Please Help All My Fish Are Dieing!

[funkyfish]

Tank size: 60 litre biorb
pH:?
ammonia:?
nitrite:?
nitrate:?
kH:?
gH:?
tank temp:?

I do check my levels but don't note them down and sorry for not having this info to hand.

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):Fish appear to be fine and healthy with no obvious signs of any illness or damage. behaviour seems normal, colour etc all seem fine, then change starts usually with fish staying around bottom of tank. Breathing seems laboured and gradually this worsens and fish appears almost paralysed (sorry only way to describe it). Almost looks as if fish unable to flick like it is rigid.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: 60 litres water volume and water changes usually 3 weekly (recommended by biorb although the more I read, mostly on here the more I am seeing that this is prob not helping whatever is wrong).

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Chem additives - none and ceramic media.

Tank inhabitants: 2 Gourmis 1 male 1 female 3 neon tetras and one wee baby platy. previously in tank within last 3 weeks (all now dead) 2 female platys 1 male platy 2 baby platys (sob sob) 3 neons and 3 lemon tetras.

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): None

Exposure to chemicals: none

Digital photo (include if possible): will try to add one later if I can.

Please forgive me for not knowing the technical jargon as I am still relatively new to this. I,ve had the tank for a year now and all started really well. the only difficulty I had in the beginning was working out the right mix of fish to add.

Things started to go wrong when one of the lemon tetras had a recurring red open looking sore on its side which came and went. this fish always survived, but this appears to be the only thing I can say I noticed in the tank and with its inhabitants that was the start of things going wrong.


Any help greatly appreciated, thanks. But please remember i'm new and still getting my head round the jargon

many thanks,
funkyfish

 

[petertr]

1 - Test your water and fill out the questions at the top of your own post.

2 - We need you to do part 1 before we can give any considered advise.


Although, full water changes every 3 weeks isn't a good idea. in a 60L tank, I would look to change 10L twice a week, or 20 liters once a week.

 

[nosoup4you]

You should go ahead and do a 30-40% water change until you can test your water...

 

[Tolak]

Double up on dechlorinator with that water change, make sure it is a product that deals with chlorine, chloramine, and ammonia.

What do you so as far as filter maintenance, gravel cleaning and such?

We really do need those numbers to get an idea of what may be happening. The more details you can provide the better.

 

[WILDER]

Yours tanks overstocked.
Need to get water tested as its the first thing to look at.
Take a sample of your water to the lfs and ask them to write the readings down for you.
I would strongly suggest investing is some liquid test kits in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.
I would do some water changes for now till you know your water stats.

The sores was it pink or red with a circling of white around the edges.
Also was the sore eating away the skin into a hole.

 

[funkyfish]

Yours tanks overstocked.
Need to get water tested as its the first thing to look at.
Take a sample of your water to the lfs and ask them to write the readings down for you.
I would strongly suggest investing is some liquid test kits in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.
I would do some water changes for now till you know your water stats.

The sores was it pink or red with a circling of white around the edges.
Also was the sore eating away the skin into a hole.

Hi again

Sorry about water samples, I am working on that and will post asap.

Can I ask what lfs is that you advised me to take a water sample too?

I will do water changes as advised immediately, thanks.

With regard to the sores - this appeared on one of the lemon tetras and no other fish displayed these symptoms. The sore was on its side, was red in the centre, and may have been white around the edges but difficult to tell with colour of fish. With regard to was this eating into a hole - no, if anything it looked like a swelling more like possible damage from another fish.

Thanks for all replies, and I will work on water level stats tonight.

 

[WILDER]

Lfs means a local fish store. Some lfs test your water for free or will charge you about one pound.
Sores can be caused by many things from bad water quality, fighting, parasites to bacterial.
Sores that look pink or red with a circling of dead white tissue around the edges is an ulcer.
If the sore was due to another fish make sure it dosn't get infected.

 

[funkyfish]

Lfs means a local fish store. Some lfs test your water for free or will charge you about one pound.
Sores can be caused by many things from bad water quality, fighting, parasites to bacterial.
Sores that look pink or red with a circling of dead white tissue around the edges is an ulcer.
If the sore was due to another fish make sure it dosn't get infected.

Thanks again,

I will take a water sample to a local aquatic specialist to give me an acurate reading.

Sadly the fish with the damage died along with others.

 

[WILDER]

R.I.P.
Yes please get your water tested first thing to look at when things are going wrong.