Help Urgent In My View

[markspark]

Hi all im trying to put up a post for help as to why my fish are dieing can someone tell me why i cant put up a post in the correct section

 

[matt_storey]

it may be worth typing it up here and asking a mod to move it

 

[markspark]

My tank size is 36" x 18" x 12"
Water readings as follows
NO3 25 mg/l
NO2 1 mg/l
KH 3(symbol) d
PH 6.4
CL 0

The problem im having is during the day all the fish seem to be ok and swimming quite healthy over night for the last few days ive lost at least one fish per night, i really dont understand this i do a 25% water change every 2 weeks and have never had a problem with the tank untill this.
in the tank i have
2 blue gourami
5 neon tetras was 8
1 female sword tail was 3
4 guppies was 6
1 red tailed black shark
1 clown loach was 2
2 cogo tetras was 3
3 other tetras was 4
can anyone shed any light on this for me please

 

[rdp50734]

Has anyone sprayed any aerosols near the tank? Star4 had a similar problem and lost a lot of her fry after her mother cleaned the fridge!

Whats your ammonia NH4
NO2 needs to be 0 so you need to do a 50% water change today and in the morning

 

[KittyKat]

As above, your filter is not processing the nitrite, which is toxic to fish, and you very likely have ammonia. Also that looks like results from a test strip, which are not accurate, can you get a liquid test ammonia and nitrite results? Exact numbers please, in parts per million (ppm) if possible.

 

[markspark]

my test kit does not cover the NH4 test it only does the ones that are listed sorry
i will do water change now if this wil help
no sprays have been near the tank in anyway

 

[rdp50734]

Water change 50% per day my friend its the only way until you get accurate results, also areyou dechlorinating the water before it goes in the tank?

 

[markspark]

only have the test strips to test with

 

[KittyKat]

How long have you had the tank for? How do you clean the filter?

50% water changes every day until you can get an ammonia test done is highly recommended.

 

[markspark]

no i never dechlorinat the water i have never done this how is it done ?

to be honest i never have cleaned out the filter the only thing i do is change the final filter wool in the fluval 304
i will get another test kit in the morning from the lfs

 

[rdp50734]

by not dechlorinating every time you water change your killing the beneficial bacteria in your filter! Keep water changing get some dechlorinator and read up on fish in cycling as thats what you are in now. Give the filter sponges a squeeze out in old tank water.

 

[KittyKat]

no i never dechlorinat the water i have never done this how is it done ?

Using a product available from the LFS, as said above, it removes chlorine and chloramine (which kills the good bacteria in the filter and irritates fish), and sometimes also heavy metals. Your problems are probably caused by not using a dechlorinator (also sometimes known as water conditioner).

to be honest i never have cleaned out the filter the only thing i do is change the final filter wool in the fluval 304

Ok, if it ever does need cleaning, gently squeeze the sponges in dechlorinated water. You should never replace anything except for the final filter wool because the filter bacteria live on the other sponges and bio media.

i will get another test kit in the morning from the lfs

API Master Test Kit is highly recommended on here.

 

[markspark]

ok i have now done a 50% water change and will do another in the morning im also goin to get a new test kit in the morning funds permitting, i have some interpet fresh start that is for new tank set ups its for the water i have now put 11ml of this in aswell as doing the 50% water change i have not put this in the water for a very long time as the test results i was getting where indicated as being safe

Back to the filter as i said i have only ever changed the final filter wool i have done this quite a few times over the last six months or so is this ok??
as for the pre filter sponges x4 i have never cleaned or done anything with those (i was told to change but never did it)couldnt remember the time interval
in the other filter compartments i have volcanic rock in 2 of them on same level
and porcelain round tube like things in the other 2 levels
are these correct

sorry for going on a bit but this problem needs to be fixed
thanks for the help im getting in here

 

[KittyKat]

ok i have now done a 50% water change and will do another in the morning im also goin to get a new test kit in the morning funds permitting, i have some interpet fresh start that is for new tank set ups its for the water i have now put 11ml of this in aswell as doing the 50% water change i have not put this in the water for a very long time as the test results i was getting where indicated as being safe

Great!

Back to the filter as i said i have only ever changed the final filter wool i have done this quite a few times over the last six months or so is this ok??

Yes.

as for the pre filter sponges x4 i have never cleaned or done anything with those (i was told to change but never did it)couldnt remember the time interval

They should only be cleaned in dechlorinated water only. DO check that they aren't completely gunked up. I had to clean the ones in my Fluval 305 every week or the water did not flow through properly because of all the plant matter.

in the other filter compartments i have volcanic rock in 2 of them on same level
and porcelain round tube like things in the other 2 levels
are these correct

They're great NEVER replace them and NEVER clean under tap water. ONLY clean in dechlorinated water. I had to clean mine only a few times per year, so you probably don't need to yet. These are where most of the bacteria which convert ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate live.

Let us know when you get the readings..

 

[markspark]

Hello im back again now new water test kit bought API master test kit £31.99 (ouch) but nothing in comparison to a complete restock
anyway here are the new readings i have got

Ammonia 0.25 ppm
Nitrate 40 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
PH 6.6
temp 26deg

i have now done another water change today yet as ive been in and out all day sorting stuff out

what would you advise as the next course of action
thanks for you advice