Is this normal behavior?

[Giggalz]

Howdy roo! So kind of an update. I lost both FH I've been having issues with. Im pretty sure it was due to parasites. I did tear down my tank and tried to disinfect everything. Got the tank back up and running. For christmas I was given another flower horn purchased on eBay....a little pricier. Its been a week and hes not eaten for me. Doesn't really swim around either. He hangs around in certain spots and that's about it.

I've been testing everyday to keep tabs on things..so my tests results as of now are

Ph 7.6
High range ph 7.4
Ammonia 0 ppm
Nitrites 0 ppm
Nitrates looks like 40 ppm

I've been having nitrate issues. I have well water. I've never had issues with fish and being bothered by nitrates and I've had fish my whole life from the same well. But in my attempts to keep the last two alive..its been a battle. I was gifted a filter that takes out the nitrates so I've been using that..its taking me a long time to filter the water so its like an all day thing to filter 23 cups at a time and then warming it up. Sadly the filter only lasted a week so I'm trying to figure other ways to solve the nitrate issue. (So far nitra zorb does not work)

I was worried about another fish after the last fiasco. And I could be worrying for nothing..but he's timid..scared of food even and just not really swimming around has me worried.

Sorry so long I can type a lot lol

 

[Giggalz]

no worries...he will most likely die at this point.

 

[pops]

why not have a HoB or 2 atleast? and if you disinfected the tank, and all components you more than likes have no bio filtration happening.

I would suggest setting up the tank, getting some filtration and cycling it before adding any fish.

What size tank are we talking about?

 

[Giggalz]

The tank has been set up. He has never ate for me so there's no waste going on. Its a 55 gallon. I just fished him off the filter intake still alive so he will most likely not make it at this point