FeatherFin
Aquarium Advice Newbie
Greetings everyone!
I have a 29g planted tank with 7 diamond tetras and a pair of pearl gouramis. I use a Penguin 200 over the back filter, I feed my fish usually twice a day. Once with plant based flakes and once with fish based. Once a week I feed frozen blood or tubifex worms before their water change. I do water changes once a week. The tank's temperature is at 78F. The last water change I did was 3 days ago aside from the one I did today. I usually syphon about 1/3 of the gravel in changes and do about 20%.
I noticed one of my female diamond tetras has what appears to be bloat but I want to make sure in case there's something I'm missing and treating for the wrong issue. I tried to get a picture of her but she's staying towards the back of the tank which is up against a wall and has a backing. If she swims to a better placement, I'll see if I can get a pic.
Her symptoms include:
Swollen belly - it doesn't look wholly unnatural just fat in comparison to the others. The belly is also more opaque and white. There is some very slight and small red streaking extending from underneath her and about a 3rd up the edge of where her belly ends on her body.
Awkward swimming and lethargy - She seems to be able to swim and still comes up for food. However, she moves a little awkwardly but not pointing down or sideways. She just sort of looks drunk but doesn't seem to have issues staying horizontal. I'm not sure if it's part of the disease she has or just due to being plump.
Heavier breathing - She's not gasping at the surface and doesn't have swollen, flared or discolored gills that I can see. There isn't any red streaking near her gills so again, I'm not sure if her breathing is due to needing to put in more effort to move or due to a disease.
My current water quality readings are(using liquid tests):
Ammonia - .25
Nitrite - 0
Nitrates - I'm having trouble reading it. I think it's at 10 according to the result card. Looks between 5 and under 20.
PH - 8.0 The water in my area is very hard. I can't seem to get it to lower further, naturally despite several efforts with tannin water, softening pillow, peat, driftwood. I'm afraid to use chemical lowering due to fluctuation. If anyone has ideas, let me know.
So far I've done a water change and am watching her for changes.
The tank has been going pretty well for about 3 months with the gouramis and since March without. No bullying issues in the tank that I've noticed.
Thanks for any assistance! Sorry for the text wall.
I have a 29g planted tank with 7 diamond tetras and a pair of pearl gouramis. I use a Penguin 200 over the back filter, I feed my fish usually twice a day. Once with plant based flakes and once with fish based. Once a week I feed frozen blood or tubifex worms before their water change. I do water changes once a week. The tank's temperature is at 78F. The last water change I did was 3 days ago aside from the one I did today. I usually syphon about 1/3 of the gravel in changes and do about 20%.
I noticed one of my female diamond tetras has what appears to be bloat but I want to make sure in case there's something I'm missing and treating for the wrong issue. I tried to get a picture of her but she's staying towards the back of the tank which is up against a wall and has a backing. If she swims to a better placement, I'll see if I can get a pic.
Her symptoms include:
Swollen belly - it doesn't look wholly unnatural just fat in comparison to the others. The belly is also more opaque and white. There is some very slight and small red streaking extending from underneath her and about a 3rd up the edge of where her belly ends on her body.
Awkward swimming and lethargy - She seems to be able to swim and still comes up for food. However, she moves a little awkwardly but not pointing down or sideways. She just sort of looks drunk but doesn't seem to have issues staying horizontal. I'm not sure if it's part of the disease she has or just due to being plump.
Heavier breathing - She's not gasping at the surface and doesn't have swollen, flared or discolored gills that I can see. There isn't any red streaking near her gills so again, I'm not sure if her breathing is due to needing to put in more effort to move or due to a disease.
My current water quality readings are(using liquid tests):
Ammonia - .25
Nitrite - 0
Nitrates - I'm having trouble reading it. I think it's at 10 according to the result card. Looks between 5 and under 20.
PH - 8.0 The water in my area is very hard. I can't seem to get it to lower further, naturally despite several efforts with tannin water, softening pillow, peat, driftwood. I'm afraid to use chemical lowering due to fluctuation. If anyone has ideas, let me know.
So far I've done a water change and am watching her for changes.
The tank has been going pretty well for about 3 months with the gouramis and since March without. No bullying issues in the tank that I've noticed.
Thanks for any assistance! Sorry for the text wall.