Over Carbonated Water and Other Problems

[djmatthewblack]

I finally got my carbon diffuser working after several variations of DIY diffusers. Well, I have it working too well or had the carbon turned up too high, cause I came home today and my angelfish and tetra were at the top, the loaches were at the bottom hardly moving. Plants were pearling like crazy,...too crazy.

Quickly turned off the carbon, raised the diffuser to send out all the bubbles that were churning, and I have added an air stone. Well, the fish seem to be back to normal if not too stressed, but I need to figure out a better way to measure the carbon input.

To compound the problem, I noticed on an otto and a bit on one of the Angels, a white cloudiness on the skin. I am thinking fungus, but not sure. I am going to try and treat the tank (there is no solid carbon in the filtration).

In short, what other side effects could happen from the carbon overdose and I was thinking of treating the tank with any med with methylene blue or green. If I could quarantine the infected fish, that would be best but I may have to treat the entire 90 gallon tank as I don't think I will have enough time to quarantine.

[IvanSanchez]

Well CO2 is a dangerous thing to work with in any tank. Yes it is used to maintain a lush, healthy plant environment but remember, you have fish in there as well!

Before answering some questions I'd like to know about your CO2 setup. Is it DIY yeast? Regulator? Solenoid?
Do you have a bubble counter in your set up? If so what were the bubbles per second, BPS.
What type of diffusor?

It was a great thing to add an airstone! I wouldn't know about dosing medication for your fish. They just basically were running out of oxygen. Other than being stressed I think your fish will be fine. You could QT the one's you think are ill but I don't think It should be done to the whole tank.