Help! Fish Dying Rapidly In Two Tanks!

[luckyd]

Please help fast! I have two 5-gallon tanks. One houses about 10 dalmation molly fry and the other their Mother. They were fine yesterday. We did an 80% water change for the babies this morning and two back to back 50% water changes for the Mother. Despite daily 50 to 80% water changes ammonia readings are in the alert level but the fish have been happy and active. Both tanks are still cycling.

This morning the Mother is super lethargic, sitting on the bottom of the tank. I already posted something about that. But now, the baby fish are dying too! And they're in another tank! All were happy earlier today. We used the same water conditioner as always (Aqueon). The food is Top Fin Tropical color-enhancing flakes and an occasional bloodworm. That has not changed.

Physically, the fish look OK. No red streaks, no white spots or coning gills. I fear some of the babies have already died and the mother is very close.

What could cause fish in both tanks to suddenly take so severely ill. We have followed all guidance and instructions - dechlorinators, large water changes, etc. Could their food be contaminated somehow, or the water parameters have changed? This is a bizarre and heartbreaking situation. Please help as soon as possible!

 

[WILDER]

Bad water quality can soon kill fish.
What are your water stats.

In the mother tank not the fry tank add some salt.
One tablespoon to 5 gallons. Stir the salt in a jug of tank water and add to the tank.Water changes and increase aeration.

You can use salt with fry.
The salt helps the fish in a cycling tank.
Do you only have the mother fish in the other tank.

 

[luckyd]

The Mother is alone in her tank. Sadly, all of the fish have now passed in both tanks. The odd thing is that there were really no recent changes in water parameters that we know of. I suppose the nitrites may have mushroomed without us knowing it, but all of them dyinig so suddenly in both tanks? They were all fine yesterday, and the babies even appeared to be OK this morning. Could we have miscalculated the dechlorinator? Is it possible we used too much or too little? Could something have changed in our city water that they couldn't tolerate? We used to age the water before dechlorinating but someone advised us that's not necessary. Is it OK to use distilled water instead?

We're thinking of trying again with new fish but this is so heartbreaking. If we made a mistake we don't want to repeat it. Any thoughts are welcome.

If we do get new fish, would it be better to start over with a new filter and everything? I know that the good bacteria grows in the filter but what if there's some contaminant in there?

Thanks to all of you who have been so helpful as we navigate this new hobby. Who would have thought it would be so difficult?

 

[WILDER]

When you did the water change did you match temp of tank.
Used any chemicals near the tank.
When preforming a water change could any chemicals gotten into the tank.

It's ok to overdose declorinator,. You can triple dose and it shouldn't harm the fish.

To keep the bacteria alive in the filter just keep adding flakes daily.

What test kit are you using.

Signs of toxins in a tank are gasping, laboured breathing, darting, erratic swimming, excess mucas, fish will turn upside down, unble to maintain balance, fish will sometimes go pale with clamped fins.

Ammonia Poisoning



Symptoms:

The fish will hang just under the surface with labored breathing. Its gills will appear to be lilac in color. Red streaking may be seen throughout the body and fins. Fishes with ammonia poisoning will become lethargic and eventually die, maintaining their full coloring. The ammonia will damage their skin, gills, nerves and internal organs. The red streaking is due to hemorrhages (internal and external bleeding). Its mucous membranes of the skin and intestine are also destroyed. Damage also occurs to the brain and central nervous system.



Cause:

Abnormally high levels of ammonia.



Treatment:

Test the water to confirm the disease. If ammonia levels are high, perform an immediate water change. It’s also a good idea to use a chemical that will remove the ammonia. Activated carbon, Ammo-Lock, or Tetra Easy Balance.

 

[luckyd]

Thank you. The Mother fish did not show signs of gasping, labored breathing, erratic swimming or red streaks. She just seemed to lose energy and become listless, her back fin was a bit weak looking, then she finally crashed at the bottom. Up until then she had been extremely happy and hardy. We don't have test strips but we do have a monitor, and water conditions had not changed drastically (but I know the monitors are not as sensitive as the liquid tests). Our water conditioner did have an anti-ammonia component and we also used activated carbon. Levels generally hovered in the safe to stress zone even with repeated water changes. We did measure and match the water temperature before adding new water. But clearly she was in some trouble before the water change.

The little fish are a different story and a real mystery. They seemed OK this morning but then they can be elusive and hard to see at times. They died just following the water change. We did add dechlorinator and have not used any other chemicals near the water. We were worried we were using too much dechlorinator so we did cut back on that a bit but not drastically.

Thank you for all your helpful advice. We will keep adding flakes to keep the bacteria going. But is it possible that some contaminant is in the filter that might harm future fish?

 

[WILDER]

Test strip cards are not accurate. Liquid test kits are the best.

Bad water quality can cause fish deaths, but if they all died virtually after the water change it sounds like something to do with the water change.
What's your location. Been any road works down where you live.

 

[luckyd]

Not super close but they're gearing up for adding an overpass on a major road nearby. They're also planning to start reclaimed water here soon but I'm not sure whether ground has been broken. I live in Florida, USA.

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
I would make sure then it not your water supply.
Do a thread in tropical discussion about it. Members will suggest what to do.