High Death Rate

[Lt_MPFD]

I have a 55 gal aquarium that I had set up for a few years then dismantled it. I set it back up about 3 months ago and I bought 4 platties, 4 mollies 2 bala sharks, 1 African leaf fish (my favorite) and 2 gouramis. All the fish did great for about a month so and then 1 fish got ICK so I treated the tank, which killed my 2 balas but everyone else was fine. About 3 weeks after the Ick was gone I added 4 more gouramis 4 rainbow sharks and 5 small tiger barbs for a total of 25 fish equalling about 40 inches of fish for 55gals.

Anyway, all of a sudden my fish have started dying off. I had 11 die in about 2-3 day. At the same time 1 of the new gourami developed Ick so I have started treating for that, but the other fish that died did not have Ick. I test my water and do a 15 gal water change weekly. Chemical levels are as follows:

Ammonia: < 0.5
Nitrate: 10ppm(safe)
Nitrite: 0ppm (safe)
Hardness: 25ppm (soft)
Chlorine: 0ppm (safe)
Alkalinity: 80ppm (moderate)
pH: 7.0 (neutral)
Temp: 76-78F

I've lost all of my sharks all but 2 gouramis and 8 of 11 tiger barbs (I initially was exchanging my dying fish for new ones but got tired of going to the pet store.) I decided I needed to get the ick taken care of, hopefully once and for all, before putting anymore fish in. Any idea what's killing my fish?

The mollies, platties and Leaf fish have survived 2 rounds of Ick treatment. Tough little boogers! But both treatments have given my leaf fish cloudy eyes which I've had to treat as well.

On a side note, I also have a 5 gal tank that I started just prior to all the fish in my 55gal tank dying. I used 3 gals of water from my 55 to start my 5. I have 5 guppies and a baby leaf fish (no bigger than the guppies and OH SO cute!)in the 5 gal aquarium and they are all happy and healthy.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[white9870]

did you cycle the tank before adding all them fish?

 

[Lt_MPFD]

did you cycle the tank before adding all them fish?

Yes I did. I considered maybe it was stress (I know for a fact 1 of the tiger barbs died from stress after purchase, as he was almost dead when i transfered him from the bag to the tank) but the rest of the fish lived about a week.

 

[white9870]

how did you cycle it, and for how long? did you do the fishless cycle using household ammonia?

 

[Lt_MPFD]

how did you cycle it, and for how long? did you do the fishless cycle using household ammonia?

I misunderstood. I did a water change, 2 actually, after the first round of ick and adding new fish, to ensure as much of the chemicals were out of the water as possible. On each of these changes, I changed 20 gals. My ammonia was at 0 when I added the new fish.

 

[white9870]

before you added the fish though, did u cycle the tank? i mean like did you add household ammonia to the tank for a few weeks to build up the bacteria, or did you set up the tank and add fish straight away?

 

[Lt_MPFD]

On initial set up, i didn't. But ironically those are the fish that are still alive. It was the 2nd group of fish I bought, after the round of Ick that died off. All of my sharks I know died because of the Rid-Ick. Its the rest that have me stumped.

 

[white9870]

i would say if u added all them fish at once, and without cycling the tank first, that its ammonia that is killing them, since you added all them straight away, changing the water once a week aint good enough, you should really be doing it everyday

 

[Lt_MPFD]

Thanks. After I finish treating this round of Ick and doing a few water changes I'll add some more fish and do daily changes instead of weekly.

 

[white9870]

noo dont add any more fish, it will only end up making it worse imo. since you are now doing a fish in cycle, i would say dont add no more fish, do water changes every day, and keep testing the water, u need to be changing the water every day for a few weeks before you can add any more fish, adding more will add to the alreday big bioload and would increase the ammonia

 

[Lt_MPFD]

what should i be looking for on my test strips then to know my water is fine, because all my levels are currently normal?

 

[ctsv510]

It sounds like what happened was your tank was cycled for the amount of fish that were in there, but you added at least double the bioload with the new fish and you started cycling again. Any level above 0 for ammonia means that you tank is still cycling and if you have fish in it, you should be doing daily large water changes. Your tank isn't safe until you get actual 0's for nitrite and ammonia. Also, you should consider getting a liquid test kit like the API test kit for at least ammonia and nitrite because it will give you more accurate results than test strips.

When your tank is ready for more fish, stick to just one rainbow shark. They don't enjoy each other's company very much.