In Danger Of Losing My Whole Tank....

[dstev]

Hi,

I have a real problem with my tank. I woke up this morning to find one of my Rainbow Fish dead on the bottom (gutted!) and most of the other fish at the surface of the tank with their mouths out of the water. Any fish not on the surface were very inactive on the bottom.

I performed a 50% water change immediately and put all my filters back in (see next paragraph), and noticed the water was fizzing as I siphoned it out of the tank and into a bucket (as though it was really acidy). I tested the water and it was extremely alkaline, at the top end of my high range ph test (over 8.8).

Anyway, I think the problem has stemmed from treatment I was giving for a growth (cotton wool like) on one of my Rainbow Fish (different one that died). I gave the correct dose a few days ago and took out the Carbon and Zeolite filter, just leaving the sponges like it said in the instructions. I then did a 30% weekly water change yesterday (3 days after dosage) and afterwards put a half dose of anti-fungal treatment in. I am thinking this may be the problem.

After todays water change I checked the pH and it had gone back to around 7.2, but the water still fizzes on the surface and after a couple of hours the fish have gone back to the surface. Please help, I really don't want to lose my whole tank! For info I have a 125l tank, Fluval filtration and in total have 13 Neon Tetras, 2 Rainbow Fish (was 3), 2 Balloon Rams, 2 German Blue Rams and 1 Rainbow Shark.

 

[nmore]

i maybe wrong but i think this can happen due to oxygen deficiency as well i've seen the behavior similar to your fish when my aerator broke down and it was down overnight without my knowledge in the morning the fish were gasping for air on the surface

 

[dstev]

Well I woke up this morning to find my other 2 Rainbows and the Rainbow Shark dead. Really gutted about these, the Rainbows were my best looking and along with the Shark the biggest fish I had. The water was extremely cloudy and the fish were again gulping for air on the surface. I think there is a lack of oxygen but I think this is caused by some kind of infection or disease in my tank. I changed over 50% of the water again this morning with the hope of the tank clearing up but it became cloudy again this afternoon. I am now in the process of changing around 75% of the water. I really don't know what to do apart from this!

 

[myrtle]

I had a similar thing when I accidentally overdosed by about 1/2 ml of anti-fungal meds. It killed off a lot of the bacteria in the filter and sent it into a mini-cycle causing the fish to gasp. You mention the pH but have you tested for ammonia ot nitrites? Rainbowfish are very sensitive to ammonia etc and would probably be the first to show symptoms. With me it was my adult Gold Nugget plec which I was gutted about.

 

[dstev]

I had a similar thing when I accidentally overdosed by about 1/2 ml of anti-fungal meds. It killed off a lot of the bacteria in the filter and sent it into a mini-cycle causing the fish to gasp. You mention the pH but have you tested for ammonia ot nitrites? Rainbowfish are very sensitive to ammonia etc and would probably be the first to show symptoms. With me it was my adult Gold Nugget plec which I was gutted about.

Thanks for your reply. Ammonia and Nitrites both 0 on the two occaisions I have tested them since Friday. Even with my water really murky today, and the fish at the surface, all my tests (Ammonia, Chlorine, Nitrate, Nitrite and pH) came back good, which is what is leaving me so puzzled

 

[Joshwainwright]

This doesn't seem to be going in a good direction
Good luck on trying to save the rest of your fish!

Sorry I can't help.

 

[myrtle]

I assume you've put the carbon/zeolite back in. If not it wouldn't hurt...

 

[dstev]

Yes I put them both back in on Friday. I expected this to filter out whatever the problem is, but it doesn't seem to be doing much

 

[Littlemonkey]

I can understand how you feel, best you can do is large water changes, I mean take the water low enough so your fish don't overstress, I use Protozin, normally. It's hard work, but worth it for your fishes sake. Good Luck. It's really tough when you lose em.

 

[hillmar77]

Have you tested your water supply lately?? And are you using Prime to dechlorinate your water?? What temp is the tank sitting at currently?? are you attempting to increase surface agitation with a airstone or spongefilter??

 

[dstev]

I dropped the temperature a little yesterday. It was about 25c and I've dropped it to about 22c to help try and clear whatever is in my tank. I also adjusted my pump so it produces bubbles on the surface, and also left my light on all night to try and aid the oxygenating of the plants. I got up this morning and the tank does look a bit clearer and no more fish have died, so I think it is starting to sort itself out. Going to do another water change this morning and hopefully we'll be there.

 

[karin]

Have you checked the filters out completely to make sure functioning is good? Also carbon is only good for 3 days so if it is older than that you may want to get a new carbon filter and get that in to clear the medications. The zeolite, how old is it. What I've heard is that it can stop working suddenly and throw your tank into a mini-cycle. Just a thought.

If it was me, I would test every 12 hours and do the necessary water changes.

Good luck

 

[nmore]

what medications are you using???