My Ray's not doing so hot... please help

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
E

echidna

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 1, 2008
7
0
0
Canada
I'm extremely concerned about my Motoro... since last night she's become very listless and just kind of sits in one place. She's not buried, she'll just sit there.

Earlier she was lifting the front of her disk, like she was breathing in the water, and she'd just sit there doing that, but she's not doing that right now either.

I had a bad ammonia spike last night that I'm still trying to get under control, I'm not sure if I should do yet another water change though. I did 2x50% last night and then another 50% this morning, as well as completely cleaning the filter and everything.

My main concern is that her one eye is filmed over right now... and I may just be paranoid, but there are a bunch of white marks on the edge of her disk. Im not sure if they were there before or as bad as they are now, or if its even anything...

Ammonia: 1.0
Nitrite: 0.5
Nitrate: 5.0

In the time that I took to write this post though, she's started moving around more, and it looks like she might be looking through the sand.... she's kind of making 'I'm looking for food' motions, but I'm not certain, since she's not right up against the glass blowing sand.

Please help... I really don't want to lose her... Not that any of us ever do...

IMG_0125.jpg

IMG_0127.jpg
 
do you have another tank????? you cleaned the filter and did a water change = bad news... no benificial bacteria to break down any waste... if you can take a filter from another tank to add to the tank also if you are using something that nuetralizes chlramines... it will give you faulse readings on your amonia
 
When I say I cleaned my Filter, I mean I removed the old Media and put in new... Didn't completely get rid of everything that has good bacteria

I'm not sure what you mean by neutralizing chloramines though... I'm using standard Fluval Zeocarb, Ammonia remover and Biomax in my Filter, and Aquasafe in the water.

In addition to the filter, I have a Powerhead with the water polishing pad attachment that I didn't touch. I do have a second Aquarium that has two Internal Whisper Filters that I could pull one out of and put in there for a while, if you still think it will be beneficial.
 
Is this a new tank going through a cycle or did it crash for some reason? what reason? why the ammonia?

if your water is same temp, pH, hardness, when doing water change it should not matter how many you do in a day, just try to be as non obtrusive as possible.

yes, add an internal filter from another tank, it can't hurt.

could there be a source for this ammonia you haven't thought of? like a big piece of left over food somewhere?
 
You took too much media out which resulted in too much new media in. Prime says it neutralizes nitrates in emergencies if you do up to 4x the suggested dose, but I've never tried. Best way is to do what turkeyboy said, either move her to another tank or get a filter from an existing tank and use that to seed your filter.
 
I'm moving in the other filter right now...

Also, the white film over her eye there seems to have 'burst' for lack of a better term. It looks as though she has burst a blood vessel in her eye. I can't get a picture of it though because of her location.

I added in an airline, moving the other filter in, sifted through the sand as best I could without disturbing her... should I add salt to the water? I do have some, but never use it as I'm always afraid to. I use it in my hospital tank (10g, she can't fit...) and my hospital tank has a zero percent recovery rate...

She is completely alone in her tank though. I don't necessarily think it was an ammonia spike as it was me not getting a chance to change her water recently. (stupid work) I am currently having a nice large tank built for her, but until thats done, I'm stuck with what I have...
 
I would add salt.

echidna;2692863; said:
my hospital tank has a zero percent recovery rate...
Click to expand...

:eek: Why is that?
 
To help with the ammonia problem, dose prime (as directed on the bottle). Add 3 lbs of salt per 100 gallons, keep the tank dark, and add any media from established tanks that you can directly into your fluval.

If you have another tank established, move her there.

If there isn't enough oxygen, add a bubbler. Remove any pesky tank-mates, and feed her as much as she will eat. I really hope she pulls through!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom