lethargic fish after water change

Question
I changed my water 50% due to a very heavy breakout of algea, I also cleaned my rocks with water. know my fish are very lethargic and not really eating the water is very cloudy and there are bubbles at the top of the tank. the new water I added was pretreated with conditioner, What should I do now?

Answer
Hi Anthony;

Your fish are probably in shock from too large a water change. No more than 25% should be replaced at one time. There may be ammonia and/or nitrite in there now from overcleaning too. If you clean the rocks it kills too much of the beneficial bacteria that consumes the ammonia and nitrite that keeps the water clear. Have the water tested for the presence of ammonia and nitrite and see if any is there. If so, make a 25% water change to lower it. Test every day and every day that there is ammonia and/or nitrite in there make a 25% water change. Don't change more than 25% of the water in one day.

**NOTE** Be sure you are testing for nitrIte and not nitrAte. They are very different. Nitrate is okay to be in there up to 40 ppm in established tanks. Nitrite is very toxic and should not be present at all.

I hope they feel better soon...

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins