Losing Fish

[auntiebuttons]

Over the past week I have lost 11 fish due to the water temperature jumping from 27/28 degrees up to anywhere between 34 and 37 degrees. We have had to turn the heater off last night to keep the water temperature down. When I checked this morning, the temperature was at 27/28 degrees. Any ideas why the water temperature is rising and how this can be fixed?

First our 6 cardinals died all at once, then a couple of days later our 3 sailfin mollies, 1 tiger barb and 1 rosy barb died at all once. We now have 7 fishies left. Of the 7 alive, 6 are swimming at an angle; leaning slightly on their side rather than nose/tail down. The other fish is a plec, who seems to be fine. Any ideas as to why they are swimming like this? Are we gonna lose the 6 we have left?

 

[red-devil0602]

sounds like the thermostat is broken in your heater, so you will need a new heater.

 

[Barry P]

If you purchase a new tank and heater, the temp may read 26/27 for a few hours and look constant but in fact the tank is heating up very slowly. It happened to a friend of mine, he assumed he had reached the correct temp and stopped monitoring it. Next day the temp was up very high and casualties. The temp should have been adjusted and fixed before any fish where introduced.....THEN AGAIN i could be wrong and that last fella was right, your heater is broken...ahem!!!

 

[auntiebuttons]

Is that causing the fish to swim/hover at an angle?

 

[WILDER]

Not the writer of this information below, could be the tempreture why they are swimming to one side.
Laying Over- Layover or Sleeping Sickness is usually a bacterial infection caused by parasites chewing on the gills or skin. In other instances, it is only a result of severe stress, such as a bitter cold or exposure to chlorine. The most common found parasites are Costia, Trichodina, and Chilodinella.

You will have to evaluate for all sources of stress and get them corrected. It is recommended by http/www.koivet.com to salt at 0.3% and then in at all possible, inject the fish to offset any infection that may be in the fish's system. Several medications are available. top

 

[auntiebuttons]

If you purchase a new tank and heater, the temp may read 26/27 for a few hours and look constant but in fact the tank is heating up very slowly. It happened to a friend of mine, he assumed he had reached the correct temp and stopped monitoring it. Next day the temp was up very high and casualties. The temp should have been adjusted and fixed before any fish where introduced.....THEN AGAIN i could be wrong and that last fella was right, your heater is broken...ahem!!!

We have had the tank successfully up and running for approx. 6 months. Everything was perfect when fish were introduced. Its only the last week we have been having problems.

 

[reg2k2]

If unplugging the heater fixed the problem, I'd have to agree...new heater.
Sometimes (I think it's w/ cheaper/older models), a part in the heater sticks, causing it to remain on.

 

[corpse fish]

If you purchase a new tank and heater, the temp may read 26/27 for a few hours and look constant but in fact the tank is heating up very slowly. It happened to a friend of mine, he assumed he had reached the correct temp and stopped monitoring it. Next day the temp was up very high and casualties. The temp should have been adjusted and fixed before any fish where introduced.....THEN AGAIN i could be wrong and that last fella was right, your heater is broken...ahem!!!

We have had the tank successfully up and running for approx. 6 months. Everything was perfect when fish were introduced. Its only the last week we have been having problems.

Did you introduce the fish all at once, if you did, then its possible the ammonia got too high

 

[blue_ram]

Sounds like your fish are suffering from "heat stroke". There's a good chance that many of your remainig fish may die from stress induced diseases. Most fish can't handle heat in 37C (99F) range. I tend to keep warm water fish that can handle temperature into low 90F for extended period. But I don't think even they can deal with 99F(except may be for betta).

I highly recommend 2 heaters, each with 1/2 the rated wattage. This way, if one fails, the consequence won't be a complete disaster.