Tank Disaster

Epic Fail!

 

Just when I thought I knew what I was doing, wrong.  Epic fail.  My water parameters have been great for so long I became complacent and believed it was fool proof.  Turns out a fool can still wreak havoc after all.  I was so eager to set up my new L046 Zebra Pleco tank that I didn't even consider the effects that could happen to my Discus tank.

 

In my haste to cycle my new tank I took a significant amount of biomedia from the filter to help jump start the new tank.  I did replace a lot of what I took with some new Seachem Matrix BioMedia.  However, what I forgot to consider was the effect that taking so much bacteria from the filter would have on my precious Discus tank.  Especially when it was removed all on the same day, and in conjunction with scrubbing the inside of the tank clean!

 

I had thought I was well read on seeding a new filter, I knew that it would work even if I only got a small amount of ready to go bacteria media from the filter.  However, as I wanted my new tank to cycle as quickly as I could, I figured if I took a larger amount then it would work more efficiently and quickly.  I was right, my new tank cycled within a week!  However, my Discus tank suffered from its own mini cycle and my precious discus suffered because of it.

 

I was gutted to find my newest discus, a lovely red melon, panting and struggling to swim with head pointed down.  I quickly googled these symptoms and became convinced that this was a swim bladder issue.  I was just trying to work out why this may have happened when I suddenly noticed another discus acting the same way, my stunning red turquoise male.  In a panic I quickly checked my water parameters and found, to my horror, that not only were my Nitrate's through the roof, so was my Nitrite reading!  

 

"Nitrite is formed when Nitrosomonas sp. bacteria oxidise ammonia. Although it is less toxic than ammonia, elevated levels will still present a threat to fish health. Prolonged exposure at low levels can lead to stress and is often associated with stress-related disease such as bacterial ulcers and fin-rot. At high levels, skin and gill epithelia can be damaged and opportunistic bacteria and parasites may take advantage of stressed fish. The main danger is from nitrite being actively transported across the gills and into the fish’s bloodstream where it oxidises normal haemoglobin into methemoglobin. Normal haemoglobin picks up oxygen at the gills and transports it to the body tissues where it is exchanged for carbon dioxide. Methemoglobin cannot transport oxygen and therefore - in acute cases - fish will be effectively asphyxiated."
. "At low levels of NitrIte concentrations you may find fish rubbing against solid objects. As levels increase fish will become lethargic, but may still swim up to feed. If the fish is suffering from nitrite poisoning, the gills will change from a healthy pinkish/red to a pale tan to dark brown in colour. The fish may also show signs of respiratory distress, i.e gasping at the water surface or hanging around water inlets."
http://gardenofeaden.blogspot.com.au/2010/04/how-do-high-nitrite-levels-affect-fish.html

 

Boy did I feel bad!  I immediately removed 150 litres from the tank and watched my guys struggling and tipping all over the place, it was awful to watch.  I really thought they would both be dead before the day was out.  It was absolutely incredible to watch them literally come back to life as I added the new fresh water which had a double dose of Prime (I already double it so effectively the dose was quadruple).  The first 50 litre top up made an amazing difference, but I didn't really think that it could be that quick of a recovery and put it down to coincidence.  After the second 50 litres was returned they began to gain more buoyancy control and swim better, and didn't appear to be gasping.  My male red turquoise even started tending back to his eggs and bickering with the blue turquoise female.  I couldn't believe it, he had literally been upside down moments earlier.

 

The last 50 litres did the trick and they all started swimming happily around and wondering why I wasn't feeding them.  Of course they took until the next day to appear completely recovered.  However, I've left it a few days and 3 water changes, which I did every 48 hours, before I could even begin to relax and think that they will survive.  Fingers crossed, so far, so good.  However, I hope there is no permanent damage.

 

Needless to say I have another API Master Testing Kit heading this way so I can resume regular water parameter checks in the future.  Having the testing liquid running low and not wanting to waste it is no excuse.  I won't make the same mistake again, however, I'm sure I can work on a new one in the future...

 

 Head pointing still, after the 150 L water change

but not gasping or panicking any more...

 

Also after water change, straight back to the eggs!

You can see the pinched in sides and swollen swim bladder...