Gasping Tetras

[Kylee_Special_k]

We have been having some serious issues with our black neon tetras actually all of the tetras, we have a 70 litre tank, and it had only tetras in it, 10 neon tetras, 5 organge/gold neon tetras, and 5 black neon tetras. To date all of the fish have died excluding 3 black neons. In the beginning we put all of the fish into the hospital tank which we also used the tetra medicine that was perscribed for us at the local aquarium. Some of the fish improved and even started eating again. Then once again they took a turn for the worse and we lost all but three. So while these guys were looking really well in the hospital tank we cleaned out the entire original tank, let the new freshly cleaned tank settle for a few days (cycle) and two days ago put the remaining fish back in to the original tank. (only fish in the tank- bar 2 x snails) we have done countless hardness and PH tests and the tank is fine. we have 2 x air bubbles and the pump going constantly and now the smallest of the three has begun panting and gasing at the top of the tank again. Can anyone please help as we have lost all of fish and i hate seeing them this sick and we have tried everything. Could there be anytihng in the tank that could be causing this sickness? Please help!!!

 

[Cory_Dad]

Firstly, it takes more than a few days to cycle a brand new tank. A tank usually cycles in 7 days.

Secondly, what are your water specs; ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, alkalinity, hardness?

A 70 litre is less than a 20 US gallons so you're close to the limit of 1 inch per gallon.

How often do you do water changes and do you treat the water?

 

[Kylee_Special_k]

it was about 5 days in total.

PH sits at 7, Hardness is about 300, we dont have any kits for the ammonia or the nitrate.

25% water changes are done weekly and we have an ager that goes in at the same time. the water conditioner we were using makes the water too hard so we have stopped adding anymore.

 

[Cory_Dad]

When you do the water changes, do you pre-treat the water or do you do you add it directly from the tap?

It's always a good idea to pre-treat the water to get rid of the chloramines and heavy metals. I've learned that one the hard way. What were you using? I'm using Topfin Tap Water Dechlorinator or Prime (if I'm using meds).

Cheers.

 

[Kylee_Special_k]

Definalty pre treat tap water, we use a fairly well known product here in AU call Aquasonic water conditioner. it was highly recommended by our aquarium dealer.
thanks for all you help so far too

 

[Cory_Dad]

Hmm.

You really need to get your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels checked. Can you take a sample into the store and have them test it? Also, I've found out that water supply companies are not always consistent with the amount of chlorine they put into the water. I am now doubling the amount of dechlor I use.

If it's not the water then it may be an infection. Do their gills look red? Take a close look at the fish and see if you can see anything unusual.

I'm not that good diagnosing diseases but your statement that they got better in the hospital tank with meds might be a clue. What is different between it and the main tank? The water and the meds.

Good luck.

 

[waterdrop]

Hi Kylee and welcome to TFF!

Sorry to hear about your troubles and happy for you that you've stumbled across a great set of forums!

In fact, speaking of forums (plural), I'm going to suggest that perhaps by posting in the "Tropical Fish Emergencies" forum, you're slightly off from the best place for your predicament. Not that it matters that much, but the "New to the Hobby" forum, especially with its choice of "pinned topics" at the top of it, may be more on-target for you.

Again, I don't mean to presume anything but your case looks fairly typical for a newcomer and IMO your real underlying problem is that you don't really understand the term "cycling" in enough depth yet. You are energetically testing things of lesser importance (eg. pH, hardness), worrying about things that seem like they may be the issue (eg. oxygen and bubbles, which, probably surprisingly to you, aren't really the issue) and getting side-tracked with add-in-chemicals (eg. cyclers, ammo-grabbers.)

What I think would help is to take some time and look over in the "New to the Hobby" forum. Here's what I suggest would be good starters among the pinned articles there:
Beginner resource center
Avoiding and treating new tank syndrome by AlienAnna
What's Cycling? by Miss Wiggle
cycling resource center by Forum Members

Because you didn't know about Cycling, you've found yourself in a "fish-in" cycling process and you need to learn about it. The very first priority is a good test kit. Ammonia and Nitrite are by far the most important things you need to test for right away. Then, if there are detectable amounts of these, you need to learn the skills involved in a water change (pretty obvious, but there are some details to it!)

Anyway, hope this bit. Its not that having fish die isn't an emergency(!), its just that due to the peculularities of TFF, the "emergencies" forum is more directed at fish diseases and medications. Your symptoms appear to be more related to lack of knowledge of the beginning basics of cycling and water chemistry and the effects of those.

Maybe we'll see you over there with your tap & tank water stats and your questions!
Best, ~~waterdrop~~

 

[Colin_T]

Fish tanks can take a month or more to cycle. It generally takes about 2weeks before there is sufficient bacteria to break down the ammonia. Then a couple more before more bacteria have developed to break down nitrite. If you are feeding the fish several times a day you probably have an ammonia reading that is killing the fish. You need to get the water tested for ammonia and nitrite.
In the mean time cut the feeding back to once every few days and change about 1/3 to 1/2 of the tank water each day. This should help reduce any ammonia or chemicals that might be present in the water.

If the water is fine then there might be something in the bucket you use for water changes. It is best to use a new bucket for fish and use it only for the fish. Never use a bucket that has had cleaning products in.

The last option would be a chemical of some sort in the tank that is poisoning the fish. Regular partial water changes should dilute this and help limit the problem. Having carbon in the filter would help by absorbing the chemicals, but the carbon will need to be replaced every few days or so.

If you are using Aquasonic water conditioners in a crystal or salt form, you need to completely dissolve them before using them. It is best to put them into the bucket of water with an airstone and allow it to mix overnight.

Are your hands clean and free of grease, moisturising creams, etc when you work on the tank or feed the fish?
Does anyone smoke or paint in the room with fish tank?
Does anyone use fly spray, hair spray, deodorants, perfumes, etc near the fish tank?
Has anyone used Windex on or near the fish tank?
Is the filter run all the time, day and night?
When you clean the filter do you wash it under tap water? If yes, then stop doing that. Just clean the filter materials out in a bucket of tank water.
Are there any ornaments or objects in the tank that have not been bought from a petshop. Perhaps a shell from a souvenir shop or a toy or something that isn't normally associated with fish?

 

[Kylee_Special_k]

Thank you all for your help with this and i apologise if i am in the wrong forum list.

This tank has been perfect for six months and then all of a sudden our fish die - 17 of them to be precise in a space of 2 days hence why i figured emergencies to be the correct forum. i figured that they must have had a disease of some kind not a water issue as i said i have taken the water samples to the aquarium and they said it was fine.

I think i will have to go and get a second opinion as the 3 remaining fish are still declining and as yet i dont have a solution to there issues. We have treated them with Melafix, done several part changes and still no go.
Thanks again Colin_T and Cory_Dad for your help i will see how i go over the next few days and hopefully let you know if i have lots of healthy fish.
but next time in the correct forum - once again sorry about that

 

[Colin_T]

Hi Kylee

no need to appologise for posting in the wrong section. It's in the emergency area which is where it should be.

If you lost 17 fish in 2 days that sounds like poisoning rather than disease. Especially if the fish didn't show any signs of illness, (no scratching, white spots, red areas, white fluffy patches, etc). Did you do a water change or clean the filters just before the fish started dieing? Can you tell us about the tank leading up to the time when the fish died, (a couple of days before it happened)? Anything unusual happen around that time? What fish did you have that died?

If the remaining fish are still going downhill then put them back in the quarantine tank and leave them there. It sounds like there is something still in the tank water.