All Fish Are Dying...help!

[LittleL]

My tank 52 litre tank has been up and running perfectly. I take regular tests to make sure the water is fine and it has been for the last month, then the nitrite and nirate levels got high, so i did a few water changes and added 'Tetra' nirate minus and the other one for Nirite (cant remember what its called now but its in capsule form and its from 'tetra'... its to lower Nirite levels....)

Anyway.... the nirite and nirate levels have lowered, however my nirite level is still a tad higher than it should.... its on 100.. (i admit that the test kit i have it not so easy to understand, so i hope i have that right...? its a test kit from 'tetra')

In the last two weeks i have lost 4 glow light tetras, and 2 dwarf gouramis. currently I have 4 dwarf gouramis, 3 harliquins, 1 tiny bristle nose plec, 2 rosy barbs and i added 4 tiny puffers two days ago (one of which died before i got it home )

i have added a treatment to the water for swimbladder because the symptoms i discribed to the LFS told them that my fish probably died from swimbladder.. Anyway my new tiny puffers look very ill, they sit on the bottom of the tank during the night and rock from side to side... im scaried there gonna die.

Please help... why do my fish keep dying???

 

[docbanzai]

Yikes!

I suspect that you may have mixed up your nitAtes and nitrItes. If you really have a reading of 100 with nitrItes then I doubt that anything would last 5 minutes. NitrIte is deadly to fish and basically suffocates them. You would find fish 'gasping' at the surface and would die quite quickly.

NitrAte is not as serious. Although high levels need to be avoided. If it's your nitAte that reads 100 then it is high but is easy cured with water changes.

Ammonia is the biggest problem and I can only assume that you test for this and that the levels are OK.

In short; in a healthy tank your readings should be:
Ammonia 0
NitrIte 0
Nitrate <40

Also bear in mind that Ammonia becomes more toxic the higher your pH level is.

Do your fish show any other physical symptoms like spots or marks, red streaks on fins, red gills, 'gasping', erratic swimming etc.

The more information you can give us the better the chances of figuring out whats killing your fish. Things like pH, water temperature and full water params (Ammonia, NitrIte, NitrAte, KH, etc). How long has your tank been running perfectly, what type of filtration do you have?

If you can I would strongly suggest taking a water sample to your LFS a ask them to check the parameters for you. They may well be able to give you quicker, more accurate advice than you can get here. However think twice before dumping too many chemicals and/or meds into the tank, as these can sometimes cause more problems than they solve.

Sorry I can't be more specific. Remember that water changes are you friend (don't forget to treat the water before you add it though!) Stay calm (not easy I know) and try to give us as much info as you can.

Good Luck.

DB

 

[jarmado]

My tank 52 litre tank has been up and running perfectly. I take regular tests to make sure the water is fine and it has been for the last month, then the nitrite and nirate levels got high, so i did a few water changes and added 'Tetra' nirate minus and the other one for Nirite (cant remember what its called now but its in capsule form and its from 'tetra'... its to lower Nirite levels....)

are you refering to tetra's bactozym?

 

[LittleL]

tetra's bactozym - Yes thats the one. I've added that when my NirIte levels were high, they are back to 0 NOW.

Ok, so your right, i think i have my readings mixed up!! (woops, sorry im new to all this!)

Right i have 0 NirIte... however my NirAte is a little to high but as i mentioned and my tank does have quite alot of brown alage, i have been adding Minus Nirate to the tank to help and do regular water changes. My PH level is just above 7 (7.6)... i do hope this is making sense and im using my test stripes correct. According to my test kit, the PH level is fine

The tempeture is at 25 (i was told by LFS that this is a good temp.... Without looking at my tank (im at work) i cant really give you an arrcurate reading.. the above is just on what i can remember on the top of my head... To me and according to my test kit, id say everything seems fine apart from nirate is a tad to high, but nothing major to worry about.

The fish all look ok and there is no real obvious signs for consurn... no white spots, red fins etc.. however SOME of the fish like my new dwarf puffers and two of the dwarf gouramis do look alit drowsy and lifeless and have bloated bellys... the puffers are in hiding and the gourami doesn't move much, just stays near the top of the tank... all other fish look fine... All my glow light tetras died on the same day which i though was strange.... i have just started feeding 'daphinea' to help with digestion...

any other suggestions or help??

 

[docbanzai]

Hiya,
Phew, OK no problem with the mix-up

Brown algae is a good sign of high nitrAtes, but as I said, not a real problem just step up the water changes a bit.

Daphnea is good for digestion. Also try the shelled pea trick (cook peas for a min or so, then squeeze them to remove the outer skin, then mush them up and drop them in!)

It does sound like it could be a minor problem (like constipation or swim bladder) that just got a little out of hand. If your residents are not showing any other physical symptoms then it's probably not a major panic situation

Is it possible that they're getting a bit too much food? Try cutting back on feeding (or even stop for a day or two) This can often solve digestive problems in itself.

Dwarf Puffers can be fussy read here... for info about diet and conditions.

To be honest, you've got me stumped. Try the peas, and monitor them closely. If things don't improve in a couple of days get back to your LFS with a water sample and get their advice, medication may be neccessary.

Hopefully one the the brain-boxes on here will be more help to you than I can be.

Good luck, and keep us posted on how things are going.

All the best,

DB

 

[jarmado]

tetra's bactozym - Yes thats the one. I've added that when my NirIte levels were high, they are back to 0 NOW.

how often do you put in bactozym?
i can not get it to lower my nitrite level.

 

[LittleL]

thank you for all your advice... very helpful. I will try the peas tonight and i have actually stopped feeding as of yestarday to give there little bellys a break and see if it made a difference (the barbs could do with a feed break too... greedy gits!!)

ill just slowly introduce feeding again tomorrow morning (dont worry, i wont starve them!) ill see how it goes and keep you informed.

thanks again

 

[LittleL]

ok so ive added shelled peas and they all seem to be lapping it up, especially my very greedy barbs!!!

all my fish look ok apart from one of my dwarf puffers. He is very life-less and is getting dragged around the tank by the gentle current from my filter. I think he may die. I dont no why he is like this and theres not much i can do for him....

 

[docbanzai]

I would think that there is little you can do. Just keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't get picked on.

I'm really sorry I can't be any real help to you

Good luck, and don't give up hope. I've seen fishes recover from worse predicaments! Let me know how it turns out.

Take care,

DB

 

[LittleL]

unfortunitly i had to scoop a dead puff from the tank this morning... i had a funny feeling he would die

My other two puffers look ok and quite happy...

thanks for all the help!

lau

 

[docbanzai]

I'm so sorry to hear that

I hope that I've helped a little. Don't forget the pea thing! About once a week is very good for them and as you've seen, the little buggers love them!

All the best,

DB