I am posting this for my mate who has a problem with his RTC. Its in a 6x4x2.5ft tank filtered with a FX5 and a 5x2x2 sump full of sponges and alfagrog. Now the past couple of days the RTC has been sitting under the return from the sump. This is powered by a 7000lph pond pump so quite a good current and lots of air bubbles.
He has tested the water and ammonia, nitrite are 0, nitrate very low (didn't give me an exact figure!), PH 8 (out of tap and normal for us) and hardness 7dh.
What can he do for the poor thing? In the tank also is a 20" Gourami which he says lays on its side most of the time and a 18" Banjar arowana.
I think they are being poisoned by something but the water parameters suggest something else? He took a sample to a LFS and they got it reading all ok as well. I suggested a little salt in the tank and moved his two 3000ltr powerheads to the top to create more aeration.
Any help and advice appreciated.

Could be overstocking, but the parameters are OK if the test is correct.
Has anything unusual been added to the tank, like a treatment or new decor?
Have any chemicals been used near the tank, like air fresheners, paint fumes or insecticides?

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Lucia

The tank is so big it lives in his garage! There has been nothing added to the tank at all. Complete mystery!

Could there be fumes in the garage, from a car, motorbike or generator?
Cigarette smoke?

Whatever it is, all I can suggest is a big water change to remove anything harmful in the water.

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Lucia

I have said to do another water change and also to put some carbon in the sump. He forgot the carbon today though!

The gourami lying on it's side may suggest some sort of internal problem, possibly bacterial which could now be effecting the redtail catfish. Some other forum members may be able to help with possible treatments.

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I love lamp

These the same fish that have been readvertised today?

http://www.aquarist-classifieds.co.u...l51_102907.php

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