my filter went out last night and now my fish is swimming upside down what can I do to resolve this issue?

Question

goldfish

Answer 1

In an emergency your fish need air. Dissolved oxygen. Use a large cup taking out tank water and beging pouring your tank water back into the tank. About a foot above the aquarium. I don't know how large your tank is but you may have to do this quite a few times.

Don't do a water change. The new Dissolved O2 will help but it will add undue stress to your already stressed fish. This also works when the power goes out.

Do this every so often to add the D02 to the tank until you can get a new filter.

(This is why you never pitch old filters that work. for an emergency)
Have you checked to see if your filter is just clogged?

I hope everything works out with your fish.

Answer 2

From the way it sounds, you have a bigger issue than the filter. Unless the tank is horribly overstocked, a filter going out for one night shouldn't cause too much trouble. I've forgot to turn my filter back on after feeding my fish for an entire day, and all the water parameters were fine. A filter will remove solid particles and perhaps help take some ammonia out of the water (and ntirites), but the reason it does that is because of the bacteria that builds up on the filter media. There should be some of this bacteria in the rocks as well, so that shouldn't be an issue.

I would suggest getting a new filter. Hold onto the old cartridge though (keep it wet) and cut a piece of it off to put in the new filter. Your old filter has good bacteria on it, and totally eradicating all of that will destroy the stability of your tank.

As far as the fish goes...
Disease that have been documented to affect swimming. The most common especially in goldfish, is swim bladder disease. The swim-bladder can be affected by bacterial or viral diseases. In addition the swim-bladder may malfunction, leading to over or under inflation. Clearly anything which affects the proper functioning of the swim-bladder will also affect the fish's equilibrium.
Disease in other organs such as kidneys and intestines for example can also cause problems.
Sadly, a lot of times, the end result is simply death...

Answer 3

1st of all i would check your filter isnt blocked or clogged. Mine was the other day. Wash your filter media and foams in some tank water taken from the tank, not in clean tap water or you will kill all your good bacteria. Where the water outlet is, use a cotton ear bud and clean in that part, thats where mine was clogged up, loads of slime and gunk came out mine and when i turned it back on it worked wonders, infact the current was so strong I had to turn it down lol.

If that doesnt work you will need a new filter, then you will have to cycle the tank again which will mean monitoring your amonia, nitrites and nitrates and frequent water changes until its cycled again, you can speed this up by putting your old media into the new filter.

Also carry out a 50% water change.

Answer 4

make sure and do some water changes until you can get a new filter, or fix yours. Your fish is probabley suffering from lack of oxygen, although there might me something else wrong. Ex: water quality

Answer 5

Change the water in your tank, a 20%-30% water change at least. Make sure you treat the water to rid it of chlorine. Put in a new filter cartridge.

Answer 6

I had this happen a couple of years ago. I went to the pet shop where I bought the fish, to ask. The fish is terminal.

Answer 7

Buy a new filter and a new fish because i don't think your fish is going to make it.

Answer 8

Try doing a large (50% or more) water change to remove the ammonia buildup. Try not feeding for a day or two.

Is your filter working now? You should try to get it turned on as soon as possible.

Answer 9

You can pull the filter out and rinse it really good. Or bye a new one. I just rinse mine though a few times before I actually replace.

Answer 10

Turn the aquarium over so the fish is rightside up.