RTC help

[Curly68]

I am posting this for my mate who has a problem with his RTC. Its in a 6x4x2.5ft tank filtered with a FX5 and a 5x2x2 sump full of sponges and al***rog. Now the past couple of days the RTC has been sitting under the return from the sump. This is powered by a 7000lph pond pump so quite a good current and lots of air bubbles.
He has tested the water and ammonia, nitrite are 0, nitrate very low (didn't give me an exact figure!), PH 8 (out of tap and normal for us) and hardness 7dh.
What can he do for the poor thing? In the tank also is a 20" Gourami which he says lays on its side most of the time and a 18" Banjar arowana.
I think they are being poisoned by something but the water parameters suggest something else? He took a sample to a LFS and they got it reading all ok as well. I suggested a little salt in the tank and moved his two 3000ltr powerheads to the top to create more aeration.
Any help and advice appreciated.

 

[necrocanis]

Are these fish still eating? What size are the fish? What's their diet? Are there any outer physical signs of illness?

 

[benzjamin13]

Maybe clean out the filter and replace the media.

 

[Curly68]

The RTC is 28", the aro 18" and the gourami 20". He tried feeding today but not really interested in as much food as they usually eat. No visible signs of fin rot, burning, gills moving fast etc.

The media in the sump has only just cycled, so thats clean. The FX5 is used for polishing the lsat little bit of water.
The fish have been in the tank about three weeks now since the tank cycled. I saw it through the ammonia and nitrite spike, until the levels were all zero.

 

[necrocanis]

I'd say it sounds like an issue with the aireation, but you said it's fine. How often does he feed them? I've noticed my rtc if fed every day will lose appetite from day to day. If fed every other day to once every 3 days he has a huge appetite.

 

[basslover34]

What is the temperature of the water, if the water seems ok but all of these guys are down... it's either that or there is something ELSE in the water... is there a possibility of someone using a spray can in the same room... What is the diet... could also be an issue... The Color of the RTC can tell you alot as well... when the water is the issue they will usually lighten in color (aside from the temperature)

 

[necrocanis]

what basslover says is true, and as noted by myself too much salt in the water can cause them to lighten up also. It's good for them when sick, but only in moderation.

 

[Curly68]

I will have to check with my friend to the colour of it. The temp in the tank was 22 deg C. I told him to up to 26 deg C to see if that helps. I also told him to try carbon in the sump. He forgot to get some though!

 

[basslover34]

I will have to check with my friend to the colour of it. The temp in the tank was 22 deg C. I told him to up to 26 deg C to see if that helps. I also told him to try carbon in the sump. He forgot to get some though!

22 is like 72 Degrees... way to low to keep these guys happy... up it to between 76-80 to maintian their normal condidtions.... I beleive you just found your reason for the lack of movement and interest in food

 

[catfishlover106]

22 is like 72 Degrees... way to low to keep these guys happy... up it to between 76-80 to maintian their normal condidtions.... I beleive you just found your reason for the lack of movement and interest in food

yup that may possibly be the reason why they aren't acting right. Thats how my fishes act if we have a power outage for like an hours without the heater on to heat the tank...plus over here its mainly always cold.