Fish can’t swim after 2 days

[lenanguyen]

Hi guys. I’m new here and I just got my first saltwater tank. Unfortunately, after 2 days in my 20G tank fish no longer can swim. It’s alive, but just chills on the bottom. It seems like it has no energy to swim or lost control over its body. I can’t figure out what I am doing wrong. I tested the water multiple times - everything looks good. Please help, I don’t want to hurt my fish.

 

[Dave1993]

did you cycle your tank?

 

[|Frank|]

Welcome to the forum, what are your parameters in the tank?

 

[lenanguyen]

did you cycle your tank?

Yes. Water is good, we tested it at the store multiple times.

 

[lenanguyen]

Welcome to the forum, what are your parameters in the tank?

Thank you. It’s 16x32. We have 2 water filters installed, as well as the air distributor.

 

[|Frank|]

Thank you. It’s 16x32. We have 2 water filters installed, as well as the air distributor.

when you did your last test, what was your
Nitrate
Nitrite
Ammonia
salinity
alkalinity
calcium
Magnesium?

 

[lenanguyen]

when you did your last test, what was your
Nitrate
Nitrite
Ammonia
salinity
alkalinity
calcium
Magnesium?

I’m not sure. We tested it in the store, they use testing stripes to see if anything is out of ordinary

 

[fishguy242]

is fish breathing fast /labored ? i see no topwater movement low oxygen level? can you post pics of fish?

 

[lenanguyen]

I’m not sure. We tested it in the store, they use testing stripes to see if anything is out of ordinary

Salt level is 1.023 though. I measure it at home daily.

 

[lenanguyen]

is fish breathing fast /labored ? i see no topwater movement low oxygen level? can you post pics of fish?

 

[14 foot reef]

How long has the tank been set up ? Did you monitor the nitrogen cycle of the tank? This looks brand new like it has never went through the cycle. I would guess high amonia right now. make sure you and the store are testing with quality test kits, not paper strips.

 

[fishguy242]

how old is tank? lets get some expert help here ,try to help your clown.
@Jay Hemdal @vetteguy53081

 

[|Frank|]

Salt level is 1.023 though. I measure it at home daily.

Try and get your salinity up slowly to 1.026. Id also get a test kit, non api if at all possible. You're going to need to be testing regularly.

 

[lenanguyen]

how old is tank? lets get some expert help here ,try to help your clown.
@Jay Hemdal @vetteguy53081[/USERI would be so
[/QUOTE]

Yea, they

How long has the tank been set up ? Did you monitor the nitrogen cycle of the tank? This looks brand new like it has never went through the cycle. I would guess high amonia right now. make sure you and the store are testing with quality test kits, not paper strips.

it’s been set up for almost two weeks. We got the water that has been cycled already (pre-mixed cycled water from the store). We waited a week before adding fish to the tank, so the bacteria can grow.

 

[Acros]

Sounds a lot like ammonia poisoning. Get a cycling test kit and monitor ammonia and nitrite (I use API saltwater master kit).

For immediate relief, add seachem prime. Do not ... I cannot stress this enough, do not add seachem prime with out adequate surface agitation (as it will reduce available oxygen in the water). 2 filters will not prove enough surface agitation. You will need a power head/wave maker.

 

[Dave1993]

Try and get your salinity up slowly to 1.026. Id also get a test kit, non api if at all possible. You're going to need to be testing regularly.

lower salinity is better for fish so people only go 1.026 if they have corals

 

[|Frank|]

lower salinity is better for fish so people only go 1.026 for corals

Gotcha, good to know. thank you.

 

[Acros]

Yea, they

it’s been set up for almost two weeks. We got the water that has been cycled already (pre-mixed cycled water from the store). We waited a week before adding fish to the tank, so the bacteria can grow.

Cycled water sounds like snake oil. Is that a thing?

 

[Dave1993]

Yea, they

it’s been set up for almost two weeks. We got the water that has been cycled already (pre-mixed cycled water from the store). We waited a week before adding fish to the tank, so the bacteria can grow.

Water has nothing to do with the cycle the bacteria live on the rocks i think you need to properly cycle your tank as it sounds like you have not

 

[lenanguyen]

Sounds a lot like ammonia poisoning. Get a cycling test kit and monitor ammonia and nitrite (I use API saltwater master kit).

For immediate relief, add seachem prime. Do not ... I cannot stress this enough, do not add seachem prime with out adequate surface agitation (as it will reduce available oxygen in the water). 2 filters will not prove enough surface agitation. You will need a power head/wave maker.

Sounds a lot like ammonia poisoning. Get a cycling test kit and monitor ammonia and nitrite (I use API saltwater master kit).

For immediate relief, add seachem prime. Do not ... I cannot stress this enough, do not add seachem prime with out adequate surface agitation (as it will reduce available oxygen in the water). 2 filters will not prove enough surface agitation. You will need a power head/wave maker.

Thank you. We do have a wave maker. Should we go ahead and add seachem prime?