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He I just recently lost a keyhole, he seemed to be extrmly small for a key hole he got fat his face got red and he was always gulping for air...ok now with that said.

Its a 48G with 7+serpea tetras, 1keyhole,
1DwarfGourami, and 4Corys. Yesterday I got really angry because my aqurium looked bad so I took everything out and clead it(including the plants) and now its cristal clear. So today I noticed that my keyhole(nice 3-1/2inch and healthy, was gulping for air about every 10-15 seconds and 2 of my corys were doing the same, So I am wondering are they just stressed from yesterday and need some time to rest and calm down or should I get some medicine?

Thankyou for helping my in advanced and sory If I confused you...

10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

Sounds like you got rid of a lot of beneficial bacteria when you cleaned everything. Maybe your tank is going through a cycle. Have you tested for ammonia, etc?

No, but how can I be going through another cycle I only cleaned my plants...didt touch the filter or gravel and I did a partial watre change...

P.S. I didt clean my plants with tap water I cleaned it with my aquarium water.

10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

If that's the case, then ignore my last post. I also accept your aforementioned apology.

lol, no problem, but should I get some medicine, I'm getting some Ottos tommrow, I am gonna get some salt and what medicine should I get?

10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

Unless you have ID the problem, what meds are you going to get? Plus you'll be introducing ottos? I don't think that'll work.

How long has this tank been running for?

4-5months...

10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

And you do frequent water changes? Whats your water supply? Sorry for so many questions, just trying to understand the situation.

With the ottos, don't you want algae? Why did you get rid of it? What type was it?

Well my problem was I didt do a waterchange for a while because I was pretty busy.

I dont know what ypi meand by water supply....

Ya the normal green alge on the windows didt bug me too much it was the blue-green alge covering all my plants and drift wood, I still have alge though.

10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

I asked about your water supply because if its tap water sometimes the municipality can add things to the water that can strees and kill fish. Its happened to others on this site.

If your water is good though, I'd just do small frequent water changes and gravel vacs.

Yup I use tap water...but I use that thing that takes out metals and chlorine(sp?) I just put some salt for procaution..

10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

Hi,
When I first read your initial post I wondered if you were
injecting CO2 into the tank and had over done it. Fish
gasping at the surface indicate a lack of oxygen in the
water for some reason. Either there actually is a lack
of oxygen, or something in the tank has affected
their gills and their ability to extract oxygen from
the water.

In a later post you mention that you have BGA, blue Green
Algae in the tank in large amounts. First... No Fish or
snail, will eat BGA. Second, with the fish already in
desperate straits, I would strongly advise against adding
any additional fish, especially ottos as they are fairly
critical of poor water conditions.
BGA, in large amounts, can affect the amount of oxygen
that is in the water.

Here are links about BGA, what causes it, and how to
eliminate it:
http://www.otocinclus.com/articles/algae.html
and
http://www.plantgeek.net/article_viewer.php?id=9
and, lastly, this:
http://www.aquariaplants.com/alqaeproblems.htm

BGA is a bacteria, not a true algae. It's existed for
millions and millions of years and in our aquariums results
from a combination of bad, or no tank maintenance, and
excessive light. It can be killed off by the use of
antibiotics and a complete black out of the tank for a
week (wrap it in a opaque blanket that lets NO light into
the tank). However, you must first take care of the source
that is, clean the tank. Do water changes, and vacuum the
gravel. Mentally section off the non planted parts of the
tank into four sections, and with each water change, vacuum
a new section of the tank. That way, every month, the
whole tank is cleaned, and by waiting for three other
sections of the tank to be vacuumed, each section has a
chance for the bacteria that supports the nitrogen cycle
to recover.

After treating the tank with medication or by black out,
or both, you must do a very large water change of at least
50% as the dead bacteria (BGA) will pollute the tank and
start a whole new set of problems.

Frank



-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

OK thanks, I dont have time to read the links you gave me but I will a little later, they dont go to the surface to gulp they do it while they swim, one of my serpeas has started to but it looks like he was attacked by his fellow serpeas...

For the last month or so I havent been doing water changes(till last friday) and I already see that my aquarium is doing great and most of my fish are looking better, I added 5danios and the alge is spreading pretty slowly, I think I will do the black out thing, I did 2 weekes ago but for only a 2days and it wasent complet darkness.

Also I do gravevac every time I do a water change...I didt know I was supposed to do sections...Thanks for the help, gonna make sure I dont negelct any of my aquariums again...

10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

Hi,
It is always best to set a time and a day for regular
aquarium maintenance (gravel vac, scraping the glass,
water change, and cleaning the glass lid. However, life
does get in the way and at times I dare say we all look
at the tank and make a mental promise to take care of it
...soon.

The "trick" is to not over stock the tank so that a week
or two of inaction will not yield results. It is always
a good idea to have a light bio-load. The lightly stocked
tank will always fare better in neglectful situations.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--