Dead Corys Help Please

[heather_s]

Sorry, can't give too much tank info because belongs to my son.

Small tank about 60cm by 40cm
Temp 24 deg
Fish - 2 white corys (dead) 2 bronze (speckled corys) 1 died; 2 tetras, 4 guppies, 4 striped little fish (sorry, don't know what they are called, common)

been established couple of years, has had problems with whitish algae (only when he leaves "fish sitters" to look after the tank) but fine now

he came home from school today to find 2 albino & 1 speckled cory dead (other one sick looking); other fish fine

this am, he conditioned tank (but always uses same conditioner, nothing new)

only other difference is that we cut down some trees in front of his room, and he said the sun was shining straight into the tank.

could the high temperature have killed the corys? it is winter here, but temp would have been about 22-25 deg outside.

can anyone help me, i love the corys...

 

[Spooky76]

Hi - I doubt its temperature - but what is the water temp when its sunny ?
Sounds more like something in the water chemistry to take them out that quickly. Temperature can mess up your PH, but not to that degree, but might be worth checking its normal.

I would do a 20-30% water change and get a water test kit to test ammonia, nitrite and Nitrate, PH.

Usually if you get multiple deaths close together its water chemistry problems.
Does he/she do all the usual weekly water changes ? Do you condition the water before adding to the tank ? Also do you clean the filter in the water you take out the fish tank and not under the tap ?

 

[heather_s]

Hi - I doubt its temperature - but what is the water temp when its sunny ?Sounds more like something in the water chemistry to take them out that quickly. Temperature can mess up your PH, but not to that degree, but might be worth checking its normal.I would do a 20-30% water change and get a water test kit to test ammonia, nitrite and Nitrate, PH.Usually if you get multiple deaths close together its water chemistry problems.Does he/she do all the usual weekly water changes ? Do you condition the water before adding to the tank ? Also do you clean the filter in the water you take out the fish tank and not under the tap ?

Thanks SpookyHe does all his weekly water changes, and conditions the water. I don't think he cleans the filter in the water out of the tank (but I don't think he cleaned the filter this morning).My husband said he saw all the fish swimming around frantically about an hour before my son came home, but none were dead. Also, his guppies are now all "sitting" on the bottom of the tank, they don't look sick, but don't normally behave like that. The other fish are acting normally. I'll get him to test his water tomorrow after school. I'm not sure what the temp is, but it gets very hot here in Summer, and this has not happened before (and it is Winter now)

 

[nurglespuss]

When you say he conditions the tank, does he put the tank conditioner in the new water, before it goes into the tank, or in the tank then adds new water?

Also, is an air pump installed? This may help a little if the fish are a little depleted.

Could be prudent to vaccum the cravel, do a 50% water change with water of roughly the same temp, treated.

Give the filter a prefunctory clean (in tank water), and maybe add some bacterial booster to get it going.

Then knock the lights off for a day.

have a look tommorow, see if there are any symptoms at all (flicking, rubbing, dashing etc. gasping, lying, sluggishness etc).

feed very lightly, and remove any uneaten food.

 

[heather_s]

When you say he conditions the tank, does he put the tank conditioner in the new water, before it goes into the tank, or in the tank then adds new water?

the latter, i think

Also, is an air pump installed? This may help a little if the fish are a little depleted.

yes, he has had it on all day

Could be prudent to vaccum the cravel, do a 50% water change with water of roughly the same temp, treated.

just done

Give the filter a prefunctory clean (in tank water), and maybe add some bacterial booster to get it going.

ditto (not the booster)

Then knock the lights off for a day.

have a look tommorow, see if there are any symptoms at all (flicking, rubbing, dashing etc. gasping, lying, sluggishness etc).

feed very lightly, and remove any uneaten food.

the fish are swimming around now, looking "normal" - hope all is ok tomorrow...especially the remaining cory, poor little fishy

thanks for all of your help.

 

[nurglespuss]

No problem :>

hope he's ok!