Fish Dying, Tank Floor Unclean

[saintldb]

Hi, my name is Liam.

My fish have been okay up till very recently. Yesterday, one of my small sharks kept swimming looping upside down before finally settling down on a rock. I then had to flush it because I thought it might have a disease from how unclean the floor of my tank appears to be.

I have to cat fish at the bottom of my tank, which were apparently supposed to clean the bottom of the floor for me, meaning that I would never have to clean it myself. Yesterday, after the shark I went into rapid cleansing mode, and cleansed the filter, heater and all other electrical equipment in the aquariam. I also scraped a majority of the dirt from the glass away and moved the gravel at the bottom around, which caused the tank water to become dirty.

Now the filter has cleaned the tank out and is looking clean again, but I found one of my Gold Tetra's dead just moments ago. Which triggered me to believe there might be something else wrong?

What could it be?

And also, is there an easier way for me to clean the gravel at the bottom without using my hands?

 

[WILDER]

You didn't flush the fish live did you.
A good start would be size of tank in gallons or litres, water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph, how many fish and which type.
You should be doing a gravel vac once a week with a water change, you should never clean the tank like you just have, as the fish will be stressed now as you have alter there enviroment to fast.
What did you clean the filter in as you should only ever squeeze and swirl one sponge in old tank water.
Sounds like the shark had a swim bladder problem,
You should gravel vac once a week fish will not eat poo.
Also what do you feed the fish.

 

[saintldb]

How do I measure Nitrates and Ammonia levels?

What and where can I buy a Gravel Vac for?

 

[millym]

hi
you can buy a gravel vacuum & kits for testing your water at the shop where you got your fish or from an online supplier.
bottom feeders or any other so called 'clean up' crew can never keep the tank bottom completely clean for you so you dont have to do any maintenance yourself. a dirty tank bottom will end up in all your fish becoming sick & dying. as said these fish dont eat oither fishes waste & it has to go somewhere. fish eat........... fish poo & this all pollutes the tank.
by gravel vacuuming the floor you will also be emptying the tank of water which needs topping up i do a 25% water change with gravel vac every week on our tank. when you top up the water after a gravel vac make sure you buy & add some dechlorinator which neutralizes the chlorine & chloramine & other nasties found in tap water, you cant just add straight tap water to your tank as this will also harm/kill your fish.

if i were you i would look on this forum or do a google search on basic care for tropical fish which will give you some basic steps on how to care for your fish so they will be healthy & happy.
good luck