Massive Hatchetfish Death In Established Tank!

[Inchyally]

In the last.... 2 weeks, I went from 11 hatchetfish to 5. In fact just today 3 died! I looked carefully for ich on the dead bodies, nothing. One death was explainable - we had bought Killifish, and the guy at the fish store said they were peaceful top-of-the-water fish as were hatchetfish. Returned both of them today when I witnessed the smallest hatchetfish struggling to get out of its mouth! I got it out, poor thing was deformed and died not to long after. But the others were bigger and probably too bitg to fit in the Killifish's mouth. Ammonia test, nitrite test, PH and nitrates were normal. Tankmates are peaceful - 3 Serpae tetras, 2 angelfish, 1 female betta, 2 bolivian rams, 3 cory cats, and 1 dwarf gourami... Any ideas?


EDIT: The nitrate level SKYROCKETED! I have no idea how.... should I do a water change? I think its like 8.0...

 

[WILDER]

Size of tank in gallons or litres.
Full stocking list of how many and which type.
Can you post your water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.

Have you got nitrates mixed up with nitrites.

 

[Inchyally]

I think I talked to you in another topic and my tank was overstocked..... 20gal

Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 80 (sorry got a bit mixed up there, didn't mean 8.0)

I'll be able to do a PH test and Nitrite test in a little while.... can't do them just the second...

 

[WILDER]

Can you found the other thread.
Your nitrates are high.

 

[Inchyally]

Yeah, I think nitrates are the cause of the problem here. But if needed, the nitrite level was 0 and PH was 7.0. And the old thread is <a href="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=279476" target="_blank">http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=279476</a>
And also, now it looks like my betta is getting effected by this, very active swimmer has become shy and lethargic.

I bought something to remove harmful things from water, i think including high nitrates... and I'm about to do a water change. Any other tips?

EDIT: now it seems that one of my cory cats has popeye! Compared to the other 2, its eyes are building out, both of them. Holy crap my fishtank is in a state of emergency!

ANOTHER EDIT: in just minutes of my first edit andother hatchetfish died! Now there is only 4, 2 weeks ago I had 11!

 

[Inchyally]

Just turned on the tank to find my betta dead. And I can't find one of the hatchetfish. It didn't jump out..... I looked around the tank and found nothing, unless it somehow jumped out of the back of the tank which I can't get behind.... but thats unlikely. But yeah, 2 less fish. Seriously considering giving up on the hobby...

EDIT: Just checked behind the tank, no sign of the hatchetfish.... wow... it just vanished...
EDIT (again): Found it now, didn't jump out..... dead.

 

[nosoup4you]

I'd be interested to see your nitrite reading. Any chance of a chemical contaminant in the tank?

 

[WILDER]

Have you treated the fish for popeye.
R.I.P.
Need to look at how often you maintain the tank,. Gravel vac and water change.

 

[Inchyally]

I put in something to remove chemical contaminants from the tank. Let see if this works. Nitrites are 0.

What product can I use to treat popeye? And I do have a vacuum for the tank, but I haven't used it yet. Thanks for the tips and the help guys.

 

[WILDER]

If you never have vacumed your gravel that explains the high nitrate reading.
You need to remove all ornaments and false plants and give the tank a vacum.
You can get bad bacteria pockets in substrate this is why you have to maintain the substrate once a week with a gravel vac.

Once you have done a gravel vac water changes over the next few days.
If the other fish are fine I would hold off using a bactetrial med for now, and just carry out water changes.

 

[Inchyally]

I'll try this! Thanks

 

[WILDER]

Good Luck.

 

[Inchyally]

Bad news: I was going to vacuum the tank tonight, I was out for about 3 hours, and my dad removed the catfish with popeye, he died too.
But I will clean it very soon, for the other fish. I don't know how to work the vacum.... so I will wait for my dad to get home to help me out.

 

[WILDER]

Ask in tropical discussion on how to use a gravel vac.
It's quite hard at first till you get used to using them.
R.I.P.

 

[Inchyally]

Ok. Thank you!