About To Drop Kick My Tank!

[acetennis2002]

Alright I'm completely stumped with my tank. Fish are dieing all over the place. It started with my a couple of rams, i figured it was because i had four and 2 paird up and beat up on the other. That really didnt worry me too much but then my rhino pleco died with no signs of sickness, i figured it was being beaton up on by my white spotted sailfin pleco but they generaly stay away from each other. Then i went out and bought a royal pleco and it was doing fine for about a month and just the other day it died along with my last pair of rams. So the fish that are still living are 3 kuli loaches, 1 rosy barb, 1 pristela tetra, 1 juli cory, a striped raphel catfish, and a white spotted sailfin pleco. I just tested the water and the only thing that came back that worried me was the PH was a little high for tropical. Everything else was zero. In the tank i have about 4 pieces of wood glued to slate and a few pieces of slate and a few live plants. I dont understand why my fish are dieing, i do regular water changes so thats not the problem. Any help would be greatly appreatiated.

 

[WILDER]

What your tap ph to your tank ph?
No signs at all to go on, like flicking and rubbing, being pale, etc.

 

[x-fish]

hhmmm any more info

 

[WILDER]

Need to look at your ph as if you are doing large water changes the ph will be altering causing stress and shock.

 

[BigIan]

Any white stringy poo?

 

[MHunt]

Ok, it could (but might not be so don't head for the medicine yet) be a bacterial infection. I had lots uf unexplained deaths after a bought of whitespot. Long after most of the original fish died. I treated with interpet 9 and so far haven't had any unexpected deaths in my tank.

However i wouldn't jump for the meds just yet. Look at other factors like vastly differing tap to tank pH. I think what wilder is trying to get at is a large water change of a different pH may induce pH Shock in your fish. That said my tank pH is about 6.5 to 7, and when i last tested my tap it was between 8 and 9! So i think i would be seeing pH problems more often myself at water change time.

I would test the water, particularly after a number of unexplained deaths. It may be an increased level of ammonia or nitrite causing problems. Or even a very high level of nitrate may cause problems for sensitive fish.

Edit - Ok, last two posts came in while i was writing my epic!

 

[WILDER]

Thanks mhunt we need to elimate the ph first before we go any further, as it could be parasites to bacterial, but need to look at the water quality first.

 

[acetennis2002]

the ph was about 7.9ish when i tested it so way high

 

[MHunt]

Which pH? tank or tap?

Also looking at your first post, it's very odd to have a nitrate of zero. That's the only thing that isn't broken down in the tank, and even in a well planted tank or one using some other nitrate control you should read some. Perhaps your test kit is out of date?
i would try a test of a different type and see what that says as a reference.

A high pH isn't too much of problem if it's stable and hasn't changed rapidly. Stability is better than fighting for the perfect pH and having massive swings.

 

[acetennis2002]

I wouldent concider my tank heavelly planted but i have about 6 plant in there but ill see if i can get my hands on another nitrate test.

 

[WILDER]

Test your tap nitrate reading and leave it for 24 hours for a true reading.