If you can't do a water change ...

[trennamw]

What can be done to keep things going for a few days?

I've been really sick for over a week, and so was my child. Missing 1 water change seemed kind of OK but now it appears I have pneumonia, and will likely miss another.

Ammonia, nitrite, pH, GH, and KH are stable. Nitrates are in the red.

I found a dead Oto last night, one of a new batch I've had for about 3 weeks, and I don't see the other 3 of this 4, which are usually pretty bold. I do see some of the ones I've had for several months. They're my only highly sensitive fish. But I'm concerned my tank is having its first fish loss due to water quality.

I don't have someone else to do it for me. I do have Prime. I dosed it with Prime but am not sure if I need to add more later.

I could be overreacting ... Moms while sick are always sure the universe will end while they're in bed ...

Just need to get through another few days to a week, I suspect/hope, while the best I can do for fish is sit in bed with my phone telling other people what to do for theirs


Sent from my iPhone with three hands tied behind my back.

 

[Coursair]

You can dose up to 5x normal on Prime to help.

You may lose fish.


Smoke signals from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Brookster123]

Otos should never be viewed/used as a means for gauging water quality. They die for no reason, many other than poor water quality. Can you do a quick scoop with a gallon pitcher and dump a gallon of spring water? Make a bit if difference anyways.. prime will certainly help.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[Linwood]

Stop or drastically cut back feeding. Fish can go a long time without food, and even longer on tight rations.

Less food, less poop, less poop, less ammonia -> nitrites -> nitrates.

 

[Fresh2o]

Nothing to add that has not already been mentioned except hope you and your child get well soon.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[sinibotia]

Following for I hope you feel better!

 

[Brookster123]

Nothing to add that has not already been mentioned except hope you and your child get well soon.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

Yes, sorry, health before fish.. please get well mom!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[Fishanatic]

i think as said your primary remedy(or atleast step todo) would be to cut down feeding. Try to reduce stress upon the fish as much as possible too.

Sent from my SGH-M919V using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[trennamw]

My Otos never die except from sticking their little heads in places they shouldn't go. But I get your point and thanks. They are fairly new, though they'd been in the store for 3 weeks and in my tank for 3. And I've only been keeping them for like 6 months so "never" doesn't mean much.

I'll do the gallon, our tap water is essentially distilled so that will dilute a little.

Does the effect of prime last?

My kiddo is fine and off to his dad's house ... Totally missed an opportunity to have someone carry some buckets of water up the stairs for me!!! (His dad, not my 4 year old)

Didn't think to withhold food. Funny how all the obvious solutions to right out of your head ...

Sent from my iPhone with three hands tied behind my back.

 

[aqua_holic]

You can go for quite a while without a water change, or on minimal changes, provided your tank is cycled. Just ease back Into it when you can - start with small changes and work your way back up to regular. You just don't want to shock them with a big pH shift or anything.

 

[Brookster123]

You can go for quite a while without a water change, or on minimal changes, provided your tank is cycled. Just ease back Into it when you can - start with small changes and work your way back up to regular. You just don't want to shock them with a big pH shift or anything.

That's a very broad statement there.. it really depends on stock. That being said. I do not wish this thread into a debate as tren. Is simply looking for first hand knowledge pertaining to her specific situation.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[trennamw]

Ooohhh ... I was plotting an immense "I'm so sorry" change later in the week ... I'll start doing tiny ones as soon as I can instead. That's pretty manageable.

I realized, since the tank is on the 2nd floor of a 3 level townhouse ... I could just get (someone to go get me) a 50' airline tube ... Run it out to the front lawn to empty, run it from a bucket in the upstairs bathroom down to the tank to fill. It'd also be a little like drip acclimating so they won't die from the shock of really nice water.

But at the moment, I'm covered with enough 100% eucalyptus oil to open all lungs within a 10 foot radius, so I probably shouldn't be touching anything that goes into the tank.




Sent from my iPhone with three hands tied behind my back.

 

[aqua_holic]

I think there's a misunderstand about timeframe. Small water changes that I mentioned are after a while of missed changes, not just a few.

I personally change 80% every 4-6 weeks during the summer months. Not that that is something I think everyone should do, but it's what I do and I don't lose fish. Not even the sensitive ones.

That's a very broad statement there.. it really depends on stock. That being said. I do not wish this thread into a debate as tren. Is simply looking for first hand knowledge pertaining to her specific situation.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Aquarium Advice mobile app

I was sharing first hand knowledge.

I agree, it does depend somewhat on stock. However, the common species people tend to keep are not all that different from each other in that regard.

 

[trennamw]

I think we can all agree there are a lot of good ways to do water changes

It's certainly true that everyone has different routines that work for them. Heck I have different ones for different tanks.

I really appreciate the reassurance and the things to keep in mind as I run off my own usual schedule.


Sent from my iPhone with three hands tied behind my back.

 

[nataliedd]

Can't offer any advice but hope you and fish are ok x

Sent from my SM-G800F using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[DazF]

You could add some of this.
I use it when I do my weekly water changes as the nitrates in my tap water are a little high, my nitrates now are always good though.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0034YOE74?pc_redir=1412586108&robot_redir=1


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[aqua_holic]

You could add some of this.
I use it when I do my weekly water changes as the nitrates in my tap water are a little high, my nitrates now are always good though.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0034YOE74?pc_redir=1412586108&robot_redir=1


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

Hmmm, the reviews on amazon are very favorable. I do wonder for how long people have used this product before writing their reviews.... It takes a while for continued neglect to manifest as problems.

 

[DazF]

Yeah true some people probably use it for the wrong reasons... But i do a 30% water change weekly and just add a drop of this to help. Definitely works for me


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[aqua_holic]

I think the "wrong reason" is the products intended use.

 

[Mebbid]

How about getting a python to help you out? You could lay down while it does the water change for you.

Nitrate levels in the red are a bad thing, around 100+ppm. If at all possible I would try to get a water change done however you can.