I need help. don't know where to properly post this.

[Jodij]

Hey, I need help. I'm at a loss here. I'm fairly new to fish tanks. Less then 6 months. I started with a 26 gal that I've turned into a fully planted tanked tank. That tank is thriving now. I had a 3 inch pictus catfish that loved the tank was was doing great ( i called him pepe cause he looked french (silly i know)) but lost him to a severe ich outbreak. He was swiming in the bubble curtian when i went to sleep and i woke up to him dead. I actually cried over a damn fish. So I pulled up my socks got that tank healthy and started a bigger tank. . But now I have a problem with my other tank. I cycled the tank properly. Made sure I made lots of hidy holes. Nice round gravel for their tummies.
I have 2 pictus catfish in a 75 galon tank with African chiclids. The chiclids are all less then 2 inches and they don't bother with the cat fish. (They arnt as mean as i thought chiclids would be) The one pictus ia 2 inchs the other is maybe 2.5 inches. Its been 3 weeks. The larger pictus was always hanging out in the corner swimming up and down the glass by the heater. And the smaller pictus was always circling around the bottom out in the open going into his little hidy holes. Now the last 2 days the smaller pictus is up at the top of the tank too. I read they could be trying to get away from bad water. Just did a 20% water change, added the water conditioner and bio support to the water before added to the main tank. now they are going nuts swimming at the top of the water putting their faces out. I turned off the light in hopes of taking away some stress. Seemed to work. Went out and checked on them and now they are swimming through the bubble curtain just like poor pepe did before he died. I'm at a loss. I don't know what to do. I have clear test strips that suction cup to the glass. They say the pH is between 6.2 and 6.4 and its reading safe for nitrates.

Please help. I don't know what to do and I don't want to lose another pepe.

[TwoTankAmin]

Please test for both ammonia and nitrite. The latter works to block the ability of blood to hold oxygen. The result is fish appear to be suffocating even though there is adequate oxygen in the water. Also, what it your water temp? The warmer water is, the less O it can hold.

The other thing here is that both declors as well as liquid carbon supplements are reducing agents. This means they will remove oxygen from the water short term. If one has low DO levels to start, this can be an issue. Do not overdose these things.

[bekateen]

Hi JodiJ,

Welcome to PlanetCatfish. Twotankamin's advice is sound. If you don't have real water testing abilities at home, contact your LFS (local fish stores). Many stores will test your water for free. But before you take your water in to the store, ask them how they want you to collect it, bag it, and carry it. Some containers and conditions can alter the chemistry between the time you leave your house and arrive at the LFS.

Cheers, Eric

[Jools]

What temperature is that tank at at noon and midnight?

Jools

[Jodij]

Just checked the temp if was at 84. Lowered it to 80. And i ll have to bring the water to get tested. I have a fancy kit with a bunch of liquids and vials but I don't know how to use it my boyfriend does. I should also mention I have a feather fin catfish that is doing just fine and salfin pleco that is also fine

[Jodij]

Update.: the temp has slowly gone down to 81.9. I've set it to 80. Took my water to get tested at big al's. I have very minimum nitrates. And they said my ph and alkalinity were perfect for my cichlids but that could be what's wrong with my pictus. Anyways I created a hospital tank with my 10 gal with water from both tanks and fresh tap water. After that was sitting all day I went to get the pictus into a bag to put them in the 10 gal. Well it seems I scard them down to the bottom. I threw some algae thins down and they chowed down and are now happy go lucky swimming at the bottom of the tank.