livebearer

I have a 55 gallon tank with:
1 Powder blue gourami
4 Platys
1 cory cat
18 guppies

My testing came out at ammonia= 0, Nitrates= 20, Nitrites= 2.0
My local fish store told me the only thing high was my Nitrites and to do water changes frequently, but they didnt think this would cause my fish to die this quickly and explain how they are acting.

I have been doing the water changes and they still wont go down. I have lost 2 fish already but one of my male guppies is almost dead but is acting like Ive never seen.

He has been fine, eating, swimming, everything. I nticed earlier this evening he was swimming completely upside down. He is really struggling, I feel so bad for him. He will get to his side and almost normal then flips back upside down as if he cant hold himself. Would the Nitrites cause this?

The rest of the fish are acting fine. Any suggestions on what is going on? What can I do to solve this, I dont want to lose anymore fish!

Lucy

Hi livebearer,
I'm really sorry you've lost fish.
Nitriates are deadly to fish and very well could account for the deaths.
I would do daily changes until they got down to 0.
Have you introduced any new fish lately?

Good luck.

Steve113

any nitrites at all in your tank are going to cause stress to your fish - Your LFS guy is right.

Frequest large water changes, consider isolating sick ones incase they are infecting others if they have some disease)

keep testing your water.

erm - can't really think of anything else.
.
If you think yuo're gonna lose the lot - consider taking them back to the fish store they may hold them for you or exchange them when you get youir tank sorted.

Your tank cycled? How long has it been set up?

Alessa

Ok, at this point like everyone said, water changes are your best bet.

you can also get a product called PRIME. It is a water conditioner but it also helps with nitrite/ammonia toxicity.

Good Luck!

livebearer

Thanks for the quick replies, yes my tank is cycled. I was wondering if maybe it could be swim bladder disease? He is now just kind of floating and still trying to get in a normal position but just cant. Also is Nitrazorb, the pouch you put in your filter any good for removing the nitrites?

Steve113

I dunno, bnever had to use it - but I'm surprised that your Nitrites are not reducing if you are changing the water...

what's your last reading?

Lucy

I've never heard of so I can't say. I'd just do water changes and save my money.

livebearer

Ok Ive taken him out of the tank and into a smaller tank by himself. He is getting worse now he just floats for a minute or so then tries to turn over but cant. I dont think he will make it much longer. I guess I tried anyways. Well I will just keep doing water changes and hopefully it comes down. Should I do them daily? If so How much should I take out?

ShaynaB

Floating upside down or on his side sounds like Swim bladder to me and yes, it can be caused by Nitrites.

I'd do daily changes of 25% to 50% until it gets back to normal, depending how fast they go down. I'd try a 50% water change tomorrow, then wait a while and test the water. The API master test kit works pretty nicely.

I'm not sure there's much you can do for the little guy with the swim bladder problem other than keep his tank clean and change the water there every day too if it's not cycled. It's possible that he may get better but he may not.

livebearer

Well my guppy has just died. I appreciate everyones help. I will continue doing water changes so hopefully this doesnt happen again.

Lucy

I'm sorry you lost him. You did try and thats all we can do.

Alessa

im sorry for your loss

COBettaCouple

I'm sorry that you lost him. If you have nitrites, then the tank either is going through a mini cycle or has become uncycled. I'd do 50% daily water changes and treat all water with Prime until it's back to cycled.