Hi. I rather suspect I am too late in discovering this forum but I wonder if anyone has any clues as to what I can do with my tropical fishtank. About 10 days ago I had a problem with my heater and it basically didn't turn itself off and the water became much too hot and I lost 11 fish! I was devastated and did a 50% water change to bring the temperature down but not too dramatically. I still had 14 fish left including tetras, swordtails, 3 loaches and a shrimp. I went out and bought a new heater and fitted that. At the same time I bought a new filter system as my old one had never been very good and was noisy. I took out the old sponges and put them into the new filter.
Then yesterday I came down to 8 more dead fish. I did a master test on the water and all was perfect until I tested the nitrite which was way too high. I did a 50% water change again. The tank looks fantastic and clear and the plants are all healthy. Today I have come down and there is another swordtail upside down and almost dead. It's colour has drained and its eyes are cloudy. I can also see my only remaining tetra under some wood looking very poorly. There are also tracks all over the sand on the bottom. Goodness knows what this is as all the snails that once lived in my tank were eaten by the loaches. I can only think that a couple must have survived but I cannot see them. I am down to about 2 fish now in a 68gallon tank! It's incredibly sad and I feel like giving up. I have had the tank since 2004 and I have always had a healthy happy tank until 10 days ago.
Any advice would be gratefully received.
Then yesterday I came down to 8 more dead fish. I did a master test on the water and all was perfect until I tested the nitrite which was way too high. I did a 50% water change again. The tank looks fantastic and clear and the plants are all healthy. Today I have come down and there is another swordtail upside down and almost dead. It's colour has drained and its eyes are cloudy. I can also see my only remaining tetra under some wood looking very poorly. There are also tracks all over the sand on the bottom. Goodness knows what this is as all the snails that once lived in my tank were eaten by the loaches. I can only think that a couple must have survived but I cannot see them. I am down to about 2 fish now in a 68gallon tank! It's incredibly sad and I feel like giving up. I have had the tank since 2004 and I have always had a healthy happy tank until 10 days ago.
Any advice would be gratefully received.
