NEED HELP FAST!!

[chopper320]

We were without electricity for over 48 hrs. My 55 gal FOWLR had no water movement and now aeration. All of my fish are still alive although a couple were gasping for air at the top and now that it's running again my snowflake eel has positioned himself directly in front of the outlet on the powerhead. TAKE THAT BACK!! I just found my baby picasso trigger dead!! My main question now is: My water is very cloudy and it really STINKS!!! What should I do about this so that my other fish don't die????

 

[twoods71]

The first thing I would do is test the water and then do a good size water change and then test the water again.
If any water conditions are not correct take appropriate actions to correct them asap.

 

[marine qa]

This has never happened to me so these are unexperienced suggestions:
Direct your powerhead(s) towards the surface to create maximum surface agitation. Take a cup and dip it into the water and pour it back in to increase airation.
Change your filter elements. Including carbon if you use it.
Remove anything dead to prevent an ammonia spike.
If your water tests badly, and I bet it will, prepare water for a good sized water change, but be sure to add chlorine remover if necessary. Tap water has very little oxygen so this water will also need to be airated. Ideally you would go 24hrs with a powerhead but try the dipping method mentioned above because in my opinion your powerheads should be airating your tank. Make sure the temp/salinity is the same as the tanks.
Good luck. I'm sure others will have other suggestions.
**
twoods and I must have been posting at the same time.
[ July 10, 2001: Message edited by: Marine QA ]

 

[misty]

Just an idea...I used an airstone on a small pump to aerate my live rock while curing it. Would this help get more oxygen in the water quicker, or would it bug the inhabitants?

 

[chopper320]

I tested my water and it's not as bad as I thought but it's not good. Ammonia is around 1.0, Nitrites are between 1 and 2, and nitrates are about 30. I would have thought it would have been much worse as bad as the water smells. Is it possible that it will keep rising as in a beginning cycle?? What is the likelihood my other fish will make it? I am getting ready to do a 5gal water change and will do another 5 gal after while. I did move the power heads to the surface and the fish seem to be breathing ok now. I am just worried about the stress they went through as well as the current water conditions! Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[chopper320]

Great now I have another question. I just talked to my LFS and they recommended not doing a water change and letting the system balance itself back out!! They compared it to a beginning cycle and said a water change would only slow the process down! Does this make sense to anybody else? I have no idea how much experience this guy had so who knows if he has any clue of what he is talking about.

 

[guppie]

I would do a bigger water change than 5 gals. I would think your fish have a pretty good chance of living if they made it this far. Good Luck

 

[marine qa]

I dont think your LFS is offering very good advice.
One, I assume your tank was not cycling so your biological filter is already established. Now weather is has been destroyed I dont know. I doubt it.
Two, I dont think you can cycle a tank with an eel. I dont know what else you have, but the ammonia level must be lowered. BTW what is your Ph level. Make sure your water changes dont raise the Ph much above 8.4 or the ammonia will become toxic. I've made that mistake before.
Three, once water gets really foul I dont think it will recover fast enough by itself to save your fish.
[ July 10, 2001: Message edited by: Marine QA ]

 

[chopper320]

I just did the 5 gal water change and plan on doing another 5gal later tonight. I get it from my lfs that premixes it and ages is for me. The rest of my fish seem fine right now and I just fed them a little and they all are eating still! I just hope I can get my levels down!
Marine do you think that it's too late to save my fish now or do you mean if it gets worse? I really hope it's not too late!

 

[marine qa]

I agree with guppie, if they made it this far they will probably be OK.
Sorry if I was confusing. I believe that it would take a long time, if ever, for your water to correct itself w/out changing some of it, and few fish would fair well with long-term exposure to the water as it is.
What is your ammonia level after the water change? What kind of filter do you have, and can you change the elements? What other fish do you have?

 

[chopper320]

Ok thanks Marine!! You have all been very helpful! I have now done a total of 10 gal. water change. My levels are ammonia <1, nitrites are still about 1.0, and nitrates are about 40. I have a very small maroon clown, small porcupine puffer and a small snowflake eel. They all still look great and after the water changes my water doesn't have that awful smell anymore. Should I be worried about after effects from stress such as being prone to ich or other diseases? Again thank you all sooo much for your help this is such a great message board and I appreciate everybody helping me out--even when I need to be told I'm doing something wrong b/c there's no doubt I'm not an expert in this hobby!

 

[jbird0824]

Hi, i had the eletric go out on me before luckly it wasnt that long. I use in my tank for stress, and high nitrate. It is called stress zyme good stuff. I use it for water changes also.. good luck, and happy fishing

 

[q]

I would be careful about feeding them much until you get things back in line. A little note though, you don't want to starve them eather and add more stress.