Aquarium First Aid: Warning Signs, Diagnosis, and Treatment Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff

Many situations can arise in an aquarium that demands immediate attention from the hobbyist in order to protect the fish andinvertebrates that are housed within. Described here are warning signs of an emergency, the equipment you should have todetermine what the problem is, and equipment necessary to correct it.

Warning signs

Fish behaviorThe behavior of the fish should be your first indication of problems within the aquarium. Some of the signs to watch forinclude:

Livestock lossesRapid breathingIrregular movementsColor lossUnusual markings or growthsFish stop eating

Environmental changesChanges in the general appearance of the aquarium can also be an indication of water problems. Some of the typical signsrelated to imbalances in water chemistry include:

Poor expansion in corals and invertebratesPoor growth or death of plantsCloudy waterWater with a strong smellIncreased algae growth

Equipment to determine the problem

Test kitsA quality test kit should always be on hand and should include tests for ammonia, nitrite, pH, nitrates, phosphates, and ahydrometer if it is a saltwater aquarium.

The following is a general guideline to the problems that the different water parameters can cause in the aquarium along witha solution. Compare the warning signs that your aquarium exhibits to the following, and test those parameters to determine ifthey are the culprit.

Ammonia and nitrite: Excess amounts of either of these nutrients can be responsible for all the signs listed above. If toxiclevels of either are present, perform 25% water changes daily until the values return to zero, and incorporate a chemicalammonia neutralizing media into the filtration.

pH: The pH of the aquarium water can be responsible for all the signs listed above. If abnormal, perform a 25% water changeand add the necessary pH buffers.

Nitrates: Excess nitrates in the aquarium will lead to excessive algae growth as well as health problems with the fish at highlevels. Perform 25% water changes with nitrate free water weekly, and incorporate a nitrate reducing chemical media into thefiltration.

Phosphates: Phosphates encourage algae growth, cyanobacteria in saltwater, as well as inhibiting the calcification processwithin corals and coralline algae. Perform 25% water changes with phosphate free water weekly, and incorporate a phosphateadsorbing media into the filtration.

Equipment to correct the problem

Water changing equipmentKeep on hand all of the equipment that you need to perform a water change. This equipment should include:

Siphon hoseBuckets or garbage cans large enough to hold at least 25% of the aquarium's water capacityPower head or air pump, for aerating the make-up waterHeater and thermometer, for make-up waterDechlorinator, if using tap water, and salt for a saltwater aquarium

Chemical mediasThe following chemical medias are useful in both emergency situations, as well as general maintenance:

Ammonia neutralizing mediasActivated carbon or organic removing resin

Aquarium First Aid: Warning Signs, Diagnosis, and Treatment - Page 1 of 2

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prohibited under copyright law. Site content, including photography, descriptions, pricing, promotions, and availability are subject to change without

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images that are altered or edited after download could result in misinformation that may harm companion animals, aquatic life, or native species.

Phosphate and nitrate adsorbing mediaToxic metal or copper removerAppropriate pH buffer and spare media bags

Hospital aquariumA hospital aquarium is a separate aquarium that is much smaller than the main aquarium, and used to medicate ill fish, and forquarantining new fish before acclimating them to the main display. One of the Eclipse systems ranging in size from 2 gallonsup to 12 is an excellent option. This system will need to have a heater and thermometer, preferably a dark colored gravel, andsome form of shelter for reducing stress on the fish.

MedicationIf any of the fish in the aquarium show signs of disease, it is important to transfer them to the hospital aquarium. In the eventthat illness should become evident in the aquarium, having a broad range of treatments on hand will help save valuable timein combating the illness. The medications that we suggest for emergencies are:

FuranaseErythromycinCopper

If copper is used, you will also need a copper test kit to monitor the levels within the hospital aquarium.

Aquarium First Aid: Warning Signs, Diagnosis, and Treatment - Page 2 of 2

Unauthorized use of any images, thumbnails, illustrations, descriptions, article content, or registered trademarks of Foster & Smith, Inc. is strictly

prohibited under copyright law. Site content, including photography, descriptions, pricing, promotions, and availability are subject to change without

notice. These restrictions are necessary in order to protect not only our copyrighted intellectual property, but also the health of pets, since articles or

images that are altered or edited after download could result in misinformation that may harm companion animals, aquatic life, or native species.