What your tank is telling you.

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dr_sudz

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Mar 6, 2006
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Wiarton, Ontario
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Alright, I am just curious to know what the different signs are in your fish that chemistry, and water conditions are not optimal for your fish and what signs do the fish show us in the behaviour?

I know first and formost, that when ammonia is present in the water (on a testable level) the fish are lathargic, breath heavy and just do not look prime.

What is the look for higher nitrites?

I know that the water will look cloudy when a tank has not completed the cycle.

Lets here some other signs of distress for all aquariums!
 
just keep testing your water, check that it is optimum conditions for all the different fish. then just look out for any diseases. for some reason i find it easy to tell when an animal, inc. fish is unwell. basically any abnormal behaviour is never a good thing
 
But the point I am trying to get with this thread, is before you even start your tests by watching your fish you can tell what is wrong with them before anything. I am just asking everyone to tell what they know about water conditions and the effect it has on their fish. Something that I think we all could use and contribute to.
 
For me a good indicator is whenever my snakeheads are not swimming around. I then test the water.
 
dr_sudz;576443; said:
But the point I am trying to get with this thread, is before you even start your tests by watching your fish you can tell what is wrong with them before anything. I am just asking everyone to tell what they know about water conditions and the effect it has on their fish. Something that I think we all could use and contribute to.
Click to expand...

I am certain that this could become an interesting thread but my crystal ball says that a list of stress conditions will encourage non-testers to not test. And there are a lot of them. You would be surprised how many people will spend over $300 on their fish stuff but do not own a complete test kit. There are several fish killers here at MFK that will not dish out the thirty bucks for one but keep coming here asking what is wrong. :screwy:

So to be a hypocrite, my primary tell all is behavior that is not normal for that particular fish. Yes, that is very general but all fish have their own personality. When that personality changes, something is badly wrong.

Additionally, I do not believe nitrates will induce a behavior in fish. It is not toxic enough. Excessive nitrites will influence the same reaction as ammonia. I am sure the fish aren't particularly conserned with what is slowly killing them, just that something is badly wrong. Additionally, I think the fish behavior will change based on length of exposure. The behavior should also change as the concentration changes. (A slightly stressed fish will act differently than a mortally stressed fish).
 
well put Chompers... and if you want a cheap test kit go to Petsmart.com they have one that is $30 in the store marked as $13... you can get it for that price if you print it out and go to the store with it or you can just order it online
 
I agree with chompers. I personally own 4 fw test kits, and now am ditching them for the seachem tests. The Nitrite/nitrate test kit from seachem is great.
 
I know I was one to never test my water. Just make sure the heater worked, fed nicely and wc ea week. The only fish to really die on me were either beat up, ick or unknown internal parasite.

I saw Jungle strips on sale one day and picked them up. Barely use them except when seting up a new tank.

I Did just lose 2 dats and 3 border botia after a wc but all test were good. did a small wc the next day and everyone looked a lil better and yes Im still pissed at losing the dats (they not easy to find). Most likely temp change also changed something in the water but the tk didnt pick it up like the fish did.
 
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