Red Forest Jewels Turn Black And Then Die

[bonez]

Hi I am new to the forum and am wondering if someone can offer assistance as no one in my local area seems to be able to help.

I have had a tropical setup now for around 11 months. When I first setup the tank I decided I wanted some Red Forest Jewel
but found that a couple of days after they turned black and Died. they did not show any signs of illness and seemed quite normal other then turning black.

Well over the weekend I lost a peacock quite suddenly he just stoped floated to the top of the tank and died. I have decided to try again with another Red Forest Jewel but have found that he is slowly turning black as well is anyone able to help all my local so called expert just say your doing something wrong as they cant turn black.

My current setup

Any advice on the fish and setup would be good to as the guy that helped me set it up and that has been helping me moved away

Soory about the names cant remember them all

3 foot tank (Upgrading to 6 very soon as it a little small)
1x Red Forest Jewel (1/2 inch)
1x electric yellow (1 inch) will not grow. Had for 7 months any ideas???
1x Clown Loach(2 inch)
1x Lombardi (1.5 inch)
1x silver shark (3 inch)
1x plecto (1/2 inch) ( Not sure which one is brown with white spots)
1x Melanochromis (1 inch) (Black with blue strips)
1x zebrathingy (2 inch) ( White body black strips and red belly) maybe Astatilapia Latifasciata
1x venustus (3 inch long)
1x blue yellow thingy(2.5 inch) blue body yellow fins with black strips could be Oto Lithobates Sulphur

Any assistance would be much appreciated

 

[Spishkey]

do you test your water? what results do you get for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates? also whats your Ph and temperature?

 

[bonez]

do you test your water? what results do you get for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates? also whats your Ph and temperature?

Temp is a 28c (83f)
Ph 7.4 (High Ph)
Ammonia 1.0
Nitrate 10
Nitrite cant remember but it was only on colour off 0

These are a little high as I have had to buy a new filter an auqaclear 50. But even when the results where within normal range the previous red forests still died.

Tank currenly running 250w Jebo heater aquaclear 50, Undergravel filter with carbon and foam, one air ring and live plants
Tank Size 3ft*1ft*2ft 89.7 Gallons


Hope that helps

 

[Spishkey]

an ammonia reading should be 0, a reading of 1 would worry me, i personally would do a small water change daily until it reads 0 as the fish could be dying from the ammonia.

 

[WILDER]

Black patches are ammonia burns that are healing.
You have ammonia reading so need to do water changes.
How long has the tank been set up.
Clown loaches and bala sharks need to be kept in groups to be happy.

 

[bonez]

I have complete a 20% water change after running the two days after the first showed no change. I will run the tests again tonight and see if the have dropped.

I am working on the grouped fish just need to get the bigger tank first. I did have a second bala but he die not long after the tank was first setup.

The tank has now been running for 11 months.

anyone got any suggestions on how I mite go about the new tank as I dint not have room for two and will need to remove the 3 foot tank almost immediately.

Thx all for your assistance

 

[WILDER]

You will get alot of help in tropical discussion loads of members willing to help over there about setting a new tank up.
Good luck.