20 inch dovii seems sick

[twhittle]

So those of you who saw my principal office fish thread, this is the guy. I picked up a 20 inch dovii in SF and put him solo in my 210 at work. He hasn't been eating and today he has been real still and breathing heavily. He is no longer going after my hand. Here is what I can tell you to this point.

1. I have two AC 110's, one fluval 305, and one fluval fx5. The fx5 is new, and I cleaned the AC 110's in my sink prior to putting him in. I did not clean the fluval 305. So to recap, I have 3 of the filters which are either new, or cleaned out. I was thinking that if I did nothing with the 305 then no mini-cycle would happen.

2. I tested my water today with an API freshwater kit. 0 ammonia and 0 nititrite. Nitrates were at 10 ppm. I will however admit that this test kit is between 18-24 months old. I have heard that they are not accurate after a certain period of time.

3. I did a 75% water change prior to placing him in the tank.

Given this information, any advice or thoughts are appreciated.

 

[pdbrady]

I've tested my tank with a new kit simultaneously with one as one as old as yours, and got the same results. I don't know what others have experienced. He may just be stressed from all the moves...from original home, to store, to your 75, to the 220, all within about a week (?). He may just need some time. At his size, a few days of not eating won't kill him. If not better in a few days, and still no materialized proof of anything I'd at least do a waterchange.

 

[cchhcc]

Heavy breathing is often a sign of high ammonia or nitrite (both of which could result from your cleaning of the filters if you were too aggressive in your efforts). I'd make a large water change and see how he behaves.

 

[pdbrady]

Somehow I overlooked the heavy breathing part. I thought he was just not eating or being active, sorry. I agree, I would move that water change up the list.

 

[twhittle]

Okay...I will do that. But like I said, 0 ammonia when I tested.

 

[twhittle]

Also, is my one cycled fluval 305 filter not enough beneficial bacteria to stop a mini cycle?

 

[johnptc]

water temp ???
dechlor ???


add airstones

 

[cchhcc]

Also, is my one cycled fluval 305 filter not enough beneficial bacteria to stop a mini cycle?

"Cycled" is a loaded term. That filter was cycled exactly to the level of the bio-load it faced (actually, only its PORTION of that bio-load as the other filters spread out the bacteria). Unless the filter was on a very heavily stocked tank it could be overloaded by the massive strain of a large dovii.

John made some good points. A high temp would lessen the dissolved O2, so additional aeration could be needed. Similar to the issue above, what had been sufficient agitation and oxygenation previously may not now be enough for the demands of that large animal.

.....and the dechlor thing happens to us all at least once. Last year I made about my 100 millionth water change and couldn't figure out why the fish in one of my tanks were gasping......... &%$*&...... I FORGOT THE DECHLOR! A few minutes later everything was in order.

 

[twhittle]

Temp is 82-84. I used prime by seachem after the wc, and I have two powerheads going as well. I took a penguin biowheel that is running on my 75 and added it to the tank to increase the beneficial bacteria. Should I drop the temp?

 

[twhittle]

"Cycled" is a loaded term. That filter was cycled exactly to the level of the bio-load it faced (actually, only its PORTION of that bio-load as the other filters spread out the bacteria). Unless the filter was on a very heavily stocked tank it could be overloaded by the massive strain of a large dovii.

John made some good points. A high temp would lessen the dissolved O2, so additional aeration could be needed. Similar to the issue above, what had been sufficient agitation and oxygenation previously may not now be enough for the demands of that large animal.

.....and the dechlor thing happens to us all at least once. Last year I made about my 100 millionth water change and couldn't figure out why the fish in one of my tanks were gasping......... &%$*&...... I FORGOT THE DECHLOR! A few minutes later everything was in order.

The tank was stocked with 14 medium to large (6-14 inch) cichlids prior to the dovii.