure you have filter wool in the filter to trap the dead algea. HTH ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Better to find the cause of the algae bloom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radu Posted February 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Hi But are there any drawbacks or mistakes that can happen from using one of these UV filters?? Am happy to buy one if it will work, is there anyone out there that could help me with advice and maybe installation. I am not mechanically minded and am not a pro with fishkeeping. Is there anyone out there that has used one of these and could assist in anyway? Would prefer to have someone look over my tank setup and assist in installing it if they are sure that it is the right thing to do, do not want to either hurt or loose any of my fish in the process of trying to cure this algae problem. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim&Dan Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Sorry to hear about your algae problem I don't really know what to tell you apart from what has already been said... :-? I agree with Caryl. We never had a UV filter and always had crystal clear water. The occasional bacterial blooms were dealt with without it. Never had an algae bloom though. You were wondering about the block-the-light part: from what I know you actually try to cover the whole tank in order to avoid ANY light getting in there for a few days. You can use cardboard or something that will cover the sides of the tank. I don't think you have to worry too much about the fishes getting depressed in the darkness IMHO - it would only be for a couple of days. They might however loose some of their colouring in the dark - this will soon come back after they are exposed to light again. The amount of water you have been changing (20%) sounds right to me. If you want to try something less drastic for a start: try reducing the lighting period from 12 hours to say 8 hours. Usually one should have the lights on for 10-12 hours, as Quack correctly pointed out. Maybe your lighting is very strong? Don't worry about the prize. IMHO a helpful piece of advice should be free on the internet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radu Posted February 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Hi Thanks all for your assistance - I have now covered the tank with my parrot cage cover which is really large and completly black, so will leave that on for a couple of days and then hopefully there will be some improvement. I guess I will feed my fish through little gaps in the cover so that not much light gets in. Will let you all know what the outcome is. I take you word for it that my fish are not going to be ultra stressed by being covered for two days? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanksman Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Yea they'll be fine... And they don't really need feeding either Seems cruel ay - but they can eat algae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discusguru Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 isn't covering the tank a short term solution? Agree that it is always best to find the cause. What food are you feeding them? Maybe there is too much phosphate in the food. Can you post a few photo of your tank? Cheers, ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radu Posted February 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Hi I think the problem started when I changed the lighthood to a PL lighthood that is pretty strong. I had it on my other tank and sure enough green algae started within a week. Thought the position of this tank was somewhat darker (but in the same room) so tried the PL light on it and sure enough that is when the green water started. Have now changed the light to a one tube weaker light, and will use this from now on. The other tank has now got two smaller tank lights on both sides each tube seems to be 9 watt. Noticed that the lighting is much cooler looking and not as bright. I was misled at the beginning told that the PL lighting also benefited the fish, but now realise ithat the PL light really only serves to look pleasant to the human eye and that the fish are probably even more okay with the amount of light I have in the tank now. (Well the cover is still on the tank stopping all light going in). Will remove it on Thursday night or I guess as 48 hoiurs will be up at 10 pm might remove it on Friday morning? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radu Posted February 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Just wondered though, does covering the tank increase or change any of the readings of the tank? ie. is there a chance of my nitrates increasing after doing this? should I do a water change after the 48 hours? the nitrates are sitting at 10 at the moment. All other readings are good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quack Posted February 9, 2006 Report Share Posted February 9, 2006 a while back i had this problem really bad, so bad that i could only see the fish when they were right up at the glass. completly cover the tank so that no light can get in. do water changes every 2-3 days (about 25% or so) only feed them every secound day (helps get the phoshate level down) i also got this stuff to help to which is a light greeny blue colour and looks like is a chocolate block from the pet shop, which i just put in the recomeded amount. also give your gravel a good syphon to because the fish waste in there will feed the algae do this for about a week and a half or until its not green anymore the green water wont be bad for your fish. how long has the tank been setup for? you should also get your tap water tested for its phoshate levels. once i got the problem gone my tanks have been crystel clear since. i know how much it sucks looking at a green tank but it will go away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radu Posted February 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2006 Thanks so much for the info, well I did cover the tank from 10 pm Monday till Tuesday at 7 pm. I can't help it I really felt sorry for my fish, and noticed that when I took a peck one was slowly moving at the bottom yep probably sleeping but as they are so dear to me I just couldn't cover them for 48 hours and just leave be. So what I am doing is feed them in the morning putting the light on then turn the light off for the rest of the day till the evening when they have it on for around half an hour to eat their second meal. The tank has been up and running since November and is fully cycled. I tried to take pic but could not work out how to load it up on here for you all to see what it looks like. Must say that the water has cleared a tad. Went into a website that said to do 20 per cent water change daily and starve the tank of light for long hours as I am now doing. Went to see the UV clarifier in the petshop and saw how expensive they are, I guess it might be just a matter of time before I get rid of this problem. I will look into the objects just previously mentioned and try them as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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