I Need Some Advice

[T0mm0]

Hi,

I've had the tank for about 4 weeks and been slowly adding fish in 2 batches. First batch was about 2 weeks ago, 2 angel type fish, 2 male gumpies, 2 barbs and 2 other fish (can't remember their names). The other batch about 1 week ago, 6 neon tetras, 2 swordtails and 3 cory's.

The tank was originally setup by seeding it with some rock, wood and water from an existing coldwater fish tank i have. Before buying the first batch I tested the water at home as well as took a sample to my LFS. The results were fine to begin stocking the tank. No signs of ammonia, PH about 8.5 (I live in a hard water area), no signs of nitrite and nitrate was OK.

The first batch of fish are doing fine however the second batch, I have so far lost 6 from the 11. Friday night I lost the swordtails, Saturday morning I lost a tetra, another 2 tetra's have just gone missing. I tested the water again and no visible signs of ammonia or nitrite, PH 8.5 and nitrate was a little high so I did a 20 %water change. I woke up this morning to find another dead fish, cory.

I feed them once a day, where the food is consumed within a couple of minutes.

Can anyone shed any light on the situation ?

 

[mark.w.jones]

Hi,

I've had the tank for about 4 weeks and been slowly adding fish in 2 batches. First batch was about 2 weeks ago, 2 angel type fish, 2 male gumpies, 2 barbs and 2 other fish (can't remember their names). The other batch about 1 week ago, 6 neon tetras, 2 swordtails and 3 cory's.

The tank was originally setup by seeding it with some rock, wood and water from an existing coldwater fish tank i have. Before buying the first batch I tested the water at home as well as took a sample to my LFS. The results were fine to begin stocking the tank. No signs of ammonia, PH about 8.5 (I live in a hard water area), no signs of nitrite and nitrate was OK.

The first batch of fish are doing fine however the second batch, I have so far lost 6 from the 11. Friday night I lost the swordtails, Saturday morning I lost a tetra, another 2 tetra's have just gone missing. I tested the water again and no visible signs of ammonia or nitrite, PH 8.5 and nitrate was a little high so I did a 20 %water change. I woke up this morning to find another dead fish, cory.

I feed them once a day, where the food is consumed within a couple of minutes.

Can anyone shed any light on the situation ?

Regardless of what you may have been told, rocks, wood and water from an existing tank contain very, very little of the useful bacteria needed to break down your fish waste. Most of this bacteria is found in your filter's media (usually ceramic tubes) and also to a certain extent in your filter sponge. The only proven method to get the bacteria in the filter that you need is to add some sponge and media from an existing, stocked tank and even this will not provide enough to fully stock your new tank. Most people here cycle their tank and filter by fishless cycling, click link in my sig, which has been very successful and avoids fish suffering.

Anyway, what sort of water test kit are you using? The paper strips are not really worth the paper theyre written on. I once did two at the same time and got different ammonia results Id highly recommend getting a liquid master test kit, the one by Aquarium Pharmaseuticals is the one used be most members here. This way you can get more accurate results as what youve described sounds like a water quality issue to me but your stats dont add up. Sword tails and neons do not do well in new tanks and are quite sensitive to water quality.

The other possibility is some sort of infection in your tank. Do any of the fish that have died appear to have anything wrong with them? Clamped fins, rubbing against things, hiding away lots, laying on side, swimming difficulties.

The only other thing as that you my have overstocked with fish. How bigs your tank? You can have one inch of adult fish per US gallon when stocking small fish 1 - 3 inches.

 

[T0mm0]

Hi,

Thanks for responding.

I forgot to mention, I did add a bag of ceramic tubes to the tank prior to adding any fish. This process was recommended to me by my LFS.

The water test kit is similar to something like Tetra test kit, where you take a 5ml sample of water and add a number of chemical drops before comparing the colour to a chart.

All so none of the dead fish seemed to have the symptoms you described.

Cheers
T0mm0

 

[k.o.d]

Hi Tommo.

Scuse if the questions sound daft but I have a couple of them anyway

1. How is your tank filtered? The ceramic tubes are not really any good just added to the tank, they need to be inside a filter where a constant supply of oxygen rich tank water can feed the bacteria with the food and oxygen they need
2. Is your pH really 8.5?? The angels and the tetras are from acidic waters and may not thrive as well in the harder, alkaline waters you seem to have

Cheers
Steve

 

[T0mm0]

Hi Steve,

The tank is filtered via mechanical filtration, water is forced through some foam before flowing back into the tank.

The ceramic tubes were only used to seed the tank when it was setup. The bag has since been removed.

Thanks for the info regarding my PH levels. I assume there is some stuff I can add to the water to make it more acidic ?

Thanks
T0mm0

 

[mark.w.jones]

Hi Steve,

The tank is filtered via mechanical filtration, water is forced through some foam before flowing back into the tank.

The ceramic tubes were only used to seed the tank when it was setup. The bag has since been removed.

Thanks for the info regarding my PH levels. I assume there is some stuff I can add to the water to make it more acidic ?

Thanks
T0mm0

Your filter system, i don't get. Im confused Your filter has to have some sort of media, cermic tubes, bio balls etc. in it somewhere at all times as this is where all the bacteria will grow. You never remove them ever. What tank / filter do you have or can you describe how it's filtering your tank from the intake, what the water travels through and then how it flows back out again.

ps your tetra test kit sounds fine.
pps How big is you tank?

 

[T0mm0]

Hi,

I'm not too sure what the make is as I'm currently at work.

But the tank and its filter was bought from my local fish centre.

A power filter hangs on the side of the aquarium and sucks water up from the bottom of the aquarium through a siphon tube into a rectangular box containing a filter sponge pad. The water drains back into the aquarium through this filtering material. I guess the bacteria grows in this sponge. I was not told to add any ceramic tubes, carbon granuales or bio balls.

The tank size is 600 / 300 / 460 approx.

 

[k.o.d]

You have a HOB ( hang on back) type of filter, like the Eheim Liberty or the Penguin type filters, they are efficient and the Americans use them extensively
There is no reason why they shouldnt have any of the different type of media in them.
The foam is working as a mechanical and a biological filter
If the ceramic tubes were new then they would have done nothing at all to seed your tank.

I think you have had a spike from the sounds of things, especially as it has been running for 4 weeks, this is the time when it is coming through its cycle.

Keep persevering and do a couple of 30% water changes

Steve

 

[T0mm0]

Hi Steve,

The filter you described sounds about right.

With regards to the ceramic tubes, I think I haven't explained myself properly , the bag of tubes were taken from another tank I have. These together with some wood and rock were used to seed my new tank prior to adding any fish. Once the tank had been seeded the bag was removed.

I re-tested the water yesturday evening and everything is in order, no trace of ammonia or nitrite, PH approx 8 and nitrate less than 110mg.

As you say, I'll keep persevering.

Thanks
T0mm0