HELP - sun spot cat upside down at bottom of tank

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
i'll have to look at the water test kit, but I tested nitrate, nitrite, PH, , and two other things, and everything was smack in the middle of the acceptable range. I'll dig up all the results when I get home as well, assuming the fish is still breathing when I get home.
 
API freshwater master test kit - PH - 7.0, Ammonia .25ppm, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0.
Temp in the main tan is 78, temp in the med tank is 76. added a aerator to the med tank for more oxygen.
 
he's still alive swam around a bit when I got home, but is back to being on his back now. When I moved him into the med tank, I did 50% water from main tank and 50% new.
 
Nitrate of zero is suspicious. It cannot be, usually, even in heavily planted tanks: http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=39714

But NO3 does not bother me much atm.

NH3 of 0.25 ppm is not and never is acceptable. Long term exposure to this level of NH3 will lead to immune system breakdown, illness, and death. Properly run tanks must read NH3 zero even after heavy feedings, even if overstocked (for tank size, not the bio-filter size). There does not exist "an acceptable range" for NH3 on that kit.

I think this is the root of your problem.

The aeration sounds ok, unless your bio-filter and tank are stuffed with organic waste, which will deprive the good bacteria of oxygen - it will be used up by aerobic bacteria breaking down the organic = carbon waste which outcompetes the BB = nitrifying bacteria for oxygen.
 
I rechecked the levels to be sure I was remembering them right, as I did not write them down. N03 is somewhere between 0-5ppm, closer to zero, more yellow than orange. Ammonia is at or close to 0, yellow in color. ph 6.8.
all other fish n the main tank are healthy and eating well.
Stock in he 210 is as follows:
20" fire eel
2 10" sunspot cats
4 parrot ciclids
1 6" marble bullhead cat
4 6" synos
1 10" pleco
3 5" jack dempseys
 
This sounds better, Adam. Yet, if your NH3 is occasionally higher than zero, it is bound to lead to health problems.

I am still surprised by the low NO3 reading. With this stock, you'd need to do 75%-90% WCs daily with water with zero NO3 to bring the NO3 to be so low.
 
id say based on the color of the test water, that the NO3 is definitely less than 10. At this point I'm not sure what if anything can do. he appears hungry, and otherwise healthy. Trying to decide if I should try to give him food. should try to find a way to keep him upright, or try to feel his body for abnormalities
 
I guess you either underfeed by a lot or the test is expired / have not been kept properly (high temp; not kept in a dark place; forgot to close; etc.)

If he ate, that'd be a great sign. I'd feed and observe. If he continues eating, I'd give him antiparasitic meds, such as Praziquantel+Metronidazole, or simply Epson salt, with food. If no effect, I'd follow with a broad spectrum antibiotic, such as Triple sulfa or Erythromycin.
 
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