Mysterious Fish Death

[Bloo]

not necessarily, it is possible to have 0 nitrates, unlikley but possible.

we've got 0 nitrate in our tap water, i've had a few tanks with a fair few plants and relativley light stocking which have run at around 0 nitrates, occasionally creeping up to 2/3ppm but never anything significant.

also rememebr nitrate test kits are not v reliable, it could just be a duff reading.

0 tap nitrate certainly possible but to the best of my knowledge, any stocked tank will contain at least some nitrate.

So it's more than likely a case of the last comment you made.

 

[electric yellow]

The vanishing isn't too much of a mystery. As unpalatable as it is to many of us, many fish will not pass up the offer of a free meal - it won't take long for a recently deceased fish to be disposed of by its tankmates. Do you buy all your fish from the same shop?; and do they all look healthy in the shop's tanks?; no sign of diseased tankmates?.

We buy all our fish from the same lfs which has been retailing for over 40yrs. The hree guys who own it are excellent in their fish keeping and have years of knowledge. There fish and water is both impeccable and non diseased. There website doesnt tell you much but here it is:

http/www.fantasticfins.com.au/

Theyve been quite helpfull in my many questions when starting up.

The nitrAte sits between 0ppm and 0.25ppm. So minimal nitrATe. None of my tanks have nitrAte or minimal readings.

The guys at my lfs have suggested the use of both melafix and primafix.

Would you guys recommend that??

My casualty list continued today Another platy. And my other tiger barb and platy are being 'listless'...

 

[WILDER]

Melafix is only good on cuts and wounds so I would say no.
Melafix is overated its only good when a fish has a cut.
You need an internal bacteria med.

 

[electric yellow]

Just wanted to thank you all for your help with this fish death saga. It was an internal bacteria. The long white stringy feaces was the give away. It ended up taking out 3/4s of our tank It was so hard to watch..3 deaths a day...

There was nothing we could do but watch them pass away.

We treated them for 7days with Pimafix and Melafix which of aquarium gave us. They were really helpfull. Tested our water for us. One guy even came and had a look at the tank because we live near the place. After a week of meds we then we did a 25% water change which included a big gravel vac and treated the tank again for 7 more days then another water change. In the last two weeks there has only been 1 death. The rest are all looking healthy.

*crosses her fingers*

Was a shame we couldn't diagnose it quicker. My tank looks so empty now. But we aren't ready to stock it again yet. The remaining fish look happy with just them in there

 

[WILDER]

Glad there on the mend.
Stringy white poo can be constipation, bacterial to internal parasites.