Need a little help

[Jimmy Gibson]

I woke up this morning to two dead Koi. I had no idea that they were in any kind of distress. So I immediately checked my water quality and ammonia was almost zero, no nitrates or nitrites, but my PH was low from my normal between 6 and 6.5, water temperature is 50. I did a close inspection on the fish saw no sign of external parasites or bacteria infection not a blemish on them. The rest of fish seem OK but lethargic.
The thing I am thinking we had a huge wind storm last weekend and a lot of red oak leaves in the pond so Monday afternoon I got most of them out, but the rest of the week I had a lot of foaming from what I guess dissolved organics from the leaves. I immediately did a wholesale water change using a chlorine filter. Hoping for the best, but opinions on what else to do would be appreciated

 

[Jimmy Gibson]

I woke up this morning to two dead Koi. I had no idea that they were in any kind of distress. So I immediately checked my water quality and ammonia was almost zero, no nitrates or nitrites, but my PH was low from my normal between 6 and 6.5, water temperature is 50. I did a close inspection on the fish saw no sign of external parasites or bacteria infection not a blemish on them. The rest of fish seem OK but lethargic.
The thing I am thinking we had a huge wind storm last weekend and a lot of red oak leaves in the pond so Monday afternoon I got most of them out, but the rest of the week I had a lot of foaming from what I guess dissolved organics from the leaves. I immediately did a wholesale water change using a chlorine filter. Hoping for the best, but opinions on what else to do would be appreciated

I also adding baking soda to get my PH back above 7

 

[Meyer Jordan]

I also adding baking soda to get my PH back above 7

Baking soda is a good temporary fix. Have you checked the KH and GH levels?
What was your normal pH.
The unexpected leaf drop should not be a factor in your problem. Sounds like a combination low alkalinity/soft water issue.

 

[Jimmy Gibson]

Baking soda is a good temporary fix. Have you checked the KH and GH levels?
What was your normal pH.
The unexpected leaf drop should not be a factor in your problem. Sounds like a combination low alkalinity/soft water issue.

Normal PH is usually 7.5 but it's been awhile since I had checked the water. I don't have a test kit for kh and GH, but it they seem to be moving around more now since I did the water change. But what puzzles me there were no symptoms, no flashing no gasping for air at the surface and I check these fish every day.

 

[Tula]

@Meyer Jordan is best to advise you. Although I don't totally understand it, I test for KH over PH, as a stable KH prevents wild swings in PH.

I'm so very sorry

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Always check the gills when dead fish are discovered. The color and overall appearance of the gill tissue is a pretty good indicator of the cause.
Flashing and piping are not the only symptoms one should be alert to. Lethargy, staying on the bottom, etc. are also indicators of something amiss.
You need to get a GH and KH test kit.
Do you know what the pH of the source water is?

 

[Jimmy Gibson]

Always check the gills when dead fish are discovered. The color and overall appearance of the gill tissue is a pretty good indicator of the cause.
Flashing and piping are not the only symptoms one should be alert to. Lethargy, staying on the bottom, etc. are also indicators of something amiss.
You need to get a GH and KH test kit.
Do you know what the pH of the source water is?

Ordered one from Amazon. I did look closely to the gills and they looked OK but I have to admit I was thinking more on the parasite when I was looking

 

[Jimmy Gibson]

Ordered one from Amazon. I did look closely to the gills and they looked OK but I have to admit I was thinking more on the parasite when I was looking

The source water from our utility is 7.5

 

[Lisak1]

So sorry! I hope the rest of your fish will be OK.

 

[Gemma]

Sorry you lost your fish

 

[Jimmy Gibson]

I did a 75% water change yesterday afternoon and finished up this morning. Still alot of foam and have had this kind of foam since the leaves got in it even though I removed all the leaves Monday. The rest of my fish seem OK this morning, definitely more active. I think the PH is above 7, but to tell you the truth I have checked it so many times I am beginning to doubt myself. Going to make the rounds to Petco and Petsmart to see if they have a KH and GH test kit if not I have one coming from Amazon Sunday...... Thanks for all your help and support

 

[Jimmy Gibson]

View attachment 106611 View attachment 106612 View attachment 106613 I did a 75% water change yesterday afternoon and finished up this morning. Still alot of foam and have had this kind of foam since the leaves got in it even though I removed all the leaves Monday. The rest of my fish seem OK this morning, definitely more active. I think the PH is above 7, but to tell you the truth I have checked it so many times I am beginning to doubt myself. Going to make the rounds to Petco and Petsmart to see if they have a KH and GH test kit if not I have one coming from Amazon Sunday...... Thanks for all your help and support

 

[Lisak1]

You've definitely got something going on there - I'm not a water tester so I can't help you there. I'll just keep my fingers crossed for you that you figure it out!

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Do not be concerned about the foam. This will quickly dissipate through bacterial action.
Please post the GH and KH test results as soon as you obtain them

 

[Jimmy Gibson]

Best I could do locally.....I have another one in distress....... When they start going downhill they start swimming with their whole body instead of their fins and then at the end they go nose down and tail up......the rest are huddled up on the bottom..... Part of that could be the sun is out shinning and they don't have any lilies to hide under..... But something is gone wrong and I am at a loss for an answer