Please help steve!

[bahamaqt00]

I just purchased Steve, my motoro ray about a month ago. When I got him he was perfectly healthy, no hip bones or anything, perfect color, just an awesome fish. But about a week after he got used to the new aquarium the tank turned into a disaster. The ph shot up to 8.8 and the amonia was past 8.0 and the water was so cloudy you couldn't even see the other side. (55gal tank) We tried everything (I mean everything our budget could afford) to try and fix this problem. Our other fish started to die and steve wasn't eating so we were forced to do a 100% start over. We bought new sand, cycled it properly took out all the decorations, re-added the fish. A week later now Steve is just now starting to eat again but he looks terrible. He has a huge indent on his forhead and you can see his ribs or whatever those things are. I included a picture. We tested the water today and the amonia is going up to 8.0 AGAIN and the water is starting to get cloudy. I just don't know what to do. I know he needs a bigger tank but he is only about 4-5" so I thought a 55 gal would be fine for now. (we are saving for a 200gal) Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I just get sad every time I look at him and it's not fair to him!

Thank you.

 

[Gshock]

I just purchased Steve, my motoro ray about a month ago. When I got him he was perfectly healthy, no hip bones or anything, perfect color, just an awesome fish. But about a week after he got used to the new aquarium the tank turned into a disaster. The ph shot up to 8.8 and the amonia was past 8.0 and the water was so cloudy you couldn't even see the other side. (55gal tank) We tried everything (I mean everything our budget could afford) to try and fix this problem. Our other fish started to die and steve wasn't eating so we were forced to do a 100% start over. We bought new sand, cycled it properly took out all the decorations, re-added the fish. A week later now Steve is just now starting to eat again but he looks terrible. He has a huge indent on his forhead and you can see his ribs or whatever those things are. I included a picture. We tested the water today and the amonia is going up to 8.0 AGAIN and the water is starting to get cloudy. I just don't know what to do. I know he needs a bigger tank but he is only about 4-5" so I thought a 55 gal would be fine for now. (we are saving for a 200gal) Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I just get sad every time I look at him and it's not fair to him!

Thank you.

-55 gallon WAY too small for a ray no matter the size
-I would've thought that much ammonia would've killed that ray long ago
-How much filtration do you have on that tank
-What did u actually try to do to solve the problem?
-Amonia spike becuase your ray's bioload too big for your filtration probably
-Sand probably makes the situation worse now
-you didnt re-ycle your tank with the ray inside it did you?
-How did you manage to cycle your tank in a week?

All i can say right now, start doing everyday water changes. Keep it simple, siphon water out, add water in, add dechlor and walk away. Do NOT tamper with your water anymore. You might want to flush your tank with a couple 50% wc back to back with 1-2 hours in between. Start doing more frequent wc too, maybe 30-40% a day, yes, EVERY day, dont slack.

 

[Zoodiver]

More info please.

Filter set up?
Other fish (sizes and numbers)?
How much food are you dumping into it?

Sounds like things are being rushed, and you're seeing the negative effects of it.
For now: 50% changes. Keep your lights off. Light feedings.
At an NH3 level of 8, you're lucky it's alive. I've never seen ammonia get that high in a tank with living fish in it.

 

[vamptrev]

heres a good read on cycling... http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=207575

 

[lincolngoh]

You should have readied the aquarium a month with no PH fluctuations before getting shopping for the ray.

Since you got it all wrong, remove the ray, remove all the substrate, change all the water and refill with dechlorinated water. Add blackwater/peat & beneficial bacteria, to soften the water. Wait for the water to clear in 3 hours before putting the ray back acclimatising it slowly over an hour.

Maintain frequent water change to combat the initial ammonia spikes new tanks are susceptible to.

You may add in a cup-full of substrate every week a month later to see how it goes, if you really need to have substrate. Thats probably whats causing the PH jump.

Never add anything into your tank without knowing it's effect.

 

[FishDog]

First off, I hope the fish you listed in your signature are not the fish in the 55 with your ray. Second, please list what kind of filtration you are running. A ray that size can live in a 55 for a short time but you will need massive filtration. By massive I mean a sump, or multiple canisters. If you are only running HOB filters, they won't be enough. I have 3 8" rays in a 75 right now short term but I am running a 375 gpm canister, a 30 gallon sump, and 2 HOB filters. If you have canister or sump filtration, go to your LFS and see if they will sell you some bio media out of one of there filters. I have done this in the past. My LFS just gave some bio media to me to help cycle an old tank faster. Your ray still has a chance to live but you have to get the ammonia under control. How old is your kit and are you sure you are using it correctly? 8.0 on ammonia is off the charts. I don't think anything can live in that high of ammonia.

 

[bahamaqt00]

Alright, Well first of all thank you for all the replies. I think by all your input I have figured out the main huge problem. I don't have enough filtration! I am only running 2 HOB filters to the tank. I did research on ray's before I got this one but I never read anything about needing a ton on filtration. Obviously I need a bigger tank which I think we are going to get this weekend. (Probably a 150gal) Right now I am putting quite a bit of food in there so Steve will gain some weight but I am making sure if there is any leftovers, I get them out of the tank immediately. The fish that are in the tank now are 2 blood parrots, a small flowerhorn, a pleco, and a biker. They are all non agressive and have never picked on the ray so I'm pretty sure he is not stressed because of the other fish. I talk to the guy at my LFS almost everyday and he knows my exact situation. I have put carbon in the filters, used safestart, put a bog log in, and have done many other things that he has suggested to fix this problem.

So is the bottom line that Steve creates too much amonia and I don't have enough filtration to get it all out?
And if I get a bigger tank with more filtration will the problem be solved?

Again, Thank you for the help!

 

[Austin]

the ray alone is overstock for the tank. do 50%+ wc's a day. go buy a big canister and try to get some seeded media from a friend or something. it's gonna take a bit of luck and a lot of work to salvage this if ammonia is that high, but it can be done. oh, get the new tank now, like yesterday....

 

[torres]

the ray alone is overstock for the tank. do 50%+ wc's a day. go buy a big canister and try to get some seeded media from a friend or something. it's gonna take a bit of luck and a lot of work to salvage this if ammonia is that high, but it can be done. oh, get the new tank now, like yesterday....

Owh wut did he say? Hope you can take good care your water change everyday until you get bigger new tank or reduce your other fish or remove your rays.. your choice rather then kill em all

 

[FishDog]

I don't care how big your HOB's are, they are really only good for mechanical filtration. My 75 gallon is my QT tank. I first set it up with 2 HOB's about a year ago. Each HOB was rated for a 55 gallon tank. I brought in 2 5 inch rays and in the first day the ammonia started to climb to 1.5. That is why today I have so much filtration on it. You need massive canister filters or a sump to handle the bio load. Spend your money on the filtration now, then worry about the 150 gallon. Even with the bigger tank, if you lack filtration, you will end up in the same boat again.