[paul1983]

hi all

I have sought help from a sturgeon expert for this breed. He has advised that this is a very rare russian stellius and notorius for problems. The tests done today

NH3/NH+4 AMMONIA 0MG/L
NITRITE <0.3 MG/L
PH 7.5
O2 14 MG/L

He did advise that the fish has lost its gill plates on both side which is rare for both to go but should not kill it. It may take some time for it to recover as its gills are now fully exposed so need to keep ammonia at zero as well as nitrite. I have bought live bacteria to get my filters back up to speed quick so i can keep the levels.

I asked about adding salt and he advised not to due to the issue with the gills as this will stress it out even more and ay not recover. I am to stop feeding the fish for 2 weeks and see if the sturgeon will take any but not to seperate (which i thought was strange as the other fish will just eat it)

He advised that there may have been a parasite problem but feels it was down to next door cutting her privite hedge and some of the stems getting in the pond which messed up the water cond (not so sure on this but will go with it) and that the 2 fish that died may have ingested small parts of the leaf.

Does anyone have any good ideas on how i can keep the ammonia and nitrite down low so that the sturgeon has time to recover its loss? The other diamond back and the rest of the fish seem happy, allot more than 2 days ago.

[ogawa only]

Hi paul

stop all feeding !!! , do plenty of water changes , via a pre filter , and think about re doing the filter !!

whats happened is in short the amount of fish V feeding rates , has proven to much for the filter hence the high ammonia , and relatively low nitrite reading , this also means your filter is not processing properly.

i know this wont sound the way its ment , but your better dealing with high ammonia , than high nitrite !! ammonia , can be flushed easily from the system , via water changes , as its direct from the source , where as nitrite is the 2nd stage , which is a totaly different kettle of fish , ie the source is filtration , not being able to convert both , ammonia , then nitrite , in to nitrate .

so , i would suggest a filter rethink , while you stop all feeding , its not easy holding back on the food , but the fish will be ok for quite a while , so dont worry !! also i hope you havent added the bacteria yet , if you have again dont worry , just flush your pond until the ammonia level is as near to zero as poss , then add the bacteria , but dont feed your fish !! they produce waste even when not being fed !! let the pond mature again , now if you start to see a rise in ammonia again , then you need a filter upgrade

steve

[bcfc]

hi, are u saying u have a ammonia reading of 4? after doing 50% water change the other day? wot test kit is this? as ogawa says, no feeding and i would do a 50% water change every day until ammonia is close to zero. have u been testing for ammonia at all? not haveing a go, we all have to learn. the hard way mostly. this is why ur koi have died, ammonia. i test 2 times in summer and once a week in winter. api test kit.