water change and prime oscar now lathargic and sidways

[JayD976]

Ditch the quick dip strps they are not accurate get a liquid test kit for best results. Also I don't see an ammonia reading there. Most important tests are ammonia, nitrite and nitrate then ph and so on.

[donsfish]

Your tank is not cycled, and with high ammonia/nitrite readings I would suggest another larger water change at LEAST 50% even more would be better right away...................................Should get a liquid water test kit for better accuracy than the strips. Much better to check out viewtopic.php?f=3&t=13487 for healthier foods.

[Gerry]

Your reg water reading are good for what is listed so with that I would do plenty of water changes. up the temp to 80f too as 70 is a bit low

[lgd1650]

Hello Everyone,
SO the little guy died last night, thanks for tryin everyone, now to save the big tank. I tried to show my bf all the suggestions on here and get him to follow these. He is considering about live feedings. I will look for a better test kit, i thought the nitrite might be amonia levels, i guess not. pet store said amonia up, how do you get it down. He added aquiruim salt last nite insiting that the 25 % water change was good enough and we should wait 2 wks after salt added. test strips still show the nitrite and nitrate up. He said tank doesnt need cycling since only been set up a month. I have no clue but hate to lose the oscars in the tank. If I can get info from all if you, I will do while he is at work at night . so tell me how to get the nitrites down and amonia and about water changes and not killing the others he insist it will stress and kill them
thanks
lgd

[JayD976]

Your bf is wrong. The tank is still cycling which is clearly evident in the test readings. You should be doing large water changes of 60-75% minimum standard on an Oscar tank WEEKLY. And especially in your situation with the tank still cycling. Also you can do water changes and just replace the volume of salt lost during the change. If you take out 20 gallons of water for example then you add 20 gallons worth of salt back in the tank. Salt doesn't evaporate with the water so only replace what you took out.

[Gerry]

He added aquiruim salt last nite insiting that the 25 % water change was good enough and we should wait 2 wks after salt added

wait for what? if he doesn't water change he will be waiting on dead or sick and permanently damaged fish appearing

He said tank doesnt need cycling since only been set up a month.

The reason tanks need cycling is to do with the fact you don't have the bacteria needed to break down ammonia and nitrite, this comes with time and is not something you do later.

so tell me how to get the nitrites down and amonia and about water changes and not killing the others he insist it will stress and kill them

Ammonia and nitrite will come down once the cycle is done if you have enough filtration and up till then water changes are to only other method.

Stress is not induced at water changes and folk on here will tell you stories of their fish playing in the new water going in. Plus, even if it did stress them it would be short lived compared to the stress of living in toxins constantly.

Have a read at this

[donsfish]

Needs a very large water change immediately. No ifs, ands, or buts.

[Gerry]

Have a look at this video of Discus getting water changes at the breeders (Discus stress a lot easier than Oscars)

Water change time

[Alan]

my O's along with our other cichlids love water change time and play in the stream of fresh water going back in mind you they do object to the syphon at times and attack it when taking water out

[OinKY]

Water changes definitely aren't stressful...and even less chance of it when they are used to it.

I pull very large water changes out of habit...on the order of 80-90%...and the fish,lying on their sides,just look at me waiting for the new fresh water. A side efffect is everyone's ready to eat as soon as the tank's filled,so if stressed they don't know it.
I'm not suggesting that for you at the moment. You need to pull just enough water changes to get the ammonia/nitrite/nitrates down until the filtration takes over...when testing starts showing absolute 0 on ammonia/nitrite,then you can think about the larger changes.
The problem is,and always will be,the amount of filtration you have versus the stocking on that tank.His use of salt for stress relief is going to end up being a constant band-aid to this it appears (if unwilling to consider reducing the number of Os)...so filtration is going to have to be increased to ever get a handle on it,and large frequent water changes will still be the norm just to keep nitrates down.
Far as the feeder Goldfish (or any other feeder fish) goes,they are an extra biological load on the filtration the minute they hit the tank...doesn't matter if eaten in seconds...so that's another negative against them at this point in time. To me,personal opinion,it's more a "thrill of the chase" thing on the feeders than a question of nutrition in his case...so he can try shrimp,crayfish,nightcrawlers,and insects (Os love them all) instead.

If I can get info from all if you, I will do while he is at work at night .

If this is "sneak maintenance",then I strongly advise against it.If with his knowledge,then go for it.
"Sneak maintenance" will definitely help the Os...but teaches BF absolutely nothing. Bluntly,when they do better he'll think it's because of his way,not the tried and true way suggested,and you will either have to confess (which may lead to a disagreement) or bite your lip and eventually come to resent all the work you're putting in for his enjoyment (which can lead to a disagreement).Better to just tell him you are going to do it..."Let's see how it goes"...and get it over with.

[TimP]

my O's along with our other cichlids love water change time and play in the stream of fresh water going back in mind you they do object to the syphon at times and attack it when taking water out

Mine do exactly the same thing. Also, I have to agree with OinKY in that you would be helping the fish but not helping your bf or relationship.