Can someone PLEASE help me figure out whats up with my Silver Arowana?

[EntoStentor]

This is actually really sad because we have alot of replies but no one here is really stressing the severity of the situation nor is the op getting how to fix the situation as too many suggestions when there is only one thing to worry about right now.

YOUR FISH ARE CURRENTLY DYING THROUGH UNFIT LIVING CONDITION BY THE MEANS OF TOXIC WATER.

You need to act immediately!!

Step 1. Change as much water as you can. This mean very large water changes daily. But it's super important that you maintain stable temperature during this process. You need to change alot of water regularly to remove ammonia and or nitrites to close to 0 as possible. Yours aquarium is not cycled, this means you have no beneficial bacteria which is what converts ammonia to nitrites to nitrates.

Nitrates are safest form although still toxic at higher levels and each fish has a different degree of sensitivity to nitrates. This is why we change water weekly or more in our aquarium.

Don't forget to use a quality water dechlorination product like seachem prime. You must add this to the tank to ensure your removing chlorine and heavy metals.

Step 2. Now that the water is suitable for life you need to quickly cycle the aquarium to ensure ammonia and nitrite are being converted properly and not have to rely on removing them through water changes each day.

The fastest way to do this is to ask a store or fellow hobbiest to provided with seeded media from an established aquarium. Add this to your filter and you can essentially instantly cycle the aquarium.

I would also highly suggest that you stop feeding for a few days or more untill things get sorted out to avoid adding additional waste which will only cause spike of ammonia in the aquarium risking your fish.

Also a good idea to add a bottled product that will provide additional bacteria. ATM colony is one of these that works. Dr Tim's is another. https://www.amazon.ca/DrTims-Aquatics-Nitrifying-Bacteria-Cycling/dp/B002DVTFGE

Adding this will definitely help to establish a proper bacteria colony to deal with the bioload of the aquarium.

If you can quickly get on this you should start to see improvement in your fish pretty fast. Like almost immediately. The key is stop feeding and get the water free from ammonia and nitrite a which are deadly to fish.

Start changing large volumes of water each day 8f not twice a day till you see you fish improving. Get some seeded media combined with a nitrifying bacteria in a bottle product right away and add this to the tank and follow directions carefully.

I would keep lights off during this time to reduce stress.

Yes. Obviously OP's tank isn't cycled. I was just pointing out some other concerns about the fish themselves.

 

[EntoStentor]

B BassHuntin900 The quickest way to get your tank cycled is with FritzZyme Turbostart 700. It is critical you get this beneficial bacteria in your tank to safely dispose of your fish's waste. Turbostart will get it cycled in about 3 days. Keep doing the large water changes and not feeding suggested above. It will not starve your fish to death. What is far more deadly to them is the ammonia buildup.

 

[G.S.P.]

My honest guess is that this tank will likely crash or never get cycled in time to save the arrowanna. There doesn't seem to be much, if any surface agitation which means oxygen levels are likely very low. A separate small powerhead at the surface should be added immediately and a bacteria like Stability should be introduced ASAP. 50% wc would be a good idea but not daily after the bacteria has been introduced.

 

[LBDave]

If the tank is not cycled you may be able to get through it using Prime, adding bacteria and changing water. This can get expensive. Looking at the photo of the tank it looks like the filter is not causing current and there are no airstones. The surface water needs to get agitated. Get an airstone into the water.

 

[LBDave]

I think the tank needs oxygen. Make sure you are also using Prime. Test the water for ammonia and nitrates. Read up on cycling tank.

 

[BassHuntin900]

I dont think any of you even get my tank situation.. I HAVE done water changes 3 days in a row now and they only seem more stressed out each time i do it and i do use API QuickStart water conditioner each time i do it, also this morning every fish seems fine but the aro, who is now sitting at the bottom, i will get the bacteria thing i need but another water change seems like its going to do more damadge than good im going to wait atleast a few days before i do another

 

[BassHuntin900]

i

The fact that you don't know what cycling is and you have an arowana concerns me. Arowanas get up to 3 feet. What are your long-term plans for it? Arowanas at this size grow about 2 inches per month. You need to keep them well fed, have fairly strong waterflow, and transfer it to a bigger tank shortly. It will require a 240 gallon at least when grown.

i am going to move it to a 6' long tank in about 4 months.. what do you suggest i do to improve the waterflow

 

[EntoStentor]

Powerhead

 

[G.S.P.]

I dont think any of you even get my tank situation.. I HAVE done water changes 3 days in a row now and they only seem more stressed out each time i do it and i do use API QuickStart water conditioner each time i do it, also this morning every fish seems fine but the aro, who is now sitting at the bottom, i will get the bacteria thing i need but another water change seems like its going to do more damadge than good im going to wait atleast a few days before i do another

Get a small powerhead for this tank...that will keep the surface agitation constant and will oxygenate the water...most people here will suggest you get Seachem Prime to treat the water as it's a go to for most aquarists. The bacteria and Prime are going to be your two most important things going forward. Seachem Stability (bacteria in a bottle) will cycle that tank in 7-9 days so long as you have a decent canister or HOB filter. Once you start dosing the tank with the bacteria, don't do 50% water changes daily unless you see a dangerous spike of ammonia or nitrite.

 

[Dloks]

Low oxygen level and non cycled tanked