Birth Defects Or Something Else?

[QuotheRaven]

These kribs have been in the current tank for a good 2-3 months but over the past 2 weeks they have been dying with 0 signs of disease. The PH has been low for awhile and has been that since they have been in the tank. The tank went through a large ammonia spike 1 month or 2 ago apparently even though None of the fish died. Thats been sorted and the water specs are 0 ammonia nitrite and Ph is low 6.0 which will be changed with some PH up when I go out on friday. The fish have gone through alot and now suddenly are dying off. The fish with them are assorted cichlids (firemouth, rescued peacock, severum, Angelfish) kuhlii loaches, rendahls catfish and a bristlenose plec. These fish have been together for a long time aswell. the tank size is 75 gallons and also there has been Very hot weather getting into the high thirties early 40's for 2-3 months. There is very little aggression during the day and One of the fish that died seemed to just lose the ability to swim and turned a little dark. The fish all have fins up and then when I get up in the morning there seems to be a death. No other fish have been unwell or died.

 

[QuotheRaven]

any help would be appreciated

 

[QuotheRaven]

still no one has advice?? so many online to and nothing

 

[Ferris]

Patience is a virtue

Sorry to hear about your problems with the Kribs.

From what you describe, i would guess its the long term effects of the ammonia spike and a low Ph (and perhaps the temp). These problems have probably weakened their immune systems over time. I had a similar problem with a marine setup - i had a major Ph crash, which was rectified pretty quickly and i thought i was lucky not to lose any fish. Unfortunately several of them died over the next couple of months for no apparent reason.

If you intend to raise the PH, just make sure you do it slowly - Ph shock can be a killer. I would suggest taking 10 days at 0.1 per day to get the Ph to around neutral 7.

 

[QuotheRaven]

Thanks for the reply Ferris

I was being somewhat impatient as I needed the advice prior to friday and my father works on the computer all wednesday and thursday.

That was my hunch, what could a Ph drop be from, why would it be so low?

 

[Ferris]

What's your Ph straight from the tap?

 

[QuotheRaven]

I have never tested the tap water..if the tap water is neutral what could it be?

 

[Ferris]

Have you added a new type of substrate or bog wood to the tank?

Have you introduced anything new at all to the tank? RO Water? Any new brand of dechlorinator?

 

[QuotheRaven]

I got a new dechlorinater for christmas...could that be it?

 

[Ferris]

Unlikely on it's own but possible if your tank has a really low kh.

I would test your water from the tap and see how a big a difference there really is.