Fish Rapidly Dying

[txr33]

Hi I am a new user to this forum and not too sure where I should post my problem.

Tank size: 300L
pH: 7.0
ammonia: Don't Know
nitrite: Don't Know
nitrate: Don't Know
kH: Don't Know
gH: Don't Know
tank temp: 24 Degrees Celcius

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): Fish not eating and just moping around at bottom of tank, not swimming around much. and half recently died with no signs of why.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: 30-50L Weekly

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Hang on Biofilter with Activated Carbon, GreenX Satchel and conditioning block. Carbon and GreenX Replaced one and a half weeks ago.

Tank inhabitants: Bristlenose Catfish (Breeding Pair), medium Oscar, small Jack Dempsey, small Texas, small Brasilianos, small Green Terror, Small Convict, two medium angel fish.

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): Introduced the Jack, texas and terror before major problem happened. Couple of days ago added new three new pieces of slate (rinsed Thouroughly) and replaced two plants

Exposure to chemicals: Not Known

I had nearly half of my fish die and the other half just look like they are mopeing at the bottom of the tank. I have South American and American Cichlids in there and introduced a Jack Dempsey, Texas Cihclid and Green Terror. I have an oscar that had a hardy appetite until they were introduced and now just doesn't seem to want to eat at all. The new fish are all still alive but just seem to all hang around one corner of the tank and very rarely move around, but swam around a fair bit when 1st introduced. I thought at 1st the fish might have gotten killed by the new fish but there was no signs of an attack on the dead fish.


Any help, information or suggestions on what to do would be really appreciated.

Thanks
Tim

 

[Cultasso]

Sounds like you need to find out the things that you dont know, that would certainly be a start, take a sample of water to your LFS and they should be able to test ammonia etc

I cant really think of anything else to do, other than that, untils that is done i wouldnt add any more chemicals or do any more water changes.

I generally have my temperature a bit warmer than that as well, nearer 29

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Yes i agree, you need to buy a test kit for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates in particular (the Master test kits are good and accurate) as a lot of issue in aquariums come down to water quality problems- even if the water appears clean, its impossible to say it is good until you test it.
How long has the tank been set up and how many fish have died since you set it up or within the last month? Are you using water conditioner/dechlorinator on the tank water at all? How do you go about cleaning the filter and how often?

 

[fishfantastic]

I agree you should get test kits immedietly. Are the fish showing any signs of hemoriging(red blotches)?This is a sign of amonia poisoning. Also make sure you have enough air supply.Do you use prime or aqua plus when you do your water changes? One of these is a must because they detoxify the new water.Good luck.Hope you save the rest of your fish.

 

[txr33]

Hi

Thanks guys. I have had the tank setup around eight months now and have only lost fish due to them being eaten by another. I use Aqua Science Water Conditioner Extra Strength and can't see any signs of red blotches on the fish at all. I clean the filter roughly once a month or sooner if it looks like it needs it. Thanks for your help guys and I'll get a test kit and get it tested today asap and post the results.

Thanks

 

[txr33]

HI

I got my water tested yesterday and found that my fish died from nitrite poisoning. I got some seachem prime to detoxify the nitrite in the water and some seachem stability to help boost my biofilter to a better level. The fish that have survuved are beginning to swim around a lot more and nitrite for the moment seems to be holding at zero. Is there anything else recommended to do to help get rid of the nitrite.

Thanks

 

[WILDER]

You say you clean the filter are you rinsing the sponges in tap water.

 

[txr33]

I use the water from the tank and clean it out in a bucket I use for water changes.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Is there anything else recommended to do to help get rid of the nitrite.

Water changes. Diluting it is your best chance- that and the detoxifyer (or salt has a similar effect).

 

[jollysue]

Frequent water changes. Can you clone some filter media from someone? Test the water often. I use BioSpira (live bacteria), and it always helps a troubled tank or when adding new fish. But cloned media is best.

Some possibilies: Something killed the good bacteria; the stress in the tank, sudden addition of new fish, something else, or all of the above sickened and killed a fish; in turn a dead fish in a marginal tank increased water quality problems which then killed more and the cycle increased to a near crash. Once the quality reaches the level to sicken fish it can deteriorate rapidly and be very difficult to restore.