Urgent - Sick Sturgeon

[Acryaz]

Hi everyone, I have a 2x 7-8 inch diamond Sturgeon purchased a couple months ago.

New pond and new filter syndrome hit whilst I build the actual new pond.

One of the diamonds is sitting at the bottom almost lifeless, seems to be moving every now and then (he is not bent in a U shape)

The other seems fine, active swimming across the side of the pool.

I feed them between 1-4 times daily with sinking sturgeon pellets, depending on water quality due to the syndrome.

Ammonia spikes have sorted themselves out and is 0 ppm

Nitrite - off the charts!!

pH 8.0

KH 3 degrees

Oxygen - 8mg

My concern is hypoxia due to the high nitrite, performed 60% water change yesterday and this morning and nitrite will NOT REDUCE : ( it's a 1800 litre pond and I know it's too small for sturgeon but I have no choice whilst I'm building the new pond

I have heavy airflow

Any ideas? I need to fix this NOW or I am very concerned he will die less

 

[Acryaz]

Pictures:

 

[WaterGardener]

Seachem Prime binds ammonia and nitrite and will keep it from harming fish. Used that way it will last only 48 hours and must be dosed again every other day.

Salt is also recommended for nitrite at .2 to .3%. Pure salt, not iodized salt. The big box stores sell salt for water softeners that is very reasonably priced. Be sure to dissolve the salt in a bucket of water before adding it to the pond so the fish won't eat it. Make sure the salt has no additives or agents to prevent clumping.

Stop feeding the fish. That is adding to the problem. The fish will be fine without being fed until the nitrogen cycle is completed. Then start feeding a very small amount and increase it gradually.

Also, the KH is too low. That is easily raised with baking soda and if you get it around the 200 ppm level, it will actually shorten the time it takes to complete the cycle.

 

[WaterGardener]

That should be .2 and .3 percent, not 2 and 3 percent.

I can't edit the post at this point, but if an administrator would correct that, it would be appreciated.

It's always a good idea to double and even triple check what you read!

So sorry for this mistake.

 

[addy1]

Fixed it for you

 

[WaterGardener]

Thank you!

 

[Acryaz]

Thankyou! I did salt the pond the other day to 0.3%. somehow he's still alive but barely. Wedging himself under pipework I keep thinking he's stuck but I'm not sure if he is or not

 

[j.w]

and welcome @Acryaz
Hope fish will be ok!