I Accidently Killed My Cory

[PrettyDiscus]

I was changing the water and moved my filter to an upright position. I then noticed my cory had died next to the filter. This morning strangly my other cory died of scepticimia. Red streaks in tail and some of it had eroded. I dont know if i did actually kill my cory by squashing him with the filter or if he too had a bacterial infection. What do you think? I wont move the cory because my clown are eating it and because im too scared to get it out. So i usually let my mother remove it in the morning. When fish have died they usually die in the night and i get them out in the morning when i discover them.

 

[Glod]

Well if your corys had an infection and your clowns are eating it they could catch the infection too.
It really would be best to remove the fish as soon as possible.

 

[Underwurlde]

Hmmm.

I very much doubt that moving your filter killed your cory. I think that perhaps they both have sept... bit of a coincidence & all that.

Dead fish should be removed immediately. Sick fish / new fish should always be quarantined in a separate tank (not together obviously!)

Do your fish have a high mortality rate If so, I draw your attention to my statement above!

Andy

 

[PrettyDiscus]

Im sorry what is a high mortality?

 

[Underwurlde]

High Mortality Rate: In other words, high death rate.

i.e. I'm asking if your fish don't tend to last very long.

Andy

PS. Use wikipedia - great on-line thingy for things you don't know about. Google search: 'wiki mortality'

 

[PrettyDiscus]

I have only had the tank 10 months there were a few deaths in the early stages but now its rare for a fish to die. My water quality is fine so my only thought is because of my uncleaned sand. There is so much waste on the sandbed where the cories are more active which made me think it was due to them sifting through waste all the time. what do you think?

 

[jayjay]

Cories need a clean substrate as they would be constantly in the waste all the time, leading to bacterial infections etc. Why aren't you cleaning it?

 

[PrettyDiscus]

well at first i didnt know how to clean it. Now the past month i have started netting the waste off but tehre is so much its really difficult to clean. I will probably replace all the sand and then keep on top of it.

 

[kev350d]

The sand "well not being funny but actually you" are more than likely poisoning your fish, sand is a very nice substrate to look at and indeed ideal for fish with bristles but it requires far more upkeep than gravel so poisonous gasses dont build up under rocks , ornaments etc. "Have you ever moved a rock at the beach or river bank and seen a black silt that stunk" this is what happens in a tank but at a more deadly concentration due to the lack of dilution..

If you plan to keep fish you have to be 100% commited to them as you would your cat, dog etc. This means cleaning up their mess and dealing with them when sick.

If a pet dog died in your sitting room would you leave it for your other dog to start eating it. Please just net them out as they certainly wont bite you, you put your hands in the tank to move the filter so what is the differance..

(I dont intend to have a dig at you or offend as ive no idea of your age but please get over whatever it is your scared of regarding dead and ill fish, do a little research and your hobby will be so more rewarding ).

 

[PrettyDiscus]

I have never moved any bogwood so do i need to do that? If i replace all of my sand will it cause the cycling process again or will my filter have enough beenficial bacteria? Also if the water gets cloudy through putting new sand in will this kill my fish?

 

[Underwurlde]

The substrate I use is gravel and to clean it I use a gravel vac. I use it once a week when doing my weekly water change.

All a vac is, is simply a syphon tube with a larger tube at the end of it.

I do not know if these work with sand though and if I were you I would definately start another thread on how to clean your sand.

It is very important to clean the sand in the tank. If you do this I doubt you have to go throught the rigmarole of changing it.

I have never moved any bogwood so do i need to do that?

Up to you. After 10 months, I would.

If i replace all of my sand will it cause the cycling process again or will my filter have enough beenficial bacteria?

I wouldn't worry about changing it. You will be upsetting the balance because the bacteria also live there but to what extent I cannot say

Also if the water gets cloudy through putting new sand in will this kill my fish?

ALWAYS Wash any substrate first then put in tank. Any residual cloudyness will be OK for the fish so don't worry.

NOTE: Changing out the substrate is a major thing to do and I would be more worried about the stress caused to your fish than anything else. I did this and one of my Cories completely flipped out and was DOA the next day!

Andy

 

[kev350d]

When i used to clean sand i would use my hand to kind of swirl it up the sand would fall before the debris allowing the crap to be hoovered up with the vac, yes you most certainly need to clean under the bogwood , rocks and try to ensure you dont leave air pockets in the substrate. Personally if i was you and you were going to change your substrate i would change over to a very fine gravel.

NOTE: Changing out the substrate is a major thing to do and I would be more worried about the stress caused to your fish than anything else. I did this and one of my Cories completely flipped out and was DOA the next day!

Very true so unless you have somewhere to house the fish "temp." then dont do it.

Your bacteria wont suffer as long as the filter isnt turned off for any length of time and you dont use fresh untreated tap water.

How often do you do 20-30% water changes, what is the size of your tank/ filtration and what stock do you have, do you have plenty 02 (Air) being dispersed in the water and not just an airstone.

 

[black angel]

Use a gravel vac and do a figure 8 motion with it above the sand.
You can also use the tube on its own and hold it just above the sand to pick up the rubbish. You might get some sand as well but its a lot quicker than taking the sand out and changing it. If you keep the fish in the tank at the time then keep your finger close to the tube end so if a fish gets too close then you can quickly block the end off.

After that much time with no movement to the sand i would think its probably compacted and would after using the tube need you to move your finger through it to get it loose again and make sure theres no pockets of bacteria.
It may take a few days of 50% water changes to clean the sand off but your fish will thank you for it.

 

[PrettyDiscus]

tank is 40 gallons. although i have jsut been told its 46 gallons so i dont know.
its 48x15x15 inches.
I use a fluval 4 plus internal filter. I have an airstone
I do 40% weekly water changes

 

[F.O.H]

i have always used two ways to clean sand depending on if i am doing a water change or a quick sweep if you like.

the first is i move the net around the bottom of the tank just above the sand and the dirt will fly up.

or if you use your syphon i.e garden hose tubing, and hold it just above the sand it will suck up the dirt, obviously you will pick up a bit of sand but no alot.

Give it a try.