Hello folks,
I was hoping more experienced fish lovers could help me diagnose this freshwater aquarium dilemma:
Prior to an 8 day vacation, I changed 50% of the water, thoroughly cleaned the Penguin Mini Bio-Wheel (tubing, inner casing etc). Also thoroughly vacuumed the gravel. I did not bother cleaning the Tetra Whisper to avoid disrupting too much beneficial bacterial (i've loaded it with aqua clear sponges)
Aquarium: 10 Gallon glass
Power Filters: 1 Mini Penguin Bio-Wheel, 1 (smallest model) Tetra Whisper.
Temperature: 80 degrees F.
PH: approx. ~7.0
Nitrates: upon return from vacation a nasty 80 ppm.
***The fish were not fed at all during 8 days, leading me to conclude perhaps 1 resident had fallen to starvation, leading to escallating ammonia levels, but starvation seems unlikely to me.***
***The only new procedure I did at that time out of the ordinary was the cleaning of the Penguin Bio-Wheel. (no,not the wheel itself). This was the very first time that filter was cleaned.***
Unlucky Inhabitants upon return from 8 day vacation.
1 bronze cory (DECEASED)
1 peppered cory (DECEASED)
1 bristle nose catfish (DECEASED)
2 zebra danios (DECEASED)
1 swordtail (DECEASED)
Sole Survivors:
6 rummy-nose tetras (2 different species)
1 Bolivian Ram
2 Java Ferns
Routine Aquarium (1.5 yrs. operation) Maintenance:
If there is anything I have learned from fish keeping it is to maintain consistancy. I've been doing 50% water changes on the 10 gallon along with appropriate chlorine/chloramine removal product, vacuuming gravel every other week. Fish are fed every other day.
I have had no problems up until my return from the 8 day vacation to find 6 dead inhabitants (only 3 bodies found).
Any idea what might have happened?
Any ideas/suggestions are most welcome.
Thanks,
Marc
I was hoping more experienced fish lovers could help me diagnose this freshwater aquarium dilemma:
Prior to an 8 day vacation, I changed 50% of the water, thoroughly cleaned the Penguin Mini Bio-Wheel (tubing, inner casing etc). Also thoroughly vacuumed the gravel. I did not bother cleaning the Tetra Whisper to avoid disrupting too much beneficial bacterial (i've loaded it with aqua clear sponges)
Aquarium: 10 Gallon glass
Power Filters: 1 Mini Penguin Bio-Wheel, 1 (smallest model) Tetra Whisper.
Temperature: 80 degrees F.
PH: approx. ~7.0
Nitrates: upon return from vacation a nasty 80 ppm.
***The fish were not fed at all during 8 days, leading me to conclude perhaps 1 resident had fallen to starvation, leading to escallating ammonia levels, but starvation seems unlikely to me.***
***The only new procedure I did at that time out of the ordinary was the cleaning of the Penguin Bio-Wheel. (no,not the wheel itself). This was the very first time that filter was cleaned.***
Unlucky Inhabitants upon return from 8 day vacation.
1 bronze cory (DECEASED)
1 peppered cory (DECEASED)
1 bristle nose catfish (DECEASED)
2 zebra danios (DECEASED)
1 swordtail (DECEASED)
Sole Survivors:
6 rummy-nose tetras (2 different species)
1 Bolivian Ram
2 Java Ferns
Routine Aquarium (1.5 yrs. operation) Maintenance:
If there is anything I have learned from fish keeping it is to maintain consistancy. I've been doing 50% water changes on the 10 gallon along with appropriate chlorine/chloramine removal product, vacuuming gravel every other week. Fish are fed every other day.
I have had no problems up until my return from the 8 day vacation to find 6 dead inhabitants (only 3 bodies found).
Any idea what might have happened?
Any ideas/suggestions are most welcome.
Thanks,
Marc